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Where to look for Asbestos in your home or office
Until the 1970's many insulation and construction products were
made with asbestos (in fact, some still are today--but today they
must be clearly labeled). According to the EPA:
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"Today, asbestos is
most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace
insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard,
textured paints and other coating materials, and floor
tiles." |
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Asbestos In The Home/Office Checklist
This checklist, adapted from the EPA, is a good place to begin
your personal Asbestos inspection. However, it's always a good idea
to get a licensed professional to complete a thorough inspection if
you are concerned about Asbestos in your home.
- Insulation (check the attic, walls, ceilings, etc),
particularly if the house was built before 1950;
- Check steam pipes and boilers for paper tape or blankets
made of asbestos
- Flooring, particularly around stoves (since asbestos is well
known for it's fire resistance)
- Older furnaces (particularly coal, oil, and wood) may have
asbestos insulation in the form of cement sheet, millboard, or
paper; pay particular attention to worn seals around the door
gaskets
- Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement
- Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching
compounds used on wall and ceiling joints (though their use was
banned in 1977)
- Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired
fireplaces may contain asbestos
- Older products such as stove-top pads, fireproof gloves,
ironing board covers, and certain hairdryers may have some
asbestos compounds
- Asbestos is found in some vinyl, asphalt, and rubber floor
tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
- Soundproofing or decorative materials sprayed on walls and
ceilings.
Think you might have found some asbestos? Here's
how to find out for sure... |