Asbestos in a Commercial Property

While asbestos hasn’t been used in construction since way back in 1999 it remains present in many buildings dating back before this period.

30
Nov
2023
How Improved Insulation Could Cut Those Troublesome Energy Bills

How Improved Insulation Could Cut Those Troublesome Energy Bills

The percentage of households classed as being in fuel poverty in England is 11.1% according to a recent report by BEIS. The figures for Scotland are even more alarming with nearly 25% in fuel poverty according to the country’s housing condition report.

So if you find yourself struggling with your heating bills or even feeling the pinch you are certainly not the only one. The fuel poverty figures will be disappointing to a government that needs to increase awareness of energy efficiency to cut down on emissions.

Homes are classed as being in fuel poverty when more than 10% of their income is used to pay fuel bills. In colder climates such as those found in Scotland, people will generally require more energy to heat their homes than warmer parts of the country which perhaps partly explains why Scotland’s fuel poverty levels are higher.

One way to cut down spending on heating is to inspect how well your attic space is insulated. Insulation can degrade over time and damage to roof tiles may go unnoticed making the problem worse.

While the cost of insulation can seem high relative to the bills you are getting, over a period of time, upgrading your insulation will pay for itself and save you money on those heating bills.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos in a Commercial Property, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Spray Foam Insulation
11
Dec
2019

Does vermiculate insulation contain asbestos?

Should you be concerned if you have vermiculate insulation in your roof?

Vermiculate insulation is commonly used to insulate building roofs and walls. If you have vermiculate insulation in your home, you may be concerned by reports that some vermiculate can contain asbestos.

If your vermiculate insulation was installed after 1990 then you’ll be relieved to know that it is unlikely to contain asbestos. There is however a chance that older vermiculate insulation could be contaminated with the dangerous substance.

What is vermiculate?

Vermiculate is a natural material that expands when it is heated, making it ideal for insulation. It is flaky material that looks a little like grey, lightweight gravel. 

Vermiculate and asbestos

In its natural form, vermiculate is not dangerous and does not contain asbestos. However, prior to the 1990s, most vermiculate originated from one mine in America which was contaminated with asbestos, later causing problems for over 35 million homeowners in the USA.

Unfortunately, vermiculate from the same mine was imported to the UK for use as insulation in our homes prior to the 1990s, so it is possible that if your home contains very old vermiculate insulation it could too be contaminated with asbestos.

How to deal with old vermiculate insulation

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance that poses numerous health risks. It is a known carcinogen and can cause a variety of serious lung diseases and health problems.

If you suspect that your insulation could be contaminated by asbestos, then it is very important not to touch or disturb it any way as asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes airborne.

Instead, seek help from a professional who is licensed in the removal of asbestos. They can then test for the presence of asbestos and safely remove the insulation if necessary.

Spray foam insulation

If you are removing old insulation from your roof, then it will need to be replaced with a new insulation material to keep your home warm, comfortable and energy efficient.

Speak to our team here at Metropolitan Insulation about the benefits of our spray foam roof insulation by calling us on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos in a Commercial Property, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Noise pollution, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation Ideas, Thermal Insulation, Type of insulation, vermiculate insulation
20
Apr
2019

Common places to find asbestos in commercial buildings

If you own a commercial property that was built before the year 2000 then there could be asbestos lurking inside.

Up until 1999 asbestos was a common building material that was used for a variety of purposes in construction. After it was found to be linked to a number of serious health conditions it was banned from use and legislation was put in place to regulate its management.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 state that it is the dutyholder’s responsibility to determine whether asbestos is present in a building and then ensure that it is managed safely.

As the owner of a commercial property, you should ensure that a survey is carried out to assess whether there is any asbestos present in your building.

Where could asbestos be lurking?

Key areas of your commercial property that may contain asbestos include:

  • Sprayed interior coatings
  • Water tank
  • Insulation
  • Partition walls
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Vinyl floor tiles
  • Textured decorative coatings
  • Roof, gutters and downpipes

Asbestos insulating board is a fireproof material that was commonly used in ceiling tiles, partition walls, fireproof doors, and lift shafts. To the untrained eye, it is difficult to tell an asbestos board apart from a non-asbestos one.

There is also a risk that the exterior of your building could feature asbestos cement. Asbestos cement is simply normal cement with asbestos mixed in. It was often used in the construction of roofs, downpipes, gutters, soffits and flues.

What to do if asbestos is found in your commercial property

If a survey does find asbestos present in your building, then you will be required to take measures to manage the risk to protect yourself and the building’s tenants.

The correct action to take will depend on the location of the asbestos and its extent and condition. Options for management may include monitoring, maintenance, removal or encapsulation.

To find out about how our spray foam can be used to encapsulate asbestos in commercial properties,give us a call on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos in a Commercial Property, Choosing Insulation, Commercial Property, Common Soundproofing Myths, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption
10
Apr
2019

Asbestos encapsulation versus asbestos removal: which is best?

If you find asbestos lurking within your property, it’s important to consult an expert before deciding what to do with it.

Asbestos was a popular building material until it was found to be a dangerous substance and subsequently banned in 1999. It was discovered that fibres of airborne asbestos posed a significant health risk when breathed in.

If you discover asbestos in your property, then it is your responsibility to ensure that it is safely managed.

A couple of options available for managing asbestos include complete removal and encapsulation.

Encapsulation involves covering the asbestos with an impervious material that protects it from damage and prevents any fibres from becoming airborne.

Asbestos removal or encapsulation: which should I choose?

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) any asbestos in your property is safe unless it becomes damaged. Damage can be caused by drilling, sawing, sanding, tearing down, or otherwise disturbing the material so that fibres become airborne.

The right course of action will depend on the condition and extent of the asbestos in your property and a risk assessment should be carried out by an expert prior to any work being carried out.

Advantages of encapsulation

If encapsulation is deemed to be an appropriate course of action, then it has several advantages over removal including:

  • Can usually be completed quicker than removal.
  • Causes less disruption.
  • No need to dispose of hazardous material.
  • Affordable.
  • Minimal risk as asbestos is disturbed less.

If you discover asbestos in your property you should never attempt to remove or encapsulate it yourself. The Control of Asbestos Regulations require this work to be carried out by a trained and licensed professional contractor.

To find out more about how asbestos can be safely encapsulated using our spray foam solutions, give our team of experts a call on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos in a Commercial Property, Metropolitan Insulation
10
Jan
2019

Asbestos in a Commercial Property? Here’s What You Need To Know

If you own a commercial property have you ever thought that about asbestos? While asbestos hasn’t been used in construction since way back in 1999 it remains present in many buildings dating back before this period. The penalties for those maintaining a building and ignoring the risks of asbestos exposure are severe as well as the potential consequences for those exposed to fibres so it is worth understanding what needs to be done if there is the risk of asbestos exposure present in your commercial property.

Much of the legislation on asbestos refers to Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) and Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006). If you are the landlord and owner of the building, responsibility for dealing with risks posed by asbestos will be in your hands and anyone occupying the building as a commercial tenant must also comply with any action that needs to be taken.

Asbestos becomes dangerous when it is disturbed and dangerous fibres are released. These fibres enter the lungs and cause various cancers and other illnesses. Proper assessment of a building suspected of containing asbestos should include an inspection to see if the material is present, the creation of records and an assessment the condition of the asbestos. Anyone carrying out works must also be notified of its presence.

Removing asbestos is a difficult and expensive tasks due to the risks involved. A cheaper and easier way to deal with asbestos is via encapsulation which essentially seals in the material so that it doesn’t pose a risk.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos in a Commercial Property, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation