Forum Replies Created
- Bayside property investments wrote:Hi
In Brisbane what is the requirement if you would like to remove a half metre of asbestos? Is it possible to remove an asbestos roof and dispose of yourself?Thanks for your help.
There are a couple of things for you to keep in mind. Firstly asbestos is not something which should be taken lightly sad fact is it kills. If handled incorrectly. And is the risk to yourself and your family one which would outstrip the cost of getting someone in. often for the cost of 100 dollars people are trying to do these them and causing unforeseen problems for themselvesAs for the half a meter of removal, why would you wish to remove it yourself when the cost of gearing up for this would far outweigh the cost of getting someone to do it for you.Basic costing would be plastic 80 dollars. Ppe 100 dollars vacuum for asbestos dust 1400 dollars and disposal would be about 200 dollars. When for someone to come and do this for you would be all up a max of 150 dollars.
Also as for your roof the simple answer is no not unless you obtain a b class license and the proper equipment. There are companies out on the market place who will lift and remove your roof and dispose of it for 15 to 20 dollars per square meter. if you email me i can send you a list of companies. which would help you.
Wylie wrote:Hi Mackers. I have posted a question in the other thread regarding asbestos and would love your opinion and help on my problem. Thank you so much.You should have it vacuumed as this would be deemed as friable asbestos waste. ONLY a class licensed company could do this work. Do NOT allow any company to inform you that they can do it if they do not have and a class prescribed license. And the correct insurances as if you do not have this removed you run the very real risk of contaminating your home each time the man hole is lifted.This is a classic example of how the boggy builders go around doing this sort of work. Many times I hear the same story and it is all too often too late when we become involved as people are often losing house hold belongings because of contamination.Recently in MacKay I was there at the request of insurance companies to undergo inspections of works carried out by so called licensed builders and so called licensed asbestos removal companies. And I have to tell you out of the 19 houses I visited not one of them was done within the guidelines or code of practice. And indeed many of these houses were re done by me to remove the risk of contamination. Sadly many of these families have lost their possessions many of which could never be replaced but the sad fact is get the wrong company in to do the job and they will cause you future pain and heart ache
In your question you do not say where you are within this country but if you are within Queensland please feel free to email me and I can arrange for a list of companies to go to for you.
Wylie wrote:Hi Mackers (and anybody else who can help me).We had our fibro roof replaced about nine years ago. The roofer assured us he would remove it safely, wet it down, try not to break it etc etc. I made sure the kids were not around, but I was home and what a load of rot about the safety precautions. They were up on the roof breaking it, dropping it all over the yard and throwing it into the back of a plastic lined truck, with someone hosing it every so often. I was disgusted, but too late to stop them.
Just recently, a tech went into the roof to fix the air-con ducted through the roof space and he commented that there is lots of asbestos dust up there. I am wanting to know if we should be getting this dust vacuumed or is it best to leave it intact rather than stir it all up.
If I should get quotes for having it vaccumed, do you have the name of a company that would do this properly (rathern than "cowboy" style like the roofer)?
You should have it vacuumed as this would be deemed as friable asbestos waste. ONLY a class licensed company could do this work. Do NOT allow any company to inform you that they can do it if they do not have and a class prescribed license. And the correct insurances as if you do not have this removed you run the very real risk of contaminating your home each time the man hole is lifted.This is a classic example of how the boggy builders go around doing this sort of work. Many times I hear the same story and it is all too often too late when we become involved as people are often losing house hold belongings because of contamination.Recently in MacKay I was there at the request of insurance companies to undergo inspections of works carried out by so called licensed builders and so called licensed asbestos removal companies. And I have to tell you out of the 19 houses I visited not one of them was done within the guidelines or code of practice. And indeed many of these houses were re done by me to remove the risk of contamination. Sadly many of these families have lost their possessions many of which could never be replaced but the sad fact is get the wrong company in to do the job and they will cause you future pain and heart ache
In your question you do not say where you are within this country but if you are within Queensland please feel free to email me and I can arrange for a list of companies to go to for you.
trustieone wrote:Jayson
Thanks for your detailed reply,I will certainly take on board all your advice,i can assure you i would never use an unlicenced person to remove the A/C roof sheeting on any project i undertake.
I too have had asbestos clearence tests taken in the past where the air is monitored during removal of asbestos,and again on the completion of the job.
Your advice is all very good and accurate,to other readers of this thread do not mess with asbestos if you dont have to it isnt worth the risk to remove it recklessly..
Thanks again Jayson
your most welcome glad to be of help
As I stated before in a previous post about asbestos, being someone who removes these tiles on a daily basis and a licensed and insured asbestos removalist.
