Asbestos Roof Removal: Does Your Roofer Need a Licence?
Posted on: 31 December 2018
If you've finally decided to order an asbestos roof replacement, then you'll need help from a roofer with the right skills and experience. While any company can tell you that they can handle asbestos jobs, this is potentially dangerous work.
Why does your roofing company need a licence to remove your asbestos roof and what kind of licence do they need?
Asbestos Removal Rules
While asbestos was commonly used in building trades in the past, it's now no longer used because it is a dangerous substance. If people are exposed to asbestos dust or fibres, then they can develop potentially fatal conditions such as types of cancer.
While your roof may not be dangerous in itself if harmful dust and fibres are contained within tiles or sheets, your roof may become hazardous as the roof is removed. If asbestos-containing materials break up or get damaged, then they can release asbestos particles.
This is hazardous for anyone handling the materials and for the environment. Plus, asbestos needs to de disposed of in prescribed ways to keep it contained. So, you need training and a licence to remove and dispose of large amounts of materials that contain asbestos.
Asbestos Removal Licences
The licence your roofer has to remove asbestos dictates what they can and can't do with your roof. Licensing is based primarily on the type of asbestos that an individual is dealing with.
The lowest risk asbestos is called non-friable asbestos. This kind of material has asbestos in it; however, the asbestos is usually contained within another material. The fact that the asbestos is bound up in another material makes it safe as long as the overall material composition remains intact.
Friable asbestos is another matter. If asbestos is friable, its fibres are exposed, or it can crumble or turn to dust when it is handled. When this happens, asbestos particles can get into the air, as they aren't held together by anything else.
Typically, asbestos roofs are made from non-friable materials like fibro sheets. In this case, your roofer simply needs a basic licence. If your roof has been compromised over the years and the asbestos is friable, then your roofer needs specialist training and a more advanced licence.
Your roofer can tell you more about the condition of your roof and the work that needs to be done to take it down safely. They will also show you their licence details so that you know they are qualified to do the job.
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