Properly managing asbestos demolition is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.
Asbestos is a mineral once found in a wide variety of construction materials. However, decades later, a link has been established between asbestos and several respiratory problems.
For this reason, demolishing a building that contains asbestos must always follow a specific asbestos demolition protocol.
In this article, learn more about asbestos and how to safely manage the demolition of a building containing it.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ASBESTOS DURING DEMOLITION WORK?
A house that contains asbestos does not automatically pose a danger to its occupants. Health risks are primarily present when asbestos fibers are airborne. It is those who breathe in asbestos fibers who are exposed to diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Asbestos fibers can be released into the air during renovation or demolition work that involves handling materials containing it.
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WHICH MATERIALS MAY CONTAIN ASBESTOS?
For many years, asbestos was an important component of products used in several industrial sectors, including construction. It was valued for its high heat resistance and insulation capacity.
Here are some examples of materials that may contain asbestos:
- Asphalt roofing shingles;
- Insulation;
- Ceiling tiles and their adhesives, and suspended ceiling panels;
- Fiber cement materials such as exterior siding panels, soffit panels, pipes;
- Gypsum boards;
- Joint compounds;
- Bitumen roofing felt;
- Sprayed coatings;
- Various insulation (boilers, ventilation ducts);
- Plaster, stucco, textured coatings, and other decorative finishes;
- Vinyl floor tiles on cement backing and their adhesives;
- Vermiculite insulation;
- And many other building materials.
You can understand that asbestos can hide almost anywhere. Therefore, it is important to identify materials that may contain asbestos before considering renovation work or demolishing a building. This also applies to post-disaster demolitions.
QUEBEC LEGISLATION RELATED TO WORK THAT MAY RELEASE ASBESTOS DUST
To ensure the health and physical integrity of workers and the general population, Quebec legislation requires the identification of materials containing asbestos and the establishment of safe work procedures before any work that may release asbestos dust is undertaken.
Here are some examples of safety standards related to asbestos management that may apply during asbestos demolition work:
- The employer must establish a register that identifies asbestos-containing sprayed coatings and insulation in buildings constructed before February 15, 1990, and May 20, 1999, respectively;
- All other materials and products that may contain asbestos must be inspected before any work that may release asbestos dust is undertaken, and this information must be included in the register;
- The initial assessment must be updated every two years for asbestos-containing sprayed coatings and insulation;
- Damaged asbestos-containing materials must be repaired;
- The employer must keep the register updated, maintain it as long as the building is under their authority, and make it available to workers and their representatives working at the establishment.
THE NEED TO DECONTAMINATE BEFORE DEMOLISHING
Before proceeding with the complete or partial asbestos demolition of a building, it is essential to employ decontamination specialists who will remove all traces of asbestos. To do so, a reputable company will follow a strict protocol that complies with the highest industry standards of asbestos demolition.
Asbestos removal work will begin with the collection of samples from materials suspected of containing asbestos. The analysis will determine the type and concentration of asbestos, essential information for implementing appropriate safety measures.
In most cases, sealed enclosures will be installed, along with a changing room and showers for workers carrying out the decontamination work. The workers will also need to wear personal protective equipment when entering the contaminated area.
Once the asbestos-containing materials are removed, they will be placed in airtight bags and transported to an approved center where such hazardous materials are managed.
FOR DEMOLISHING A BUILDING CONTAINING ASBESTOS, TRUST EXCAVATION CHANTHIER
In conclusion, to demolish a building while protecting yourself from asbestos, you must first inspect it to identify materials that may contain asbestos. Then, if asbestos is confirmed, asbestos removal must be performed before moving on to demolition work.
To simplify things, you can also entrust your work to our demolition company in Montreal. At Excavation Chanthier, we offer an all-inclusive approach that includes the development of a precise demolition plan, the removal of hazardous materials, and their disposal. Contact us to learn more about our services.