How To Test For Asbestos In Plaster Walls In Sussex

If you live in Sussex, South East England, and your house was built before the 1990s, there's a chance that your plaster walls contain asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous material that can cause serious health issues if inhaled. Therefore, it's essential to test for asbestos in plaster walls and ensure that your property is safe from the harmful fibres. In this article, Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, a Sussex-based asbestos testing company, will explain how to test for asbestos in plaster walls in Sussex and why it's important to hire professionals to do the job right.

Asbestos And Plaster Walls

Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used in the construction industry until the 1990s due to its fire-resistant properties. It was often added as a coating to plaster walls to improve their fire resistance. However, once the health risks of asbestos became apparent, its use was banned, and builders stopped using asbestos in new constructions. Nevertheless, many older buildings still contain asbestos, and homeowners must take action to ensure that their property is free from this harmful material.

Plaster walls are one of the most common places where asbestos can be found. Asbestos-containing plaster was a popular material in the construction of homes, schools, and other buildings from the 1930s to the 1980s. Asbestos was used as a binder in plaster, providing it with additional strength and durability. Although the use of asbestos-containing plaster has diminished, it can still be found in many buildings constructed before 1990.

Risks Of Asbestos-Containing Plaster

Asbestos-containing plaster presents a risk to the health of those living or working in a building. Over time, asbestos fibres can become dislodged from the plaster and enter the air, where they can be inhaled. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause serious health problems, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Therefore, it's essential to test for asbestos in plaster walls and ensure that the area is safe from the harmful fibres.

How To Test For Asbestos In Plaster Walls

Testing for asbestos in plaster walls requires taking a small sample of the material and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. It's not recommended to take a sample yourself, as it can be dangerous and lead to cross-contamination of areas where asbestos isn't present. Instead, it's best to hire a professional asbestos testing company such as Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex to do the job right.

A professional asbestos testing company will have the knowledge and experience required to test for asbestos in plaster walls safely. They will follow strict guidelines to ensure that the testing process is carried out correctly without exposing anyone to asbestos fibres.

Why Hire Professionals

While it's tempting to save money and take a sample of the plaster yourself, it's not worth the risk. Not only is it dangerous to handle asbestos without the proper equipment and training, but you can also cross-contaminate areas of your home that are asbestos-free. Hiring a professional asbestos testing company is the best option to ensure that your property is free from asbestos fibres.

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex, we specialize in asbestos testing for residential and commercial properties throughout Sussex. Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience required to test for asbestos in plaster walls safely. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that the testing process is carried out correctly without exposing anyone to asbestos fibres.

The Process Of Asbestos Testing

The process of asbestos testing involves taking a small sample of the plaster and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. The sample is carefully taken from an area where asbestos is suspected, ensuring that it doesn't contaminate other areas of your home. Once the sample is taken, it's placed in a sealed container and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

At the laboratory, the sample is analysed under a microscope, looking for the presence of asbestos fibres. The results of the test will show whether asbestos is present in the plaster, and if so, what type of asbestos is present.

What To Do If Asbestos Is Found?

If asbestos is found in your plaster walls, there's no need to panic. Asbestos-containing plaster doesn't pose an immediate threat to your health unless it's disturbed. However, it's important to take precautions and prevent any disturbance of the asbestos-containing plaster.

The best course of action is to hire a professional asbestos removal company such as Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex. Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience required to safely remove asbestos from your property, ensuring that your home or workplace is free from this harmful material.

Conclusion

Testing for asbestos in plaster walls is essential to ensure that your property is free from the harmful fibres. Asbestos-containing plaster was a popular material in the construction of buildings until the 1990s, and many older buildings in Sussex still contain this dangerous material.

Hiring a professional asbestos testing company such as Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex is the best option to ensure that the testing process is carried out correctly and safely. If asbestos is found in the plaster, it's important to hire a professional asbestos removal company to safely remove the material.

If you're concerned about the presence of asbestos in your plaster walls in Sussex, South East England, contact Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex today on 01273 978238 or email us at [email protected] to schedule an asbestos testing appointment. Our website, affordable-asbestos-removal-sussex.co.uk, provides more information about our services and how we can help you ensure that your property is safe from asbestos.