To Request a Home Inspection Call 817-442-9100
Office: 817-442-9100
Cell:817-797-2067
Stephen Ferguson
Professional Inspector TREC #7807
Abestos Information
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks, of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. There
are several kinds of asbestos fibers, all of which are fire resistant and not easily destroyed or degraded by natural
processes. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that
they can even be woven into cloth, because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer,
industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products.
The above photo shows a typical asbestos insulated heating pipe found in older homes.
During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos have been used in industrial sites, homes, schools,
shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have
been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very
widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from
southern Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and Australia.
Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos has been shown to cause cancer of the lung and stomach according to studies of workers and others exposed
to asbestos. There is no level of exposure to asbestos fibers that experts can assure is completely safe. Some asbestos
materials can break into small fibers which can float in the air and these fibers can be inhaled. The tiny fibers are so small
they can not be seen with the naked eye. They can pass through the filters of normal vacuum cleaners and get back into
the air. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in tissue for a long time. After many years cancer or
mesothelioma can develop.
Are All products With Asbestos A Health Risk?
No. A health risk exists only when asbestos fibers are released from the material or product. Soft, easily crumbled
asbestos containing material has the greatest potential for asbestos release and therefore has the greatest potential to
create health risks.
Do All People Exposed To Asbestos, Develop Asbestos Related Disease?
No. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not develop any related health problems. Health studies of
asbestos workers and others, however, show that the chances of developing some serious illnesses, included lung
cancer, are greater after exposure to asbestos.
What Are Asbestos-Containing Products?
What is common to many asbestos-containing products is that they were (are) used to contain heat (i.e. thermal
insulation.) This was the main reason for their use. It is impossible to list all of the products that have, at one time or
another, contained asbestos. One of the most common products asbestos is found in, is in the insulation material found
on heating pipes and ducts of homes built before 1960.
Some of the other common asbestos-containing products are insulating cement, insulating block, asbestos cloth, gaskets,
packing materials, thermal seals, refractory and boiler insulation materials, transite board, asbestos cement pipe,
fireproofing spray, joint compound, vinyl floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics, adhesives, coatings, acoustical textures, duct &
pipe insulation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, roofing products, insulated electrical wire and
panels, and brake and clutch assemblies.
How Can I tell If I Have Asbestos In My Home?
People who have frequently worked with asbestos (such as plumbers, building contractors or heating contractors) often
are able to make a reasonable judgment about whether or not a material contains asbestos on a visual inspection. Many
professional home inspectors also can make a reasonable visual judgment. To be absolutely certain, an industrial
hygienist would have to make the identification.
If Asbestos Is Found In My Home, What Should I Do?
In most cases, asbestos containing materials are best left alone.
When it is necessary to disturb asbestos, you should contact a licensed asbestos
contractor. You can also obtain a copy of Asbestos in the Home published by the U.S.
Consumer Products Safety Commission (800-638-2772) which discusses the situation
and makes recommendations. Remember, do not dust, sweep, or vacuum particles
suspected of containing asbestos fibers.
[ Back ]
Office: 817-442-9100
Cell:817-797-2067
Stephen Ferguson
Professional Inspector TREC #7807
Abestos Information
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks, of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. There
are several kinds of asbestos fibers, all of which are fire resistant and not easily destroyed or degraded by natural
processes. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that
they can even be woven into cloth, because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer,
industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products.
The above photo shows a typical asbestos insulated heating pipe found in older homes.
During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos have been used in industrial sites, homes, schools,
shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have
been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very
widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from
southern Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and Australia.
Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos has been shown to cause cancer of the lung and stomach according to studies of workers and others exposed
to asbestos. There is no level of exposure to asbestos fibers that experts can assure is completely safe. Some asbestos
materials can break into small fibers which can float in the air and these fibers can be inhaled. The tiny fibers are so small
they can not be seen with the naked eye. They can pass through the filters of normal vacuum cleaners and get back into
the air. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in tissue for a long time. After many years cancer or
mesothelioma can develop.
Are All products With Asbestos A Health Risk?
No. A health risk exists only when asbestos fibers are released from the material or product. Soft, easily crumbled
asbestos containing material has the greatest potential for asbestos release and therefore has the greatest potential to
create health risks.
Do All People Exposed To Asbestos, Develop Asbestos Related Disease?
No. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not develop any related health problems. Health studies of
asbestos workers and others, however, show that the chances of developing some serious illnesses, included lung
cancer, are greater after exposure to asbestos.
What Are Asbestos-Containing Products?
What is common to many asbestos-containing products is that they were (are) used to contain heat (i.e. thermal
insulation.) This was the main reason for their use. It is impossible to list all of the products that have, at one time or
another, contained asbestos. One of the most common products asbestos is found in, is in the insulation material found
on heating pipes and ducts of homes built before 1960.
Some of the other common asbestos-containing products are insulating cement, insulating block, asbestos cloth, gaskets,
packing materials, thermal seals, refractory and boiler insulation materials, transite board, asbestos cement pipe,
fireproofing spray, joint compound, vinyl floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics, adhesives, coatings, acoustical textures, duct &
pipe insulation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, roofing products, insulated electrical wire and
panels, and brake and clutch assemblies.
How Can I tell If I Have Asbestos In My Home?
People who have frequently worked with asbestos (such as plumbers, building contractors or heating contractors) often
are able to make a reasonable judgment about whether or not a material contains asbestos on a visual inspection. Many
professional home inspectors also can make a reasonable visual judgment. To be absolutely certain, an industrial
hygienist would have to make the identification.
If Asbestos Is Found In My Home, What Should I Do?
In most cases, asbestos containing materials are best left alone.
When it is necessary to disturb asbestos, you should contact a licensed asbestos
contractor. You can also obtain a copy of Asbestos in the Home published by the U.S.
Consumer Products Safety Commission (800-638-2772) which discusses the situation
and makes recommendations. Remember, do not dust, sweep, or vacuum particles
suspected of containing asbestos fibers.
[ Back ]