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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions in Colorado
Springs, CO
Springs, CO

What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring minerals that were, and still are used today in many different commercial products. Asbestos is made up of six different fibrous minerals that are renowned for their many appealing qualities for use, including strong fire resistance, heat resistance, electrical resistance, high tensile strength, sound dampening, and abundance.
Unfortunately, these properties come at a great risk to one's health, as asbestos has been shown to potentially lead to a development of fatal illnessess. 

Asbestos was banned in the US by the EPA in 1978, and phased out completely by 1989. However, this decision was overturned in 1991, and only a few asbestos containing products are banned today.

What diseases has asbestos exposure been linked with?-
Prolonged asbestos exposure has been linked to the following diseases;

Asbestosis- A scarring of the lung tissue that can lead to shortness of breath, and potentially respiratory failure.
Lung Cancer- Cancer of the lungs that cause difficulty breathing, weight loss, coughing, and can potentially be fatal.
Mesothelioma- A cancer that develops in the mesothelium, which is the protective lining that covers your lungs. Can cause shortness of breath, pleural effusion, weight loss, and is fatal.

Am I in danger if my home has asbestos in it?-
Asbestos only poses a danger to humans when it becomes airborne and gets inhaled or ingested. Many homes, especially older homes, in Colorado have some form of asbestos in them. As long as the asbestos containing materials aren't disturbed or damaged, it is completely safe to be around them. 

How can I tell if my home has asbestos in it?-
In most cases, there is no way to tell just by looking. Asbestos is microscopic, and has found its way into many different commercial products, such as textures, joint compounds, vinyl floorings, flooring tiles, insulations, mastic, and many others. Generally, if you have an older home, especially one built before 1978, you should have suspicions about asbestos being in your home.

If you know specific materials that were used in the construction, here are a few websites that list specific brands that used asbestos in their products.

My home was built long after asbestos was banned. Am I safe?-
Although asbestos use was banned in 1978 and phased out by 1989, this decision was overturned in 1991 after the decision in the Corrosion Proof Fittings v. the EPA case. While uncommon, we have found asbestos containing materials in newer homes. It is always better to be on the safe side and have an asbestos survey conducted to sample any suspect materials before they are disturbed regardless of age.

When do I need an asbestos test?-
You should consider getting an asbestos test anytime you can on having demolition or remodel work in your home. Asbestos can be present in walls, ceilings, floorings, and many other materials.. Most contractors won't perform any demolition work until the suspect materials are sampled. This ensures not only your safety, but also the safety of those working in your home.

Can I just buy an asbestos test kit and do it myself?-
We only recommend that these kits be used if you are confirming that a suspect material contains asbestos for your own knowledge. The asbestos test kits often produce false negatives due to a lack of construction knowledge, asbestos knowledge, and inadequate sampling. Not only that, but the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), EPA, and OSHA regulations do not accept any non-detect results from these kits. We are Colorado licensed building inspectors (LBIs). In order to hold our licenses, CDPHE requires all LBIs to attend a yearly refresher and state certified test to ensure that all inspectors stay current with any regulation or industry changes. Any results from an asbestos test are only recognized by CDPHE if they were conducted by an LBI.
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