Up until the Seventies asbestos was frequently used in the production of many materials located in homes, workplace buildings, and schools. It was used in the manufacturing of thousands of supplies like asbestos ceiling tiles, flooring tiles, ceiling and wall plaster, insulation, and additional things. It is no longer utilized much as a consequence of government warnings and limitations of its use, but still exists in lots of homes and buildings.
Acoustic ceilings are one common place where asbestos ceiling tiles are found. These ceilings were suspended from the roof. The tiles were suspended from the roof, usually by wires, to create an area between the tiles and the roof. These spaces normally enclosed Heating and air ducts which could easily cause the asbestos dust to become airborne all through the building. One of the advantages of dropped or suspended ceilings was noise reduction which is why they have been incorporated in lots of workplace buildings and schools.
Because of the utilization of asbestos ceiling tiles many people have been exposed to asbestos, a dangerous material that can be deeply inhaled into the lungs and lead to asbestosis and other associated diseases. Ceiling tile installers frequently worked with these toxic products without using masks or other protective gear. Additionally, any office employee or pupil that spent time in buildings containing asbestos ceiling tiles could have been subjected to exposure.
Many folks that are exposed to asbestos don't present symptoms of asbestos-associated diseases such as asbestosis for 20 to 40 years or more. Because of the extended latency interval these diseases are often in the later stages of growth when they're discovered.
It is essential to know whether or not your own home has asbestos-containing items. Lots of producers made identification easy by clearly marking the asbestos ceiling tiles. Sometimes all it takes is a careful examination to let you recognize if asbestos is one of the production materials. Other producers were not so considerate, making them tough to recognize.
Visually examining ceiling tiles is just about the lone way a homeowner has of determining whether or not they contain asbestos, but this technique will not be infallible. When tiles aren't clearly marked you need to assume they contain asbestos. If the tiles are constructed from either cellulose or fiberglass they're most probably free from asbestos dust, but it is not a guarantee. You cannot simply take a look at ceiling tiles and determine whether or not they contain asbestos fibers.
To make it easy to recognize asbestos-containing material OSHA has ruled that, by law, certain products are assumed to contain asbestos if they have been manufactured before 1981. These supplies include surfacing products, insulation of heat systems, resilient flooring, and others.
Surfacing material is often used for fireproofing and is sprayed on metal beams and decking located above ceiling tiles. It's also applied to ceilings as a fibrous decorative-looking soundproofing matter and as acoustical plaster. Other types of ceiling or wall plaster such as drywall, sheetrock, wallboard, or gypsum board aren't assumed to contain asbestos although the tape and joint compound used in connection with these items could contain asbestos.
If you are preparing to remove any ceiling tiles or other products from your own home these products ought to be presumed to contain asbestos. And whether or not they contain this lethal substance they should be removed as if they did. Ordinarily, the best strategy is to use asbestos removal companies with not less than a few years of experience and not try to take out these dangerous products yourself.
Source : Asbestos wiki