Older homes or buildings especially had asbestos ceiling tiles, which provided durability, insulation, and fire protection. However, these tiles also have severe health effects because asbestos is hazardous to health. If you are in a condition where the ceiling tiles applied in your home or office are relatively old, then it is high time to learn how to find out if the asbestos ceiling tiles are a problem or not. In this article, you will be enlightened on how to identify asbestos ceiling tiles. Some possible dangers are involved. You will also learn what to do when you suspect your ceiling tiles contain asbestos.
What Do Asbestos Ceiling Tiles Look Like?
Most asbestos ceiling tiles are not easily recognizable, especially when painted or shrouded by dust, and they might have been altered at some point in the future. In particular, asbestos ceiling tiles can be created using fibrous material and may have the same features/look. The general characteristics of asbestos ceiling tiles are as follows:
- Textured or Bumpy Surfaces: Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles must be noted to have a textured finish that is similar to that of the popcorn or the stippled or false ceiling.
- Gray, White, or Off-White Color: The most typical texture for Asbestos ceiling tiles is to be of light color, such as white or grayish-white, but any finish of color is possible.
- Fibrous Look: The pieces of tiles may also develop a βfibrous or βcrumblyβ look when chipped or broken, and if it has asbestos, you will notice it.
If you are not clear about this, you can search for images of asbestos ceiling tiles on the internet. Alternatively, you can seek the advice of a professional worker. Asbestos usually does not appear in tangible tiles. It is incorporated with clay material to provide it with the necessary roughness and strength.
3. History of Asbestos Use in Ceiling Tiles
Another product that had asbestos was used in building construction, especially the tiles used between the mid-twentieth century and the last quarter of the same century. Asbestos had been used without any restrictions until it was acknowledged that this was an agent causing cancer. As for the information in the United States, in the late 1970s, the shades began banning products containing asbestos.
When did they stop using asbestos in ceiling tiles? Most manufacturers ceased using asbestos in ceiling tiles by the 1980s. However, you would prefer to be more certain that asbestos was not used after 1975. It should be noted, and as earlier emphasized, that there may still be asbestos ceiling tiles in buildings or structures constructed up to the year 1980 and beyond.
In the past, people appreciated the possibility of insulation and flame retardance of the material; thus, asbestos was perfect for creating ceiling tiles. Nevertheless, problems arise when these tiles are interfered with or affected by any form of impact. Then, these fibres are certain to be released into the air and inhaled, resulting in dangerous health complications in the long run.
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4. Types of Asbestos Ceiling Tiles
Depending on the available vessel type, there are several types of ceiling tiles, and they may differ greatly in appearance and application. These include:
- Asbestos Drop Ceiling Tiles: These are also known as drop ceiling tiles, which are more of an architectural feature. It is most advisable to take any tiles of the type of drop ceiling, if suspected, for testing before undertaking any repairs or renovations.
- Asbestos Acoustic Ceiling Tiles: Asbestos is very useful in the making of these tiles since they are sound absorbers in nature. Such tiles can be found in many commercial buildings and schools.
- Asbestos Suspended Ceiling Tiles: They are installed in a suspended manner, and if they are of the asbestos type, they should not be easily manipulated.
- Asbestos False Ceiling Panels: Mounted on the ceiling of different buildings, these are easy to install and lightweight. However, when they contain asbestos, they are hazardous when they are in a damaged state or exposed to high temperatures.
5. Popcorn Ceilings and Asbestos
Popcorns are usually present in the older buildings that were built in the 1950s to the 1980s. Popcorn ceiling has asbestos, and the ingredients of popcorn also are asbestos-related.
Do popcorn ceilings have asbestos? And especially so in homes built before 1980, yes indeed. If you have a popcorn ceiling in your home, you should know if it includes asbestos.
There is only one way to find out if your ceilings are popcorn ceiling-like asbestos – to test it. The trouble is asbestos fibers can be disturbed rather easily if the ceiling is scraped, drilled, repaired, or disturbed in any way. As a result, it is important that the material is handled with care or that a professional is visited to determine the ceilingβs safety.
6. How to Tell if Your Ceiling Has Asbestos
To find out if there is asbestos in your ceiling tiles, you may first notice the following steps and suspect :
- Age of the Building: The more likely your ceiling tiles contain asbestos, the older the building is built.
- Visual Inspection: Inspect for easy crumble of textured ceilings or tiles. If the tiles are not too brittle, they might contain asbestos.
- Professional Testing: The only surest way to find out that you have asbestos ceiling tiles is by seeking the services of professional testers. A licensed contractor can also take a sample and pass it to another laboratory, which will help in analyzing it.
For those people who would like to inspect their own ceiling tiles for asbestos, some preparation should be made. If asbestos is going to be moved, it will shed asbestos fibers into the environment.
7. Health Risks of Asbestos in Ceiling Tiles
The major risk of asbestos in ceiling tiles is when it is in the form of fibers that become airborne. These fibers can be breathed in and, hence, the following serious diseases affect the lungs when they are inhaled.
- Asbestosis: It is a long-term pulmonary disease that results in breathlessness and damage to the lungs of affected individuals.
- Lung Cancer: This is one disease that is prevalent when one is exposed to asbestos for many years.
- Mesothelioma: Rare but very aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen.
Even though it is not very likely for you to see asbestos in ceiling tiles, the latter can indeed be risky. This is especially true if you do not touch the ceiling that contains asbestos or if the ceiling starts to wear out. For this reason, it becomes wise to seek a professional when dealing with asbestos tile ceilings. This applies to any of the acoustic ceiling tiles containing asbestos.
8. How to Remove Asbestos Ceiling Tiles Safely
Asbestos ceiling tiles are not a DIY task. In reality, trying to remove the tiles may be fatal without proper safety equipment. Upon removal, the fibers can easily be let into the air, so it is a significant health risk.
- Hire a Professional: The best way if you are faced with the need to remove or seal asbestos-containing tiles is by hiring a professional licensed asbestos abatement specialist.
- Wear Protective Gear: If removal is required, then the face shield protective glasses, gloves, boots, protective clothing, or a protective suit such as a protective coverall with a respiratory protection rating should be worn.
- Avoid Disturbing the Tiles: If the tiles are not damaged and not fibers coming through, it would be better to just leave the tiles alone and watch them for any changes.
9. What to Do If You Have Asbestos Ceiling Tiles in Your Home
Itβs not a disaster to find out that your home has asbestos ceiling tiles. However, the most important thing is to act on the condition of the tiles.
- Leave the Tiles Undisturbed: If the ceiling tiles are in good condition and not disturbed, you may not need to take any action. But watch out for any signs of damage to them.
- Hire an Expert: If you decide to modify or fix the ceiling, it is always better to hand it over to an expert to keep on the safer side.
- Test for Asbestos: If you are not sure, the tiles can be tested to confirm whether they are asbestos or not.
10. Conclusion: Protecting Your Health from Asbestos Ceiling Tiles
Asbestos ceiling tiles were in many buildings that were put up before the earlier part of the twenty first century. You need to know yourselves just by the ways of knowing what is that problem. How to identify this problem on your ceiling tiles and then what is the implication of being in that asbestos if there is one? Therefore, if you are in a position where there could be a possibility of having asbestos in the ceiling, then it would be better to embrace the professionals. Find out which steps you need to take when you are in such a situation. In the first instance, it would make sense to mention that asbestos should be handled the right way. This is to keep the environment clean.
