Mesothelioma Lawyer
Stairwells and Asbestos
In most buildings, the largest amount of asbestos that has been used structurally can be found in a stairwell. Stairwells that are designed to be fire escapes can be filled with asbestos.
Stairwells are the site of much of a building’s asbestos because of its flame retardant properties and its ability to add strength to a structure. In the event of a fire, buildings are required to provide a stairwell to get any of the building’s occupants out of the burning building and to safety outside.
When a stairwell is also a fire escape, it is necessary that it be insulated, as much as possible, from the possibility of catching on fire. If the stairwell catches on fire, it can mean doom for many of the building’s occupants. Asbestos comes in handy for insulating the stairwell.
Another benefit is that asbestos is a very strong fiber. It can provide added structural strength which will help to prevent the stairwell from collapsing in the event of a fire or other sort of emergency.
While these two things are wonderful in the event of a fire, it is possible for the stairwell to become damaged during its lifetime and expose the occupants of a building to asbestos over time. Many of the buildings that have asbestos in the stairwells have been subject to renovation since they were originally built. This could mean that the asbestos-containing material was disturbed and allowed to release fibers into the air.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
If you have been exposed to asbestos and are concerned about developing mesothelioma or some other asbestos-related disease, contact the mesothelioma lawyer of Williams Kherkher at 1-800-220-9341 today.
