The 3 Types of Asbestos Removal

What are the various asbestos types that property owners should be aware of?

There are three forms of asbestos removal:

• Type 1 – One to 10 square feet,
• 2 – 11 to 100 square feet,
• 3 – 100+ square feet,

You must be certified to remove anything over Type 2, under Ontario regulations.

Ontario Asbestos Abatement Standards: 253W and 253S

Following that, we operate in Ontario under two standards: 253W, which is for asbestos workers, and 253S, which is for supervisors. 

A 253W is needed in order to perform a Type 3 operation within the province. Also, you must have succeeded in passing your 235W course, you can not just have taken that course.

You must pass the supervisory course to be eligible for 253S. People with a 253W can only be supervised by someone with a 253S.

That is a long way of saying that you can do some of the smaller jobs and some of the more simple jobs on your own, such as gaskets, filters, and small quantities of asbestos, as long as you do your research, protect yourself and protect the people around the site.

You have the potential to do so without a doubt.

When Do You Hire a Professional to Remove Asbestos?

I strongly advise hiring a specialist for something Type 2 or higher.

There are some steps that must be followed. There is a containment system that must be developed. Negative pressure must be built within those contaminants, which is critical.

The negative pressure allows only air to enter the enclosure. The closure prevents air from escaping without first passing through HEPA filters.

You’ll need to learn how to do it correctly.

The last thing you want is to build up back pressure or generate constructive pressure, then spew asbestos dust out into the common area or anywhere you happen to be doing the job – like your house – or anything similar.

Type 3 Asbestos Removal Necessitates the Assistance of a Professional

Type 3 can not, in my opinion, be handled by someone who does not have the necessary experience.

After all, you’re worried about health and safety at the end of the day.

Any possible liability is the name of the game whether you’re a landlord, building owner, or developer. You’re actually responsible if you were aware of it and didn’t deal with it properly. The Ministry of Labor will levy fines and penalties against you.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

When it comes to asbestos contamination litigation and lawsuits, they usually come back at you, particularly if someone gets injured or sick as a result of it down the road.

Nobody wants to be the one keeping the purse strings when a lawsuit is filed against them, right? 

Clean-up of the Work Area and Waste Removal

Surfaces that have had asbestos insulation removed should be rubbed to loosen any residual content before being washed or vacuumed clean. Any remaining fibers can be encapsulated with a water-based sealant.

The work area, the inner surface of the enclosure, and the tools and equipment must be thoroughly washed, either by hand washing or vacuuming with a HEPA filter, followed by a visual inspection.

Before being removed from the work area, equipment, materials, and other objects must be washed with damp wiping or a HEPA vacuum and put in a container appropriate for storing asbestos waste.

The work area and enclosure must then be inspected by a professional worker to ensure that any identifiable dust, debris, or residue containing asbestos has been removed.

Icon Restoration Can Help You with Asbestos Removal

Icon Restoration’s experts are dedicated to responding to emergency cleanups in a prompt and competent manner. Members of our restoration team are now available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies in the Toronto area.

Icon Restoration is available for homeowners and businesses at all hours of the day and night.

Are you looking for asbestos removal services for your Toronto property?

Please call on (416) 901-4266 or email info@iconrestoration.com for more information.