If your building was constructed before the 1970s, it’s possible that it could have some amount of asbestos or asbestos containing materials in it. This could be in the form of false ceilings, partitions, flooring, cisterns, roofing, fire-resistant coating, paints, sound-proofing, and more.
Prior to this period, asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was hailed as a magic material because of its immense versatility, fire-resistant properties, abundant availability, lightness, flexibility and affordability. Though it has been in use for thousands of years across the world, it was only in the 1960s that alarm bells began to ring about the health hazards caused by asbestos.
Since 2003, Australia has completely banned the import and export of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. This includes motor vehicle parts, paints, natural stone products, cement sheeting, pipes, tubes, fittings, fire resistant products and more.
Today, residential and commercial building owners who have asbestos roofing on their property are undertaking roof replacement with non-asbestos roofing materials. This is a conscious and responsible decision to ensure the health and safety of residents and workers in the building, and to also comply with legal requirements.
Health Hazards of Asbestos
Left undisturbed, asbestos is a relatively harmless material. However, due to aging, damage or disruption fine fibers work loose into the environment. These fibers are inhaled and settle into the respiratory tract and lungs, causing a range of illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, aggravated asthma, asbestosis, pleural disease and general lowering of immunity due to inadequate oxygen and circulation.
The most dangerous aspect of asbestos is that it is a slow, silent killer with an incredibly long latency period. Disease symptoms can take from 15-50 years to manifest, and by then it could be too late.
Apart from living and/or working in an environment that contains asbestos, today the major problem is faced by construction workers, architects, site engineers, plumbers and electricians who repair, renovate or rebuild properties that contain asbestos without knowing about it.
Most countries have banned asbestos, and have mandated strict regulations regarding its presence and protection of workers.
Replacing your asbestos roof with safer materials provides several benefits such as better safety and durability, improved property values and lower maintenance costs, and compliance with existing regulations. Most importantly, it can give you peace of mind.
Find more information here about replacing old asbestos roofing and the danger of removing asbestos from homes and roofs.
Asbestos Removal: Dangers and Precautions
If you have an asbestos roof on your building, or extension, or your roofing may have asbestos containing materials such as fire-proof coating, paint or insulation, it’s important to conduct a thorough assessment by a professionally qualified, trained and licensed inspector.
The report will tell you about the presence, quantity, location and condition of asbestos on your property.
Based on this, you can plan your roof replacement. Undertaking asbestos roof replacement without a thorough assessment can lead to hazards.
Asbestos may be present in roofs in the form of cement sheets, shingles, tiles, felt, asphalt, underlayers, roof flashing or sealant, and protective structures around pipes or chimneys.
Unless you are a trained, licensed professional yourself, do not undertake a DIY asbestos roof replacement. Apart from the physical hazards, it is also illegal to undertake this work. There are stringent rules in most countries regarding working with asbestos and flouting these rules, or being ignorant of them, can result in huge penalties, fines and compensation for harmful effects.
It’s important to engage a professional asbestos roofing replacement expert because they have the right equipment, clothing and respirators. Asbestos workers are required to use PPE such as protective goggles, gloves, and safety masks.
Untrained personnel may inadvertently disturb the asbestos and release fibers into the atmosphere, causing harm to yourself, neighbors and passers-by.
You have to consider the prevailing weather conditions before starting the work of asbestos roof replacement. It is better to conduct this work in dry, still weather rather than rainy, snowy or windy days. Inclement weather will cause asbestos fibers to disperse rapidly into the environment. While the work is in progress, keep the roof slightly damp to prevent loosening of fibers.
Rather than using high powered tools, experts recommend that asbestos roof replacement workers use hand tools that can minimize the disturbance of asbestos or asbestos containing materials.
A major hazard in asbestos roof replacement is containment. Asbestos fibers spread very easily and across long distances. The work area has to be sealed off with plastic sheeting. Professional contractors will have negative air-pressure machines that prevent spread of fibers. One of the recommended equipment is an HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner to contain the fibers. Workers exiting the area even for short breaks must go through a decontamination unit that controls the spread of asbestos fibers.
Many roofing contractors fail to address the problem of proper waste material disposal. This is true of low-cost, inexperienced contractors who may try to cut corners by flouting rules. As a property owner, don’t forget to confirm that proper transportation and disposal of waste according to local and national regulations is included in your contract.
