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As we know that asbestos was quite popular and used for many years in construction because of its resilient properties. But now, asbestos has been recognized as a severe health hazard. Inhaling of asbestos fibers can cause lung diseases or other diseases like mesothelioma, which can often lead to death.
Although the use of asbestos has been banned, there are still some old buildings and houses where you might find different types of asbestos. Asbestos comes in different shapes and colors, so not easy to identify asbestos or asbestos-containing material (ACM) with your naked eye.
Identifying asbestos is easy now, thanks to asbestos testing kits. You might have heard this term for the first time, but don’t get confused. We will explain each and everything about the asbestos testing kit so let’s get into the guide,
The first impression that will come into your mind after you hear about “asbestos testing kits” will probably be that you can test asbestos by yourself. But, it’s completely wrong!
Asbestos testing kits just contain some basic equipment that will help you in collecting an asbestos sample. You cannot test asbestos by yourself in any way; it can only be tested by scientific laborites using specialized techniques. The asbestos testing kit is available in the market by the name DIY Asbestos Testing Kit because it contains the DIY material to collect the sample.
The Asbestos home DIY kit contains the following equipment:
Like everything that exists on planet earth, an Asbestos Home Testing Kit has both advantages and disadvantages both. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of asbestos testing kits that you should know before buying them:
Pros of asbestos testing kit
If you are just concerned about a small part of your house (like a room) containing asbestos and don’t want to spend too much to investigate that one room alone, the Asbestos testing kit will help you allay your suspicions without too much fuss.
Cons of asbestos testing kit
Asbestos kits or sticks are not reliable because they don’t give you the best protection against asbestos or asbestos fibers. The equipment within the kits is not so advanced and is difficult to use. Moreover, it might be possible that your self-tests will be inaccurate due to sampling errors.
For using the asbestos testing kit, age is not something important. You should have years of experience and should be fully trained in how to use the equipment and identify the asbestos. Moreover, you should have knowledge about the sources of asbestos.
Some home and property owners find asbestos-providing companies expensive and therefore decide to use the asbestos testing kit, but they don’t know how to use it properly. Consequently, it’s essential to learn how to use an asbestos testing kit to ensure that you and your family are safe from every danger.
Although the kit includes a detailed instruction manual, most people don’t really pay attention to it, so it came with a guide.
Whether you are collecting samples from solid, friable material or from dust samples, make ensure that you take all the precautionary measures. Wear protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses, boot covers, and most importantly, a face mask so that the asbestos fibers cannot be inhaled. Seal all the doorways and windows with plastic sheeting so that the asbestos fibers don’t spread in the air.
In order to stop the asbestos fibers from spreading into the air mix one teaspoon of liquid detergent into cool water and put the mixture into the spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the areas before collecting the asbestos sample.
If you are collecting a sample from solid or friable material, then simply take out a small sample of the material and place it in a sample bag and then mail a sample to the laboratory. You will get the lab reports a week or two later.
Although you can save a lot of money by using an asbestos testing kit but the results are not as accurate as professional asbestos testing. Plus, you can save a lot of your time by hiring a professional service. Also, during the in-home asbestos assessment, there are high chances that the particles may expose to the air while collecting samples. You cannot put yourself and your family at risk.
Moreover, the professionals have a team of experts that test all areas of your home, from plumbing to ceiling. Plus, they give the most accurate results.
There are some of the health hazards of asbestos exposure:
The price of an asbestos testing kit varies from $20 to $100.
FAQ’s
If you are looking for an asbestos test provider in the UK, you can contact Fire Safety Risk Assessment, which will arrange the asbestos analysis for you.
You can take the sample from your home using the asbestos testing kit but in order to test whether your material contains asbestos or not, you have to send your sample to the laboratory.
Yes, you can take a sample with the help of an asbestos testing kit.
It might be possible that while collecting asbestos, you might disturb it and the particles spread in the air. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause several diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The sticks are unreliable because they do not provide accurate results.
All the materials used in the construction of older buildings should be checked for asbestos. These materials include the insulations on the walls and the attics, siding and roofing shingles, cement sheets, light bricks, floor tiles made of vinyl and its adhesives, water pipes, furnaces, heat-resistant fabrics, and automobile parts such as steering wheels, brakes, and clutches.
Conclusion
If you suspect that your home or property contains asbestos, you can get in touch with Fire Safety Risk Assessment UK team at support@firesafetyriskassessment.co.uk today. Asbestos can be anywhere in your ceiling tiles, a floor which is very difficult to identify, so it’s better to take professional help.
We provide complete services of asbestos testing in London. We survey your property and the materials that are likely to contain asbestos. Moreover, we will provide you with a detailed survey report with the best advice on how to manage and remove asbestos.
If you still have any confussion, feel free to ask. Thank you.
Fred Wilson was always a good science student in school and college, and therefore has always known about the health risks introduced by the Asbestos mineral. After completing his education, he eagerly enrolled into environmental hazards evaluation, and completed his Asbestos Risk Assessment training recently. He has since surveyed countless houses, businesses and buildings to detect leftover traces of Asbestos, and recommended ways to exterminate this threat to responsible people.
The keen passion of Fire Safety Risk Assessment is to offer professional services, delivered in a timely manner. For all businesses, commercial premises & landlords, FSRA keeps your businesses safe controlling the risk of loss from fire hazards, asbestos risks and from legionella bacteria.