AND I REALLY WISH PEOPLE who are posting on these websites about asbestos would first understand that if they have a comment about it yes ok fair enough make a valid point but do not mislead people into believing that it is going to cost an arm or a leg to get it tested or have it removed when they do not know anything about it clearly,
There are a few companies around to test these tiles and no they won’t cost you 100 bucks a test. The basic testing would be about 30 to 50 bucks depending on which lab you use
Companies I suggest you use are as follows. Noel Arnold and associates, Parsons Brinkerhoff, if you are in any other state then Queensland but if you’re in Queensland then you might like to also try Queensland audits or Queensland Laboratories
They will do test of your tiles, a couple of things to mention here first under the code of practice in part 12.2 it talks of how to remove the tiles and how to do it properly. You can download the code from http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/1A198A7C-D0A7-40AD-964E-31673C695E92/0/AsbestosCode.pdf IT IS INPORTANT TO NOTE AT THIS POINT THAT NO OTHER STATE CODE OVER RIDES THIS CODE OF PRACTISE AND ANYONE WHO SAYS IT DOES IS WRONG the nohsc which is now the Australian compensation councils code is the ONLY CODE for safe removal of asbestos. While other states may have their own requirements for reporting or the requirements for removal they do not have the power to override this code. Take it from a person who is dealing with these issues on a daily basis. As from April 2005 although some states still had their own code of practice while there was a change over period they decided to adopt the NHOSC CODE AS A BASIC INDUSTRY STANDARD.
Again as I previously posted three things to take into account
Is the person you’re engaging to do the removal licensed?
Are they insured for asbestos removal which will be standalone insurance for asbestos liability and not PUBLIC LIABILTY?
And are they doing it in accordance with the code of practice.
If your tiles are on concrete then you may have to grind the floor to remove the asbestos backing from within the glue matrix. If you have to do it this way, it is a requirement that the room be encapsulated and also that it is under negative air pressure. With a five stage decontamination unit being used many of the not so professional companies will try and use a three stage but insist they follow the code and in 10.2.3 of the code it shows the requirements for a decontamination unit being a five stage and has the picture for everyone to see.
Basic costs for this will be. Around 50 to 75 dollars a square meter if you are in Queensland, other states have their own price structures dependant on the local companies and who is available to do it.
My suggestion to you would be a couple of things.
1 makes sure the tiles are tested contact a lab
2 if the tiles come back positive then engage an asbestos removal company who can handle the problem for you. If you are in Queensland you can contact the AIA asbestos industries association and if you are in New South Wales you can contact the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association as for the other states I’m sure they will have a similar association. For a list of recommended removalist who can handle your job.
3 do not mess around with asbestos as there is a simple fact but an important one here. ASBESTOS KILLS and in the wrong hands there is no doubt about that. All we can do is try and eliminate the risk of the chance of it killing us by handling it in the correct and proper fashion and following the code
Hi trustieone
Being a person who is a, A CLASS prescribed license holder and an a class license holder in his own right I would advise that you go to a hygienist company such as Queensland audits, Noel Arnold and associates, Queensland laboratories or Parsons and Brinkerhoff and ask them to do a report upon the stability and state of your roof as it is.
As we all know there are many varied and different reports into when a roof becomes friable or not. The common train of thought is that after ten years or so in the sun a roof can become brittle and can become friable if hail damage occurs.
I point you to the nohsc code of practice part 12.1.2.2 for roof removal which is the standard code of practice which most companies follow however there are a few companies who do not. But be aware that in 12.1.1 of the same code it talks of hail damage and how much of a risk it presents. The words according to the code of practice are hail, storm and fire damaged asbestos cement- products can pose a high risk of asbestos exposure and should be assessed to determine if they are friable. The code can be found here at this website http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/1A198A7C-D0A7-40AD-964E-31673C695E92/0/AsbestosCode.pdf
As far as the insurance companies covering this if there is a hail storm the sad fact currently after having worked with many insurance companies is probably not due to many of the insurance loss adjusters not knowing infact what they are dealing with. Many of the loss adjustors who turn up to fires which contain asbestos don’t even wear mask or overalls.
My advice to you is to seek a company who will do the work according to the code of practice who is insured to do asbestos removal work as many companies in this industry do not hold asbestos removal insurance they only hold public liability insurance which if you check with the insurance companies public liability NO LONGER COVERS ASBESTOS REMOVAL unless it is stated as demolition component and has asbestos nominated upon their policy
The check list for you should be.
Are they licensed? To do this removal
Are they insured? To cover you in the event they contaminate your home. Recently there was a company who removed a roof and broke the asbestos into the ceiling space leaving it behind and contaminating the home of the people involved.
Do they have references which you can contact about their workmanship? When I normally give a price and quote I offer something which no other company does and that is a full checkable work history including previous air test certificates I have obtained if the client has required them and also offer the clients the chance to check previous clients I have had and let them discuss amongst themselves as to my ability to do the job safely and in a timely fashion,
You will more than likely get quotes ranging from 60 dollars a square meter to 75 dollars a square meter. The difference in price is one of choice and sadly people normally are money driven but the price difference means the difference between doing a job properly and doing it in a hap hazard fashion
I would make just one more comment here which is
You would not trust your family to go to an unlicensed doctor so why trust an un licensed asbestos removalist to do your work which could if handled wrong potentially contaminate your family and also your tenants
Jayson
Asbestos removal tech
