What You Need to Know about Pre-Demolition Asbestos Removal

If you are preparing to have your building or commercial property demolished, you may think that asbestos removal is no longer necessary. However, according to Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual from the provincial government, all asbestos-containing materials must be removed from a building before it can be demolished. If you’re planning on having a property torn down, here are the most important things you need to know about pre-demolition asbestos removal.

Why Is Pre-Demolition Asbestos Removal Important?

Pre-demolition asbestos removal is an important health and safety precaution for anyone involved in the taking down an old property or constructing a new one in its place. Without proper removal, workers may be exposed to asbestos spores in the air during the demolition or construction process, which can lead to serious health problems such as lung damage and cancer.

How Does Pre-Demolition Asbestos Removal Work?

Pre-demolition asbestos removal is a comprehensive procedure that focuses on removing asbestos from the hard-to-reach areas of your property, such as underneath floorboards, the insides of pipes and shafts, inside the walls and above ceiling tiles.  Special care is taken to make sure that all areas of the property are inspected and cleared of asbestos to make the demolition process as safe as possible.

Exceptions

Asbestos-containing materials may be left in place during demolition in certain circumstances. These specific instances must be approved according to Section 34 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code. Grounds for an exemption from pre-demolition asbestos removal include:

• Demolition will be done by machine
• Removal of the material is problematic and would cause more risk of exposure to workers than leaving it
• The hazardous material contains less than 5% asbestos

An asbestos inspection is required to determine if you qualify for these special exceptions. Even if you do qualify, in most cases it is still recommended that you have the asbestos material removed.

An asbestos inspection and removal is a critical part of any building demolition. For qualified and experienced pre-demolition asbestos inspection and removal services, contact us today at Certified Asbestos Removal and Restoration.