It is almost impossible to tell whether a piece of material contains asbestos just by looking at it. If you are about to start a renovation project or feel uneasy about certain materials in your home it’s best to be 100% certain that you’re safe. A qualified asbestos removal specialist should do asbestos sampling for analysis given the ease at which disturbed asbestos can release harmful fibres into the air. However, if you wish to take samples yourself there are a number of do-it-yourself kits available on the market.
Each kit provider will have procedures in place to correctly and safely gather samples. At a minimum, anybody sampling materials potentially containing asbestos should observe the following:-
- Shut down any ventilation systems, air conditioning and heating ducts to minimise the potential spread of asbestos fibres.
- Make sure nobody is in the room or enters the room until sampling and cleanup is complete.
- Wear disposable gloves.
- Place a thick plastic sheet on the floor immediately below the area you are sampling. Secure with strong adhesive tape.
- Dampen the material to be sampled using a fine mist of water that contains a couple of drops of detergent. This will help reduce the risk of asbestos fibres becoming airborne.
- Cut a small piece of the material right through.
- Place sample in a high-quality plastic container or bag and seal tightly.
- Label the container as holding asbestos material and write down where the sample was taken.
- Patch the sampled area with caulk, duct tape, or PVC glue to prevent the release of asbestos fibres in the future.
- Dampen the plastic sheet and dispose.
The company from which you bought the sampling kit will give instructions on where to send the sample and how long it will take to receive a result. If possible, we recommend asking the company whether they can send somebody qualified to do the sample to minimise the potential risks to you and your family.
More information on asbestos sampling and other related information can be found at http://www.removing-asbestos.com
You can purchase a quality asbestos test kit from our site in the coming weeks.
