How to recognize asbestos: tips to help you detect it

Asbestos is a well-known material in the construction industry, since its name is associated with a large number of products present in the construction process. Due to the seriousness of its exposure for people’s health, identifying the presence of asbestos in the environment is vital.

At Agforest we give you some tips to help you detect if asbestos is present in your environment.

Year of construction of the building

One of the most common indicators of the presence of asbestos in a building is its year of construction. Structures built before the 1980s are more likely to contain asbestos, as it was widely used in building materials up to that date.

Likewise, if it was built before 2002, it is very likely to contain asbestos, since until this year it was not considered illegal to sell and use it. Normally, you will find white asbestos, but there are also other types of asbestos such as blue or brown asbestos.

NTuralite plates with NT

Non-asbestos asbestos-free asbestos wallboards usually have the acronym NT, which stands for New Technology, and were first produced after asbestos was banned. Therefore, if they do not have these acronyms, they probably contain asbestos.

If you suspect that your building has asbestos, it is important to have a professional inspection to confirm the presence of this material.

Roofing or piping installation documents

If you have the papers specifying the characteristic or structure of the installation of the asbestos roof, they could indicate whether that component contains asbestos.

Remote sensing of asbestos

Remote sensing, using advanced technologies such as satellites or drones equipped with special cameras, can help identify suspicious areas in buildings without the need to touch them directly. This technique can provide detailed images for an initial assessment.

This is the fastest and most effective way to detect asbestos in a large population.

Moreover, from Agforest, we have at your disposal a service on asbestos census. This consists of detecting by means of high definition satellite images and the help of artificial intelligence any trace of asbestos in those areas where this analysis is required.

Asbestos kit

An asbestos detection kit allows samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos to be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

The kit generally includes instructions, personal protective equipment, sample collection tools, sealing materials, labels and a prepaid container for shipment to the laboratory.

It is vital to handle with care, following instructions, due to the risks associated with asbestos. It is recommended to consider professional help and check local regulations before use.

Although, as we have said, this is a measure to detect it in a particular way and not for a large population. A somewhat less innovative technique.

Hiring a professional company

Hiring a professional asbestos detector is vital for health and safety reasons, as asbestos is dangerous and carcinogenic. In addition, these experts have the knowledge and experience necessary to safely and effectively handle and identify asbestos-containing materials.

How to initiate an asbestos verification process?

In this first contact, we clarify the interested party’s questions, identify the needs and prepare a quotation.

Once the quotation is approved, a specialist from our team will travel to the specified site to collect the samples to be analyzed.

After performing the asbestos survey, we will provide the client with a comprehensive report of the findings, indicating the affected areas that need intervention.

If you are interested in detecting asbestos, Agforest can help you with our remote sensing service, contact us now.