Article from the Southern
Highland New's Property Guide - Thursday 15th March 2007.
HIA's quarterly Renovations Monitor reveals a surge
in renovation activity around Australia.
The probability is that this will continue as interest
rates and the unresolved dispute between federal and state governments
over land releases keep new home prices high.
With renovations come the danger especially in
older buildings of encountering asbestos. It is important to
be aware of the facts about asbestos.
I have been approached by older readers who can
remember, back many years when, as children they played around
asbestos sheeting piled up casually on building sites and who
worry that this may have "infected" them.
In general many older domestic building contain
non-friable, or firmly-bound asbestos fibres which are generally
agreed not to be a health risk if they remain sealed and in good
condition.
Certainly new asbestos sheets on an open building
site should not have posed any danger to casual observers.
However, asbestos which has been part of a home's
structure over many years, should be treated with extreme care
as it may have deteriorated, becoming more loosely bound or 'friable'.
It can also be found in this form in insulation
for older domestic heaters and stoves.
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So what do you do if asbestos is encountered during
renovation work? An HIA builder will advise you on what to do
next.
If the asbestos is in good condition, it may be
safe to seal and leave undisturbed. If the feeling is that it
should be removed then you should seek professional assistance.
It is not illegal to do the job yourself, but each
state and territory has very strict rules for handling that must
be followed during removal, packaging, transport and disposal
and you will need to consult your local authority before making
a move.
Unless you are an experienced builder with specialist
knowledge of asbestos removal it is best left to the experts
- certainly if you find the asbestos is loosely bound.
People have developed a range of ailments including
asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma after inhaling asbestos
fibres.
These diseases have generally only affected those
who have worked with the material over long periods without
adequate protection.
However, the exact level or duration of exposure
is not known, so take every precaution. It is better to be safe
than sorry.
For additional tips on dealing with asbestos visit www.homesite.com.au Australia's
premier home and garden website. |
