Did you know that in most cases, rehabilitation of asbestos roofing is safer than removal?

The existence of asbestos in a building does not in itself constitute a risk to health, nor does contact with it result in a death sentence. The type of size of the asbestos fiber, its concentration and time of exposure determine its effect on health.

Normally, the best solution is not to remove asbestos-containing material that is in good storage, but to neutralize it.

 

What to do if you have asbestos in your roof?

Removal of fibre cement from buildings presents risks of additional release of asbestos dust. The wave of sensationalism in order to urgently remove all fiber cement from buildings has no technical or scientific basis.

 

Risks associated with an additional release of asbestos dust

Upon being removed, the fibers can release more easily, or accidentally, reaching a radius of dispersion that can reach and put at risk all the surrounding population and not only the workers.

 

Measure impracticability and associated costs

In 2008 there were around 6 billion m2 of fiber cement roofs in Portugal. Intervening all buildings that may contain asbestos is unworkable and costly. 

 

Nonsense of intervene in structures in good condition 

Although it contains asbestos, if the fiber cement is in a good state of preservation or is confined, it does not pose any imminent risk of release of respirable particles.

Do not attempt to repair or remove asbestos-containing materials if you are not trained. Consult your specialist for advice.

 

 

The encapsulation solution developed by Prudêncio

Prudêncio pioneered the development and application of a method of encapsulation of asbestos-containing fiber cement roofs, avoiding the release of fibers that pose a risk to public health.The encapsulation consists of the confinement of asbestos with specific coatings.

The Prudêncio system is not a simple cosmetic operation, but a real rehabilitation through the confinement of the same. The fiber cement is completely surrounded and protected from the causes that lead to its degradation: physical aggressions, thermal amplitudes, rain and humidity.

We have transformed a potentially dangerous roof into a sustainable system.

 

 

 

1. Waterproofing membrane: We apply advanced waterproofing membranes, which contributes to a safe, reliable, watertight and long lasting final result, in addition to improving the appearance of the roof.
2. Thermal insulation boards: Improve the energy efficiency of the building and serve as the basis for waterproofing. A continuous system of thermal insulation is applied which additionally confers consistency to the system.
3. Internal Encapsulation: Appropriate coating solutions when the inner face of the fiber cement is exposed.
4. Cement corrugated roofing: Cement roofing does not need to be removed. As it is encapsulated, the fiber cement serves as support for the new system of thermal insulation and waterproofing.

Encapsulation vs. Removal

 

Advantages of Encapsulation

 

• Versatile, Safe and Effective: Increases the life of the material, improves thermal behavior characteristics, protects against accidental blows, and prevents the release of fibers by general degradation.
• Durable and Energetically Efficient: It protects and repairs damaged or exposed fiber cement with varying degrees of deterioration through minimum handling, without scraping or breaking the asbestos cement sheets, without releasing asbestos dust during work.
• Functional and Aesthetic: Improves the overall appearance, allows circulation during and after the works, essential for the surveillance and maintenance of the new cover. Continuous and watertight system, even in cases of clogging.
• Fast and Sustainable: Recovery without waste that avoids the risks of removal, transportation and deposition of fiber cement. It does not overcharge landfills, preventing long-term environmental consequences.
• Non-Invasive and Non-Interrupting: Minimizes any need to disrupt normal building activities during rehabilitation work. Shut down for works? Does not make sense. You can keep your establishment open and your routines without any risk.

 

Disadvantages of Removal

• Complicated removal processes
• High costs
• Considerable downtime
• Environmental and health risks

 

Wondering if encapsulation is the best solution for your roof? 

We help in the decision process: we do the risk assessment, we check the degree of degradation of the material and we confirm if the exposure represents risk.

 

Why choose Prudêncio:

• All of our technicians have specific training appropriate to perform tasks with materials containing asbestos.
• We comply with the provisions of Decree Law No. 226/2016 of July 24.
• We conducted the risk assessment and performed tests at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge – INSA, which demonstrate that the limit value for exposure to asbestos fibers in air suspension of 0.1 fibers / cm3 is not exceeded in the work area using our application techniques

 

 

 

Asbestos – Risks and Legislation 

 

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a generic term for six naturally occurring fibrous minerals extracted from rocks.

 

Why was it so used?

It was widely used due to its excellent mechanical and physical properties, durability, low cost and abundance in nature.

 

What are its effects on health?

All varieties of asbestos have been classified as carcinogens for humans. Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious diseases like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Asbestosis and Pleural Thickening.

 

What are the routes of exposure to asbestos?

The inhalation, the ingestion and the cutaneous route, being the first, the airway, the preponderant one and the one that more power the development of pathologies. The fibers can be lodged in the lungs and the consequence will only appear decades later.

 

What is the risk of existing asbestos?

According to the Directorate-General for Health, “Asbestos in building materials generally presents a low health risk, as long as the material is in good condition, is not friable and is not subject to direct aggression.”

What is mean by friable and non-friable material?

Friable, poorly bonded material is either naturally disintegrating or easily pulverized or reduced to dust, posing a greater risk of exposure. Non-friable materials have a strong bond, a small percentage of fibers and represent a lower risk. 

 

 

 

 

 

Legal and Regulatory Documents

• Decree-Law nº. 101/2005, of June 23: prohibits the use and sale of asbestos fibers and products containing these fibers.
• Decree-Law nº. 266/2007 of July 24: health protection of workers against the risks of exposure to asbestos during work.
• Decree-Law nº. 46/2008, of March 12: management regime of construction and demolition waste.
• Ordinance nº40 / 2014, of February 17: standards for the correct removal of materials containing asbestos and for the packaging, transport and management of the respective wastes.

These measures do not necessarily require the removal of materials containing asbestos.

 

Consult us and clarify your questions. We present free estimates without obligation.

Contact us for more detailed information and to check if the typology and size of your project fit our scope of services.