Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation

  loose-fill insulation

Loose-fill asbestos is raw crushed asbestos that exists in many NSW homes. It was installed as ceiling insulation and poses considerable health risks to those exposed to the hazardous airborne fibers that disperse to common living spaces.

Risks

Provided low exposure, residing under loose-fill asbestos will not impose any significant health risks. And in order to keep chances of exposure at a minimum, it is recommended that no one attempt to obtain a sample without consulting with adequate professionals. Also, it is important to know that simply removing it from the ceiling does not eliminate the hazard.

Removal

The proper manner of removing any loose-fill asbestos is by way of demolition, comprehensive site remediation and disposal. These are the proven ways to ensure its elimination, as well as the health and safety of any occupants and the community.

Precautions

Homeowners must continually maintain their house and remain distant from all the areas near the roof, in-wall spaces and areas below the floor. If they wish to renovate, proper management will be required.

If there is confirmation that a property has loose-fill asbestos insulation, it is important that the proper authorities be contacted as soon as possible to determine what the available options are. Free testing was once being offered but registrations are no longer open. As an alternative, home owners are encouraged to arrange testing through licensed inspectors.

History

Residential and commercial properties, during the 1960s and 1970s, had pure loose-fill asbestos applied as ceiling insulation. A ceiling insulation company installed it in homes in NSW, and in up to 1,000 properties in the ACT. Another company, Bowsers Asphalt, also used loose-fill asbestos to insulate ceilings, however, only in large non-residential buildings.

The executives of Asbestos Coordination Authorities (ACA) commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to independently investigate and determine the total amount of structures in NSW whose ceilings had been insulated with loose-fill asbestos. Read more information about loose fill asbestos insulation come check our site.