What Is The Lab Test For Asbestos In Sussex?

If you live or work in Sussex or the South East of England, you may be wondering what is the lab test for asbestos in Sussex? Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that was once widely used in the construction industry due to its fire-resistant properties. However, once it was discovered that asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, its use has been banned in many countries. Nonetheless, as many buildings in the UK were constructed before its banning, there is still a risk of asbestos exposure from old buildings.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex is an asbestos testing company in Sussex that can conduct tests to help identify whether there is asbestos present in your property. In this article, we will go through what asbestos is, why it is dangerous, how to sample for asbestos and what our process is for asbestos testing.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of six different fibrous minerals: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. It was once widely used in buildings due to its durability, insulating properties and resistance to heat and fire. Asbestos can be found in a variety of building products including walls, floors, ceilings, insulation, pipes and roofing.

Why is asbestos dangerous?

Although asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, it is extremely dangerous when disturbed. When asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be easily inhaled into the lungs, where they become lodged and can cause serious health problems. Asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory diseases. Often, these diseases are not detected until years after asbestos exposure has occurred.

How to sample for asbestos

To help identify whether asbestos is present in a property, a sample needs to be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The process of asbestos testing involves the collection of material from a suspected asbestos-containing material (ACM) and sending it to the laboratory to analyse. After the sample has been taken, it should be kept in a sealed container until it is analysed in the laboratory.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex's process for asbestos testing

Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex are a specialist asbestos testing and removal company that are based in Sussex. We utilise a number of techniques to identify asbestos-containing materials, including asbestos surveys and sampling.

Asbestos Sampling

We take samples of materials that are commonly found in properties, such as insulation and tiles, to check if they contain any asbestos. Asbestos testing is essential for any property built before the 2000s, as many buildings made before this time contain asbestos. Our asbestos testing service ensures that you know exactly what is present in your property.

Asbestos survey

We understand the importance of asbestos surveys to ensure that property owners or occupants understand the extent of asbestos-containing materials within their building. Our asbestos surveyors can attend your property, identify any potential asbestos-containing materials and compile a comprehensive asbestos report detailing these materials' location and extent.

Our assessment process

If you suspect that your property may contain asbestos or if you require an asbestos survey, we encourage you to contact us. Our assessment process is as follows:

• Complete our contact form on our website to receive a quote for the testing service.
• One of our staff will contact you back to arrange a date and time for our team to visit the property.
• Our specialist team will collect the asbestos samples from the property.
• We will then send the samples to a UKAS accredited laboratory for analysis.
• Once we receive the report from the lab, we will provide you with a comprehensive report detailing the findings.
• If the report concludes that asbestos is present in your property, we will provide you with advice on the next steps you should take.

What type of materials can contain asbestos?

Asbestos can be found in a wide range of building materials, including:

• Pipe insulation
• Heating ducts
• Boilers
• Insulation behind boilers or around pipes
• Textured decorative coatings like artex
• Ceiling tiles
• Floor tiles

Why it is important to get a professional asbestos test and removal

If you suspect that your property contains asbestos, it is imperative that you get it professionally tested by a licensed asbestos testing company like Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex. DIY testing kits are not recommended as they may not provide accurate results, and you could put yourself and others at risk if you try to remove the asbestos yourself.

Similarly, the removal of asbestos is a job for a specialist contractor. This is because disturbing or damaging asbestos-containing materials can release asbestos fibers into the air, which can be extremely hazardous.

Conclusion

To conclude, asbestos is a hazardous material that can be found in many buildings constructed before 2000. If you are unsure whether your property contains asbestos, it's important to get it tested by a professional asbestos testing company like Affordable Asbestos Removal Sussex. Our process ensures that you know exactly what is present on your property and get the proper advice on what to do if asbestos is present. Contact us today to organise a test, and we will help you have the peace of mind that you require.