Keeping your children safe from ACMs 

Asbestos is a fibre resistant to heat, fire and acid, which – because of these properties – was used in a wide variety of construction materials. That included insulation, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles and even paints among many other areas.

Between the 1920s and 1980s, millions of tons of refined asbestos were used throughout the UK to build our homes, with insulation and fireproofing being its main use. Whilst asbestos was banned from use in 1999, many older homes still contain traces of hazardous and lethal fibres to this day. 

How can you ensure your family is safe from the harm this material can pose?

Dangers

The one thing to be aware of is that asbestos, in a safely contained and managed state, does not pose health risks unless it deteriorates and crumbles. This is the main concern when it comes to asbestos risk in your home.

When it deteriorates or is disturbed through renovation or repair to your home, it will release microscopic fibres into the breathable air where they can be breathed into the lungs and begin their damage. Once inhaled, these fibres can cause chronic health problems to the lungs, throat and gastrointestinal tract – including mesothelioma, a rare chest cancer.

Today, your children’s schools may have removed or managed their asbestos materials to keep them safe from harm. However, in some older buildings, there will be traces in insulation around pipes, stoves and furnaces – as well as within walls and ceilings.

Reducing asbestos risk

In the majority of cases, asbestos-containing materials in the home are best to be left alone. If the material around your insulation, tiling and flooring is in good condition and out of the reach of children, then there is little to worry about.

Any asbestos removal required within your home needs to be conducted by nobody other than a competent removal company such as, asbestos removal Manchester and children should never be playing anywhere near the areas in question before or during any work in removal being conducted. If the materials are deteriorating or showing early signs, or if you are planning renovations that will disturb them, you must contact asbestos removal services to find out the whereabouts, type and condition before any work begins.

Incorrect removal
Incorrect asbestos removal may cause serious contamination by spreading fibres throughout your home. It is imperative that any concern you have about asbestos in your home be consulted with a competent contractor, able to conduct asbestos surveying and asbestos testing to ensure that your family is safe.

If you have concerns about your family’s welfare in older homes that could contain asbestos, make a call to your local removal company such as, asbestos removal South Manchester, to make your home safe.