ASBESTOS IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN AIRBORNE

PEOPLE CAN GET ASBESTOS IN THEIR BODIES BY BREATHING OR SWALLOWING ASBESTOS DUST

ONCE IN THE BODY, ASBESTOS CAN STAY DORMANT FOR 10 - 40 YEARS. BEFORE DISEASES MANIFEST

AN ASBESTOS SURVEY CAN IDENTIFY ALL AREAS OF CONCERN BEFORE RENOVATIONS ARE PLANNED

REMOVING ASBESTOS IMPROPERLY CAN INCREASE POTENTIAL EXPOSURES

ONLY USE A LICENSED ASBESTOS ABATEMENT CONTRACTOR TO REMOVE ASBESTOS 

asbestos

ASBESTOS IN BUILDING
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral mined from ore. These fibers are never used alone and are always combined with other common building materials. The use of asbestos products was popular from 1900 through the 1970's. Asbestos has been used in over 3000 products. It became the additive of choice for building products because it will not burn, corrode, or conduct electricity and when mixed with other materials strength and durability are increased. Asbestos was commonly used as follows:

• Vinyl asbestos floor tiles
• Wall board plaster compounds, and ceiling textures
• Roofing materials and shingles
• Pipe, Boiler and Tank Insulation
• Fireproofing materials and ceilings

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ASBESTOS
Asbestos that has been made airborne will remain in the air for hours. Once inhaled, these fibers enter the lungs. Because the fibers are resistant to decay the body fails to eliminate asbestos the way other trace elements are removed.

Medical scientists have been unable to determine a safe level of exposure and hence recent legislation has been extremely restrictive. Asbestos is known to cause a number of health hazards including various forms of cancer, such as mesothelioma.

ASBESTOS INSPECTIONS AND ABATEMENT
At GAC, our professional staff will test all suspect building materials for asbestos. A survey is an on-site inspection that includes: a measurement of the size and quantity asbestos present, the condition of these materials, and hazard associated with any asbestos identified. A building owner or resident should never attempt to remove asbestos on his or her own. Only a professional, trained and certified to work with this material, should handle the removal of asbestos. Removal of asbestos by an unqualified person causes much more of a dangerous situation than if the asbestos had been left alone. When asbestos is present there are often several abatement options. Asbestos can be repaired, encapsulated or removed. With each of these options come different costs.

Call our offices to schedule an asbestos survey for your building.