Asbestos is in use for ages for residential, commercial, and industrial construction purposes and has always remained in preference due to its various inherent qualities.

It is mostly used by builders as it is strong, flexible, corrosion, and fire-resistant. Being a poor conductor of heat and electricity, asbestos offers the most needed safety to every construction.

In homes, asbestos is commonly used for making:

  • Roofs of garages and sheds
  • Gutter and rainwater pipes
  • Linings for walls, ceilings, and doors
  • Soffits and eves
  • Floor tiles
  • Decorative finish

In addition, asbestos is widely used in creating Insulation panels for storage heaters and is also employed for providing efficient central heating systems and boiler flues for homes and commercial buildings, etc.

What exactly is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen, and positively charged ions i.e. cations of various metals.

Among the existing six varieties, the most common types of regulated asbestos, you may count chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite types. However, there exist other three varieties of asbestos such as tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. The materials made from asbestos are either classified as Bonded or Friable asbestos materials.

The dried Bonded asbestos materials are used in buildings as asbestos cement sheets, floor tiles as well as water or drainage pipes. Although bonded asbestos materials cannot be crumbled by hand pressure or reduced to powder i.e. pulverized but can be damaged over a period of time due to hail, heavy rains, water blasting, and fire and may convert into friable asbestos material.

On the other hand, Friable asbestos material exists in the form of powder and when dry, it can be easily crumbled, reduced to powder, or pulverized by applying hand pressure. Accordingly, usually not used for home construction.

Since Friable asbestos materials can get damaged easily, these need replacement over a period of time which requires the services of expert asbestos removal Melbourne as asbestos removal can be hazardous and its exposure can lead to various health-related issues.

There may be several companies offering services for asbestos removal Melbourne yet most professional services and safe asbestos removal Melbourne are provided by Xpress Asbestos Solutions.

How can asbestos affect health?

Asbestos, when handled or removed carelessly, can make asbestos fibers airborne and result in asbestos exposure to people, especially working in factories or shipyards.

Due to asbestos exposure, you may breathe in high levels of airborne asbestos fibers that can get lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and even heart which may increase the risk of developing:

  • Lung cancer
  • Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity
  • Asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

The possibility of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. It is therefore of utmost importance to remain vigilant while living in places with damaged asbestos or working in factories or shipyards etc. involving asbestos.

Care has to be taken during the process of asbestos removal Melbourne as there are strict official guidelines for its safe removal which can only be done by a licensed specialist from an asbestos abatement company.

When you need skilled and safe asbestos removal Melbourne during a renovation or demolition of asbestos-containing materials contact Xpress Asbestos Solutions in Melbourne- a fully licensed and authentic asbestos removal company.