How to deal with Asbestos in your Strata
These days when we hear of asbestos in a building, there tends to be panic, and everyone starts to fret about the health-related issues that asbestos brings. This was not always the case though, up until the 60s asbestos was widely used in Australia as cheap, easy, and fire-resistant insulation material. For this reason, we still have some buildings that have asbestos.
At Montano Strata Management, we have many years of strata management experience and have dealt with a wide range of strata issues including removing asbestos. In the event that you suspect that your building may have some asbestos, we have a plan that you can follow down below.
Asbestos health risks
Contrary to what you may have read, asbestos is not always harmful to health. Asbestos can become harmful as it ages or it is damaged. It breaks down into small pieces that can be inhaled and settle in the lungs. With time, these small bits of asbestos in the lungs can cause asbestosis (this is when there are scarring and inflammation in the lungs). Other diseases linked to asbestos inhalation include pleural mesothelioma which is a type of lung cancer that affects the pleura. Minimal exposure to asbestos is harmful so it is important that as soon as asbestos is found in a building, it is removed quickly.How to identify asbestos in a building
If your strata building was built before 1980 there is a high probability that some asbestos was used in the construction. Asbestos was used in the fibro sheeting in walls and ceilings, water drainage pipes, roofing shingles, carpet underlays, and gutters.
Unfortunately, asbestos cannot be identified by eye in most cases, so if you have an inkling that you may have asbestos in your building, you need to get the professionals in to confirm its presence.
What to do next
If it is confirmed that you do have asbestos on your property, you need to use a licensed professional asbestos removalist. The process of getting asbestos removed is very delicate and can be dangerous to those involved. All residents will need to be made aware of the asbestos removal process that will be taking place so that they can protect themselves accordingly.
If this sounds like a big headache that you are not ready to deal with, give us a ring. We have many years of experience managing strata titles and dealing with any problems that they face. We will be able to help you manage the removal of asbestos or any other challenge you may have.