Asbestos Encapsulation - How Does It Work?Asbestos encapsulation is the process of using a product that either coats the asbestos and creates a membrane that prevents the fibers from getting into the air or penetrates the asbestos containing material and binds the components together so they cannot get into the air. In some cases asbestos encapsulation can be used in order to avoid the high costs and risks of asbestos removal. Asbestos encapsulation is a cheaper option, and is safe as long as the area does not need to be disturbed. If work is going to be done on the area of the house or building where there is asbestos in the near future, the asbestos will need to be removed. However, if the area is not likely to be disturbed it may be easier to just use asbestos encapsulation. This option is useful if you cannot afford to pay for asbestos removal at the time but need to do something about the asbestos. Asbestos encapsulation is also used after removing asbestos popcorn ceilings. This makes sure that any leftover asbestos fibers on the ceiling do not get into the air. Using asbestos encapsulation does not make it so that the asbestos never needs to be removed, it just defers the time when the asbestos will need to be removed. Any renovations to the area which has asbestos encapsulation will require the removal of the asbestos, adding that cost to the cost of whatever renovation is planned. Before choosing asbestos encapsulation you should keep in mind that eventually you will need to actually remove the asbestos unless you sell the building or house where you are doing the asbestos encapsulation. There are many different asbestos encapsulation products available, and which product is used depends on what type of surface or item is getting the asbestos encapsulation. There are types of asbestos encapsulation for surfaces that reach high temperatures, and types of asbestos encapsulation for pipes, pipe coverings, beams, ceilings, and other materials. Asbestos encapsulation can also be done by sealing off any areas containing asbestos with an air proof barrier, which can be made from sheetrock, plywood, polyethylene, plastic, plaster, or paint. The Environmental Protection Agency doesn't recommend asbestos encapsulation where the asbestos is more than one inch thick, water damaged, has poor cohesive strength, or where the asbestos is accessible to the people who are using the building. In these instances it is better to remove the asbestos to minimize the risk to the occupants of the building. |
