If your home was built between 1930 and 1980, there’s a high chance that asbestos was used during its construction. Unaware of its many dangers, asbestos was favoured for its fibre strength and heat resistance properties.
Today, however, we are well aware of the dangers this material poses to human health. If disturbed, asbestos particles become airborne and can cause cancer, asbestosis and other respiratory diseases.
Fortunately, with expert assistance, asbestos can be contained and neutralised. Read on to discover our guide to asbestos encapsulation.
What Is Encapsulation?
First things first, it’s worth clarifying the basics of encapsulation. As the name suggests, the encapsulation process involves coating the material in a sealant, which acts as a protective barrier between the potentially harmful fibres and the air. Not only does this minimise the chances of asbestos containing materials being disturbed, it totally prevents any fibres from becoming airborne.
It is worth noting that, although asbestos encapsulation and removal are often used interchangeably, the processes are not the same. Asbestos encapsulation allows the material to remain on the property, negating any need for extraction or removal. This is often cost effective and minimises any disturbance to business operations or homelife.
Below, we’ll discuss a few common encapsulation methods and their uses.
Mechanical Encapsulation
We thought we’d kick things off with one of the simplest forms of encapsulation. Mechanical encapsulation refers to the use of boarding and physical barriers between asbestos and an open space. Using appropriately placed sheet materials, the disruption of asbestos can be prevented. This minimises the risk of airborne particles and avoids the increased cost associated with alternative methods.
High Build Elastomeric Coating
Next on our list of encapsulation methods is high build elastomeric coating. This technique involves coating surfaces such as roofs, brickwork and masonry surfaces in a fluid-applied membrane, favoured for its flexibility and elongating properties.
When applied with expert precision, this method proves highly effective; high build elastomeric coatings can last for up to 20 years.
Penetrating Encapsulants
Moving on, another highly effective means of asbestos control is the use of penetrating encapsulants. Typically, this technique involves the spraying of specialised encapsulating chemicals onto asbestos containing materials, saturating the fibre’s capillaries and preventing particles from becoming dislodged or airborne.
Evans Asbestos: Reliable Asbestos Solutions
Here at Evans Asbestos, we’re pleased to offer our clients a range of high-quality asbestos encapsulation services including high build elastomeric coating, Mechanical encapsulation, penetrating encapsulants and water-based epoxy resins.
Our experts will advise you on the best type for your building, but this will depend on the type of property and the condition of the asbestos. We will complete thorough risk assessments, and submit a Plan of Work to the Health & Safety Executive on your behalf.
Simply get in touch to discuss your requirements.