Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fibre that was once commonly used nation-wide in Australia in various materials. Asbestos is composed of tiny but hard and strong fibres that are flexible, affordable, and have good insulating properties.Asbestos fibres are also resistant to heat, fire, electricity, and corrosion. Besides these properties, asbestos also has other effective qualities including strength and durability, chemical resistance and thermal efficiency. It is because of these properties that asbestos was considered to be a very useful mineral.Asbestos mineral fibres can be used in cloth, paper, cement, plastic, and various other materials to make them stronger. Asbestos cement materials were also the most popular and widely used as building material in the construction of buildings, homes, and architectural structures until the late 1980s.Though commonly used, when asbestos fibres are inhaled or ingested, mineral fibres can permanently be trapped in the body. The resulting health effects from asbestos fibres can easily overshadow its benefits.  An asbestos survey or inspection will help identify asbestos that needs to be managed or removed.

Need for Asbestos Inspection

Asbestos exposure poses enormous health and safety hazards. Up until the mid-1980s Australia was known to have one of the highest rates of asbestos use per person in the world.

The Australian Government Department of Health has stated that one-third of Australian houses, especially the ones that were built prior to 1990 contain asbestos fibres. So if your house or building was built before 1990, it may have asbestos-containing materials. Owners of such domestic properties and commercial buildings would be best advised to have an asbestos inspection, asbestos sampling, asbestos analysis and an asbestos reporting done immediately for their premises. 

Asbestos-containing products can be found almost everywhere in our day-to-day life. There are two types –

Non-friable products were more common in households, as they are essentially asbestos materials mixed in with other materials i.e. cement, to provide the overall product with the asbestos beneficial properties. The most common asbestos-containing products were bonded, mixed with cement and included interior & exterior wall cladding, roofing sheets, thermal boards around fireplaces, shingles & siding, water or flue pipes, eaves and fencing.

Friable asbestos products (meaning the raw asbestos fibres are easily exposed and released into the air) are those that can be commonly found on residential properties. They include asbestos-rope door gaskets in wood stoves, low-density asbestos fibre board, insulation on hot water pipes and heaters & stoves. Asbestos is also found in loose-fill insulation or asbestos fluff as insulation material in houses, textured paints & decorative ceiling coatings, carpet underlay, brick & plaster sealants. Spray-on insulation or sound proofing, backing material on floor tiles & vinyl flooring can also contain asbestos fibres.

On the 31st December, 2003 asbestos was officially banned in Australia. It was a nation-wide ban on the use, reuse, selling, buying, manufacturing, and transportation of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. Hence if you are in the process of leasing or purchasing any property, it is most important to have it tested for asbestos before use and occupancy.

Adverse Health Effects of Asbestos

Asbestos-containing products can be dangerous to human health if they are not properly maintained or handled carefully. Asbestos fibres also pose a health risk when they are airborne and breathed in.

Most people who have frequently breathed in large amounts of asbestos fibres at their place of work or at renovation and construction jobs are prone to develop asbestos-related diseases. People who have not worked with asbestos products amount to a small number of asbestos-related disease cases that occur each year. In these cases, it may be difficult to determine the exact cause of the disease. However unsafe handling of asbestos materials may have definitely contributed to some of these cases.

The Australian Government Department of Health has published an Asbestos Householders Guide which emphasises that there is no absolutely safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres. According to it, as the number of asbestos fibres a person breathes in during their life increases, it determines the increase in risk of developing an asbestos related disease.

The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases from exposure is associated to the length of time since first exposure, the duration and level of exposure and the fibre type.

Family members of exposed workers or those who live close to active asbestos mines can also be at risk. Unknowingly, the renovator or worker can carry asbestos fibres on their tools, boots, clothing, skin or hair.

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. Asbestos exposure leads to diseases like cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries as well as a cancer of the peritoneal linings and pleural known as mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure also causes fibrosis of the lungs, and plaques, thickening and effusion in the pleura.

Asbestos Inspection Process

Although the Asbestos Householders Guide provides relevant information to help householders in reducing the risk of exposure. Have an inspection, sampling, analysis and reporting of any asbestos-related products on your premises to assist in reducing the risk of asbestos exposure.

If asbestos identification is required at your property, the inspection process should be conducted by professional asbestos consulting firm like NCPI.

An asbestos inspection process involves a thorough visual inspection of the affected area and an inventory of suspect material. Bulk sample extraction is then done and sent to the laboratory for analysis. The specific numbers of samples to be taken from each affected area or type of material depends on the various regulations stipulated by the concerned authorities.

An on-site asbestos inspection for smaller residential properties can take as little as a couple of hours. However in the case of larger buildings it can even take multiple days. The asbestos inspector will need full access to every room and area of the building. If necessary, return site visits may also be done. It is therefore critical to have a truly qualified, experienced and independent asbestos inspection firm handling the job.

Asbestos Inspection Report

Once the site inspection is done and samples are taken, they are sent to the laboratory for analysis. NCPI has laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) that can handle all asbestos sampling and analysis.

NCPI provides professional reports which are typically available within 48 hours of receipt from our trusted and experienced laboratories.  These detailed reports and extensive documentation are done and submitted to the property owners.

Based on these reports, the property owners can get recommendations or take decisions on the removal and remediation process.

Why Choose NCPI for Asbestos Inspection

If you are in need of a professional asbestos inspection and analysis company for domestic and commercial buildings, give us a call today. Contact our testing specialists on 0413 952 683.

Our team will answer any queries that you may have and share with you more about the testing process for asbestos.  NCPI also provides inspection, sampling, analysis and reporting for meth, mould, silica, bacteria and lead for domestic and commercial buildings.

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your family or workers, you can rely on NCPI. We provide prompt and efficient service across all of Australia.

  • Meth is commonly found in properties that look clean.
  • Meth has been found in properties where the owner and their families lived for a number of years. Often the owner was unaware someone in their home was using meth.
  • Owners have often painted the rooms to hide the presence of meth. Painting does not remove the toxic residue.
  • Meth has been found in properties with many different values. There have been million dollar homes where high levels of meth have been found.

Servicing All OF AUSTRALIA

Deborah: 0413 952 683

info@ncpi.co

Call Now Button