The most important thing in deciding whether the method of encapsulation is used to tackle the issue of asbestos is its existing condition. This is because this way of treating asbestos should only be considered when the asbestos application is in the right condition.
When it comes to sprayed asbestos, this is especially true as the asbestos needs to adhere to the substrate quite firmly. It is also equally important to make sure that water cannot be allowed to penetrate into the asbestos from the substrate following encapsulation.
This can cause the asbestos to de-laminate due to the water trapped inside the application and the additional weight it has just absorbed.
Therefore, the assessment is crucial in determining the condition of the asbestos at this moment in time and the likelihood of this scenario happening. Any potential future damage to the asbestos also needs to be taken into account.
The asbestos removal specialist will have to consider things like structural movement and other maintenance work which may need to be carried out in the future.
In some cases it can be cost effective as well as safe to encapsulate selected products with things like thermal insulation, acoustic or fire-resistant properties which still remain in the original application.
