Explainer: How to tell if your building has asbestos
Seven months after Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Aden Duale, set a firm deadline of December for property owners still using asbestos roofing to bear the cost of removing and safely disposing of it, in line with recommendations from NEMA, the Cabinet has now officially approved a nationwide initiative to eliminate the hazardous material from public and private facilities.
Despite the directive issued in August last year, many public institutions, including hospitals, and private property owners have continued to defy the order, leaving buildings with asbestos still in place.
World Health Organization classifies asbestos as a group of naturally occurring mineral fibres that you might find in old roofs, floors, pipes, and insulation. While it was considered strong, heat resistant and affordable, asbestos is harmful to health. When it’s disturbed, like during construction or renovation, it can release tiny fibres into the air.
The WHO attributes more than 200,000 deaths globally every year to asbestos, along with a heavy impact on people’s health.
“All six main forms of asbestos have been assessed by WHO as being carcinogenic to humans,” states the agency responsible for international public health.
“Asbestos exposure, including chrysotile, causes cancer of the lung, larynx and ovaries, and mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the thin layers of tissue that cover most of the organs in the body. There is also clear scientific evidence that asbestos causes chronic respiratory diseases such as asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and other adverse effects on the lungs.”
Kenya’s construction industry extensively used asbestos in the 1960s as the minerals were considered to be strong, heat resistant and affordable.
Its peak global consumption occurred between the 1970s and 1980s before health risks became widely acknowledged.
More than 60 countries all over the world have implemented complete or partial bans, including the entire European Union, Australia, Japan, and Canada. In 2006, Kenya joined countries that were getting rid of the hazardous material.
Asbestos can be difficult to identify visually, as it is used in many building materials. Here’s how to determine if your building might contain asbestos:
Consider the age of your building
- Buildings constructed between the 1940s and 1990s are most likely to contain asbestos
- Homes built before 1980 have a high probability of containing asbestos materials
- In Kenya, many government and institutional buildings constructed during this period used asbestos extensively
Common places asbestos was used
- Roofing materials (especially corrugated cement roofing sheets)
- Ceiling tiles and insulation
- Floor tiles (particularly 9″×9″ vinyl tiles)
- Pipe insulation and cement pipes
- Wall panels and cement sheeting
- Textured paints and coatings (popcorn ceilings)
- Boiler and furnace insulation
- Around electrical fixtures
Warning signs
- Corrugated cement roofing that appears grey and brittle
- Deteriorating ceiling tiles or pipe insulation
- Crumbling or damaged wall panels
- Worn flooring revealing fibrous backing material
Professional Identification
- Important: You cannot reliably identify asbestos by sight alone
- The only definitive way to identify asbestos is through laboratory testing
- Hire a certified asbestos inspector for proper testing
- Never try to take samples yourself as this can release dangerous fibers
What to do if you suspect asbestos
-
- Don’t panic – undisturbed asbestos generally poses minimal risk
- Don’t drill, sand, cut or disturb suspected materials
- Keep children away from damaged materials
- Contact a licensed asbestos professional for testing
- If confirmed, discuss removal or containment options with certified professionals
Remember that asbestos is dangerous primarily when materials are damaged and fibres become airborne. Intact asbestos-containing materials are generally not an immediate health risk.
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