Why is Loose-Fill Asbestos Testing Necessary in Australia?
If you own a home in Australia, and have been told you should get loose-fill asbestos testing done on it, you may be wondering why is it necessary? Is that type of asbestos really dangerous and, if so, what are the potential consequences of just leaving it where it is?
Why is loose-fill asbestos dangerous? -- Unlike typical asbestos sheets, loose-fill asbestos testing is crushed asbestos that was then poured into the ceilings and walls of hundreds of thousands of Australian homes.
This type of asbestos was used throughout the 1960s through to the 1980s so if, your home was built in that period, there is a good chance it may have loose-fill asbestos in the ceiling or walls.
It is so very dangerous as the particles are tiny. It can also escape into the air very easily, and can cause serious problems like difficulty breathing and lung cancer if you breathe it in.
What are the consequences of not getting loose-fill asbestos testing? -- Over time, both the asbestos and the walls or ceiling it is in will begin to break down and decay. When they do, even more particles of loose-fill asbestos will escape. This makes your home even more dangerous for you and your family as time goes on.
How is loose-fill asbestos testing done? -- Testing is quite quick to do, and does not require a testing company to rip away walls or damage your ceilings.
Instead, if there is not access to these spaces already, they will make small holes that can be sealed later. Air in these cavities is then collected, along with any materials found in them, and is sent off to the laboratory for testing.
You will usually be contacted within 48 hours with information as to if your house is contaminated with loose-fill asbestos or is considered to be free of the substance.
See loose-fill asbestos taskforce for more information.
