Asbestos Abatement

The United States is full of buildings that were built prior to 1980. In these buildings, it is almost certain that some part, somewhere, will have asbestos as a component. The dangerous material was used in spray-applied flame retardant insulation as well as a wide variety of other areas.

In commercial buildings, asbestos has been sprayed into spaces above false ceilings, inside technical ducts, and in any other small spaces that firefighters could have issues reaching in the event of a fire. The goal was to prevent property loss. In residences, asbestos was a common component of “popcorn ceiling” or “cottage cheese ceiling.” This use was allowed until 1978 but companies were allowed to use up the remaining stock and so any house built prior to 1986 could potentially have an asbestos-containing popcorn ceiling. The only way to know for sure is to have a small piece of ceiling tested by a laboratory.

Abatement, which is a reduction or decrease in something, is not always justified in a building. Some asbestos, depending on its friability and location, may be ok to leave in place rather than run the risk of contaminating the entire building while trying to remove it. If the fibers in their current location cannot become dislodged then they cannot be inhaled. If they cannot be inhaled, they pose a minimal amount of risk.

Flocking, a method of applying asbestos, is not one of those situations. This method allows asbestos fibers to drop off into the air gradually. It poses a risk not only to those who are in the room but also to maintenance personnel or anyone that might have to put a hole in a wall.

Contact an Asbestos Attorney

If you have been exposed to asbestos while it was being removed or through working in an office, contact the mesothelioma attorneys of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-781-3955 to discuss your situation and to determine what legal options exist.