Asbestos in your building might not be something you think about often. It’s a bad idea to ignore this massive risk to the health and safety of both your employees and your customers. Be sure you are informed about the potential risks of asbestos, and what you should do about it.

Before the 1980s, when asbestos was found to be a health risk, many buildings used asbestos as a flame retardant. Asbestos is not used today because of the often-life-threatening health problems it causes, but depending on how old your building is, it may still contain asbestos. Here are a few facts you need to know about problems with asbestos in your building and how your industrial roof repair company can help.

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is both heat-resistant and can be woven into fibers which are both soft and flexible but also heat and chemical resistant. This makes it very easy to work with, and in particular, it can be woven into fabrics and other materials to strengthen them.

For these reasons, asbestos has until relatively recently been used extensively in construction and other projects. It was specifically used for insulation purposes in buildings, especially in small and difficult to reach spaces.

In the mid-1980s, it was discovered that asbestos is actually highly toxic. The asbestos insulation fibers in your walls and ceiling, with age, release particles. These particles when breathed in, can cause life-threatening health problems. Asbestos is known to be highly carcinogenic and is banned from use in products in 55 countries, including Canada.

If your building is over 30 years old, there is a good chance that the insulation contains asbestos. You should try to find records of an asbestos abatement being carried out in your building. If not, you can call your industrial roof repair company to perform an inspection for asbestos. It is best to do this promptly, since the longer the asbestos is left alone, the higher the health risk to your employees.

Asbestos removal is a process made difficult by the large health risks involved. The entire area with the asbestos must be closed off to prevent health problems from employees or customers entering a contaminated area.

The asbestos particles themselves are contained by machines that set up negative air pressure, which prevents contaminated air from escaping the area. A specific type of vacuum is required to remove the asbestos particles. The entire removal process can take up to 3 days.

In some cases, such as asbestos underneath the floor, removal is not necessary, and the asbestos can be contained safely. You should ask your industrial roof repair company for advice as every situation is different.

If you are looking for top-notch roofing services related to asbestos at affordable pricing, you can’t beat BML Roofing. We are an industrial roof repair company with 45 years of experience handling your Brantford and Kitchener roofing needs. Our highly trained professionals are qualified to make your building’s roof and insulation safe and long-lasting. You can feel secure knowing that our work is fully certified and insured.

• Asbestos is a serious health risk for your employees and customers.
• The only way to really be sure about whether your building contains asbestos is to have an inspection done by your industrial roof repair company.
• At BML Roofing, we can handle all of your asbestos-related needs at the best prices on the market. Contact us today to learn more.