Planning a major commercial renovation or construction project at your place of business? Whether you’re in Surrey, Langley or elsewhere in the Greater Vancouver area, local laws state that you won’t be able to get started until you’ve had a thorough hazardous materials survey (hazmat survey) performed by an industry professional to ensure that there is no asbestos on site.
A hazmat survey is the best way to protect your own health, the health of your customers, your employees, and any workers involved in your renovation or construction project. You’ll also safeguard your financial interests and protect yourself from liability claims that could result from someone being accidentally exposed to asbestos.
Keep reading to learn more about where asbestos can be found, the common building materials that were once made with asbestos and why it’s so dangerous to human health.
What Kinds of Buildings Could Contain Asbestos?
Homes, schools, hospitals, government buildings, warehouses and nearly any structure built before 1990 could potentially contain asbestos. If you’re renovating your commercial property, you might start off by demolishing a part of the existing structure and then removing demolished building materials like ceilings, walls and floors. Failure to identify asbestos in any of these materials could put everyone involved in the project at risk and leave you vulnerable to government fines, medical costs and lawsuits.
Types of Building Materials that Could Contain Asbestos
Many different types of building materials could potentially contain asbestos including:
Air ducts
Ceiling tiles
Electrical wires
Exterior siding
Flooring
Furnaces
Roofing materials
Roofing shingles
Tubes and plumbing pipes
Vinyl tiles
Wall tiles
What Makes Asbestos So Dangerous? While asbestos is a completely natural substance, it poses a serious risk to human health. But asbestos only becomes a risk when the small particles and fibres it contains are disturbed and released into the air, which is why it’s so important to test before your renovation or construction project begins. Airborne asbestos particles are easily inhaled and can cause serious health problems such as scarring, inflammation, cancer and various lung diseases. Asbestos Testing In and Around Vancouver Protect your business investment with thorough and professional asbestos testing from BC Hazmat Inspections today. Whether you’re in Surrey, Burnaby or anywhere else in the Greater Vancouver region, our dedicated team of professional inspection consultants have the expertise to quickly and reliably assess the condition of your commercial or residential property. Don’t take a chance on asbestos; have your building inspected today. Contact us now to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
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