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The MPA Group – Asbestos Testing Adelaide and Why It’s Important to Health and Safety

Is your house or building built on or before 1985? If so, then it may have a presence of asbestos, which is a fibrous mineral used to be mixed in construction cement back in the day. Asbestos was a standard component for building homes, buildings, and ceilings due to it’s insulating and heat-resisting properties. It’s also relatively cheap. However, it was discovered to possess dangerous properties when tampered and turned into dust form, which can cause lung cancer when inhaled. That’s why firms such as The MPA Group Asbestos Testing Adelaide was formed to help eradicate homes that have asbestos in it.

 

 

Two Types of Asbestos

Currently, asbestos can fall into two different categories – loosely-bound or firmly-bound.

 

Firmly bound, or non-friable asbestos, are materials composed of asbestos fibres that are embedded in a hardened cement matrix. Before it was banned in the building construction in 1985, it was frequently used for the following:

 

  • Cement sheeting – flat and corrugated cement roofing
  • Imitation brick cladding
  • Exterior fibre cement cladding (fibro or AC), roof shingles, weatherboards, and billboard (siding)
  • PVC (Vinyl) coverings and floor tiles, bathroom linings, eave linings, and in the backing of cement tile underlay or linoleum floor coverings.
  • Water pipes and flue
  • Fireplaces and thermal boards
  • Eaves
  • Fencing

 

Loosely-bound or friable asbestos are materials that are, from its name, loose and soft. It can be reduced and crumbled to powder form with the simple pressure from your hands. While not often used in residential construction, friable asbestos can still be found in the following:

 

  • Ceiling and loose fill roof insulation
  • Insulation on hot water pipes, stoves, boilers, and old heaters
  • Soundproofing or spray-on insulation
  • Textured paints, coatings, and decorative ceilings
  • Heat-resistant fabrics

 

Throughout the years, multiple evidence has determined the dangerous tendencies of asbestos and its health risk to people and workers. Asbestos mostly affects people who are exposed to it in both its solid and powdered form for extended periods.

 

Dangers of Asbestos

Asbestos will only pose a health risk once its fibres are inhaled. When you breathe in asbestos fibres, it can lodge deep in your lung tissues and result in scarring, inflammation, and other asbestos-related severe diseases. Keep in mind that these conditions can take years, or even decades to develop.

 

Check for Asbestos Today

Asbestos fibres can be inhaled when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or tampered by breaking, drilling, cutting, and sawing. That’s why The MPA Group Asbestos Testing Adelaide centre highly advise that you let us check your home for asbestos, especially if it’s been built before 1985.