Hazards Of Asbestos Siding

In our experience there are often local regulations or ordinances that describe the level of site and dust control required when demolishing cement asbestos materials roof shingles or siding usually outdoors.

Hazards of asbestos siding. The real safety issue with asbestos is when large amounts of it are removed indoors and proper protocol and equipment is not used to capture and collect all asbestos fibers released. And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous. Care and proper procedures should always be taken during removal and disposal but in general asbestos siding ranks very low on the list of materials that. There s no known safe level of exposure.

Asbestos remediation and removal. Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled. Cutting asbestos siding is the only danger which is minimized with use of specialized tools that shear rather than cut the shingles. These diseases do not develop immediately following exposure to asbestos but appear only after a number of years.

The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough. Cancer of the lung tissue itself and mesothelioma a cancer of the thin membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs. Exposure to and breathing asbestos fibers can result in lung problems and cancer. Asbestos siding is composed of asbestos fibers mixed with portland cement.

Asbestos workers have increased chances of getting two principal types of cancer. Mesothelioma and other cancers as well as asbestosis and other lung diseases are a serious danger after continued long term exposure to fibers from asbestos containing materials acms. Deq regulates the handling removal and disposal of asbestos containing material to protect public health and the environment. Asbestos siding is far less dangerous due to the fact that it installed outside and very few fibers are released even when siding shingles crack and break.

When asbestos containing material is disturbed and improperly handled tiny hazardous fibers are released into the air and may cause lung cancer and other illnesses. We agree that there are both health and legal hazards in removing asbestos containing materials even cementious ones. This article discusses potential asbestos dust hazards from power sawing cement asbestos siding materials. Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.

Also i recommend against installing new siding over top of the existing asbestos material as the process will damage the latter and cause asbestos fibers to be released. It is very brittle and has a tendency to crack and break when nailed which can release asbestos fibers into both the air and ground. Dust hazards from asbestos cement siding or roofing demolition or removal. This document series assists building buyers owners or inspectors who need to identify asbestos materials or probable asbestos in buildings by simple visual.