What Does an Asbestos Survey Involve?
A Birmingham Asbestos Survey (BAS) is one of the most important things that can happen to you and your family. This type of survey is conducted by a qualified asbestos consultant to see if there are any asbestos related materials in your home or place of business. You may not even be aware that there is asbestos in your home, or that you have come into contact with it. It has taken many years for this to become an issue, because it was not known for decades that there was asbestos in areas around Birmingham. This is only now that people are becoming aware that there is a danger of asbestos and that they should look to have it removed.
During a BAS, the consultant will come to your property and talk to you about what he or she is going to do during the survey. They will talk to you about the risk factors, and the best way for you to eliminate those risks. They will discuss the health risks, and what you would like to do to protect yourself from them. After this, they will take a sample of the material that you have and place it in a special environment for analysis. This environment will be like that of your home, with doors and windows sealed off. There will also be special equipment used to collect samples.
Once all of the information has been collected and tested, then the report will be ready to go to you. With your consent, the team will then present the results to you. This can be a very scary procedure, but it will be done with your full understanding and consent. If you do not feel comfortable with the outcome or think there is something that you do not agree with, then you can always appeal to the individual consultant that was responsible for doing the survey. You will be notified of their findings, and you can either agree to the findings or dispute them. If you choose to dispute the findings, then you will need to provide proof with pictures or any other documents that you deem appropriate.
If you have concerns about the contents of your home, then the survey will provide you with a listing of areas that may contain asbestos. If there is asbestos in your home, then you should remove it. This includes removing ceiling tiles, rugs, insulation, carpets, and walls that have been affected by it. Asbestos removal is something that you can do yourself, without assistance, or if you are feeling up to the task, you can hire a company to remove the asbestos for you. Either way, you should be certain that the company you hire uses high-quality products and that they are certified and have proper certificates.
Once the survey is complete and the materials have been analyzed, then you will be able to see what areas of your home may have been affected by the asbestos. If you do find that there is asbestos in your home, then the next step is to remove it. This is usually done by a professional company who has the right equipment to do the job safely and efficiently. They will prep the area by washing it with detergent and drain cleaner, removing debris, and removing soil using a shovel and a brush. After the area has been cleaned and dried, they will pack it up and transport it to the survey site.
Once at the survey site, the surveyor will gather the materials and test them for asbestos concentration using an air quality test kit. If there is any visible asbestos fibers, then the materials will need to be tested for their presence using an AMS testing device. The surveyor will then determine if the materials need to be removed and if so, what method will be used.
If materials are found to be asbestos-containing, then they will need to be removed and properly disposed of. Surveyors are responsible for transporting and disposing of these materials to the nearest demolition site or recycling facility. In some cases, the materials may need to be removed while the area is being repaired or remodeled. Surveyors are also responsible for making sure that debris is removed from the area. If debris is not removed, it can spread into other areas of the property, causing damage to other materials.
Finally, surveyors will inspect the new construction in the area and make note of any potential weak areas. If any areas of the original structure need to be replaced, then the surveyors will consult with the homeowner before beginning work on that particular project. Asbestos abatement is a specialized job and is one that requires trained professionals. Birmingham asbestos surveyors are specially trained to handle all matters related to this particular type of survey. They will take accurate notes, be cautious when handling materials, and follow all safety guidelines closely.