Vinyl Flooring Asbestos Testing

You can also have a flooring sample tested for asbestos using one of the certified asbestos testing labs in this asbestos testing lab list.

Vinyl flooring asbestos testing.

When you take a sample presume the worst and protect yourself from asbestos. Asbestos vinyl flooring was a durable and economical material that offered many aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste. Testing of vinyl flooring for asbestos. Asbestos exposure may pose serious health risks.

An example would be a floor slab made from asbestos cement. Asbestos was used in vinyl wallpaper from the 1920s and in the vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring that rose to prominence in the 1950s. Found in many manufactured products prior to the mid 1980 such as pipe insulation ceiling and floor tiles paints caulking fire resistant clothing and brake pads. Multiple layers of tiles.

If you want to test for asbestos keep in mind that asbestos is only dangerous when it degrades and becomes airborne. This method is easy and is not time consuming. Because asbestos can t be seen with the naked eye materials must be submitted to laboratory certified by the environmental protection agency epa for testing prior to a remodel. In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure.

If you face a costly dusty messy demolition it may be appropriate to have a sample of the flooring tested. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. What are asbestos floor tiles. But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable.

But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable. Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. Therefore if you don t see signs of disintegrating pipes insulation walls vinyl flooring or other old materials in your home testing for asbestos may not be necessary. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment that is made up of long thin fibers that look similar to fiberglass.

When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable. If you do not have one you can buy them in any hardware store. If you have time and about 40. Lab testing of flooring for asbestos content.

Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste.