Asbestos is a fibrous material that occurs naturally and is well-known for its insulating characteristics. While asbestos fibres are soft and flexible, they are also heat, electrical, and corrosion-resistant. Asbestos has been the go-to material for insulating anything from buildings to pipes to beds due to its abundance in nature. When woven into textiles, fabrics, and paper, raw asbestos fibres are generally regarded as stronger than steel. Want to know what does asbestos sheeting looks like? Let’s have a look.
All asbestos is hazardous
To identify and treat asbestos in your surroundings, you need to know a little bit of the history of this material that was so widely used in various things. Asbestos cement sheets provided a durable alternative for simple roofing and siding jobs for most of the twentieth century. Some commonly used materials that contain asbestos include cement, tiles textiles, among others.
When these materials break down, they can release fibres into the air, causing mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, asbestosis, and other diseases. When discussing asbestos, people commonly talk about its colours, such as blue asbestos or white asbestos fibres.
Despite the titles, you can’t tell which form of asbestos you’re dealing with by simply looking at it. Therefore, you need to know how to get the right solution for dealing with asbestos exposure from the right people. Call Total Asbestos for a detailed inspection today!
Evolution of cement sheets containing asbestos
Asbestos-containing cement products, such as cement sheets and pipes, account for around 90% of all asbestos manufacturing worldwide. The bulk of it is utilised in the manufacture of asbestos roofing. Even though asbestos cement sheet manufacture has ceased here in Australia, the product can still be imported from other countries.
In the modern era, the fibres in cement sheets are normally formed of cellulose – a material found in plants. These fibres were largely made of asbestos before.
Use of asbestos sheets
It was not uncommon to find these cement sheets in residential neighbourhoods and military bases and public buildings, factories, and construction sites. It was previously known as “fibrous cement sheet” or “AC Sheet,” or even “fibro.” Several countries continue to employ asbestos cement sheets, despite a severe decline in output.
It is more durable than wallboard and easier to deal with than concrete when building materials. If your property has a cement sheet, it possibly contains asbestos fibres. Asbestos is also likely to be found in corrugated cement sheeting roofs. The deterioration of asbestos causes it to become friable, releasing asbestos fibres into the air when they crumble. ‘Fibre cement sheet’ is the most prominent and common form of asbestos that can be recognised as being potentially hazardous.
Because asbestos has been shown to cause cancer and other deadly diseases, asbestos is now banned in many nations, despite its benefits. Long-term exposure to tiny asbestos fibres in the air can cause asbestos to accumulate in the body and increase illness risk.
Types of asbestos cement sheets
1. Asbestos corrugated sheets
Corrugated metal panels give low insulation and eventually rust with time. Fibrous cement sheet, or “fibro,” provides a simple and cost-effective alternative. These fibro sheeting products were used for roofing and cladding in various buildings, mostly for industries and farms.
2. Asbestos flat sheets
Flat sheets of asbestos cement found their way into the interiors of homes and businesses as walls and underlayment for flooring since fibrous cement is significantly more water-resistant than drywall.
3. Asbestos lumber
Asbestos lumber, sometimes used for asbestos cement sheeting, was not made of wood at all. It was a roofing material that contained asbestos. Visually, asbestos products may seem hard to spot. Workers generally presume that asbestos is present in older corrugated roofs and flat sheets. Thus, the most effective method is to get the suspected product evaluated by licensed asbestos removal services.
How to identify asbestos-containing materials
If your house was built between the early 1960s and the late 1980s, it is most likely to contain asbestos products. Before it was outlawed in 2003, asbestos was widely utilised as construction and insulating material in Australia.
According to the Australian government’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, asbestos products are found in one-third of all Australian households. Even if your home was constructed after this time, recycled building materials might still contain asbestos. Asbestos can be found in many forms in any domestic environment. For example, it can be present in the siding of your garages, linings under your floor, wet areas in your house, among other places.
Over time, asbestos sheets may have been replaced with asbestos-free alternatives, but you should immediately treat and remove all asbestos material from your building for your protection. Our company has licensed professionals who have considerable experience in the safe disposal of asbestos from commercial buildings and households.
You can visit our website to know more about the commercial services we offer. Contact our professionals via email or call the phone number provided on our website. Let our agency help you identify the many products that may contain asbestos and discard them in the safest way possible. Contact us at the given phone number if you want a thorough inspection of your home or office.
FAQ’s
What does asbestos look like?
It’s really difficult to identify anything that contains asbestos. You can look at photographs of asbestos fibres and their colour to help you determine where it might be found and what it looks like. However, the only way to be certain is to hire an asbestos testing laboratory or agency.
Where is asbestos commonly found?
The major construction materials of your property should ideally be the first item to consider. If your home includes cement sheeting, for example, asbestos fibres may be present. Roofs composed of corrugated cement sheeting are similarly prone to asbestos contamination.
Asbestos is typically found in areas prone to wet environments, such as toilets and bathrooms, due to its water-proofing traits. Similarly, the water and sewage pipes of your building can also contain asbestos in the form of insulation.
Why is it necessary for me to identify asbestos in my home?
Sheets containing asbestos are very likely to discharge asbestos fibres into the air if they are disturbed or friable in nature. Asbestos may retain this property in any form and in any material that contains asbestos (like insulation or paint), making it extremely dangerous. The level of risk is dependent on the type of asbestos contamination. Check if there are any asbestos materials or asbestos insulation so you don’t release the fibres into the air.
What should I do if I discover asbestos in my home?
If you identify asbestos in your home, you should leave it alone until you can seek professional assistance. With years of experience in the field of asbestos and hazardous materials assessments, we, at Total Asbestos Removal and Demolition, conduct asbestos inspections and testing in NSW, Australia.
Our licensed asbestos removalist services can assist you in identifying and disposing of asbestos in your building while ensuring the safety of your tenants or employees.