Investing in the property market is the biggest financial commitment many of us make in our lifetime. The cost of asbestos, mould and lead paint remediation, notably during home renovations, can be significant and a financial burden that many can ill-afford.
BB Risk Solutions can help you by risk assessing premises for specific problems, identify risks prior to home renovations, and quantifying associated mitigation costs, should they be required.
Our services include:
- Asbestos Inspections – Where is asbestos in the home?
- Asbestos Air Monitoring & Clearance Inspections #asbestos-removal-information
- Mould and Water Damage Inspections – Mould Information & Guidance
- Lead Paint Inspections – Homeowner information lead paint
- NATA Accredited Testing
Each of these hazards can have huge implications to the health of occupants and finances of owners, especially during home renovations.
BB Risk Solutions consultants are experts in the inspection and safe management of hazardous materials. Our team can assist home buyers, renovators, landlords and body corporates with inspections, quantification and tailor-made safe management solutions based on individuals budget and timeline constraints, and potential home renovations.
We will work with you to ensure you are fully informed of the potential risks associated with disturbance of materials within your property and provide appropriate on-going management options.
Asbestos Inspections
Australia was reportedly the highest per capita user of asbestos during the 1960s and 70s, with asbestos being present in many different types of building products….not just cement sheet! It is possible that any home constructed prior to the national asbestos ban coming into place on 31 December 2003 may contain asbestos materials. As such Australian homes and workplaces have an asbestos legacy issue that needs to be managed safely.
Dealing with asbestos is the responsibility of the homeowner.
Home improvements can disturb asbestos-containing materials and cause health and safety concerns. We all have a duty not to harm those around us. This duty applies everywhere and to everyone.
Asbestos presents a very real health risk if:
- You renovate without first finding out if your home contains asbestos
- If you don’t use asbestos professionals to make it safe or remove it
There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risk:
- Be Informed – know where asbestos could be in your home. Engage an asbestos assessor to conduct an assessment, get the product tested, or assume it is asbestos and if in good condition leave it alone.
- Plan Ahead – ensure you are aware of the asbestos materials prior to renovation works to prevent disturbing and releasing asbestos fibres.
- Remove – engage a licensed asbestos removalist and an asbestos assessor when undertaking home renovations or demolitions where asbestos is present. Refer to the following section on the legal requirements for asbestos removal works.
Our licensed Asbestos Assessors conduct asbestos inspections throughout Victoria. We will work with you to ensure you are fully informed of the potential risks associated with disturbance of materials within your property and provide appropriate on-going management options which are tailored to the needs of you, your property and budget.
If you are planning a home renovation, call us today for advice and assistance with inspections and quantifying the risk to your project.
For further information and photographs of the types of asbestos materials found in the home, click on the following link: Where is asbestos in the home?
Asbestos Removal Works – Air Monitoring & Clearance Inspections
We provide asbestos air monitoring and clearance inspections during asbestos removal works and, in accordance with the requirement of the Regulations, are independent from asbestos removal contractors. This is to ensure occupational hygienists provide independent and impartial services.
- Asbestos materials should be removed prior to disturbance by a suitably licensed asbestos removal contractor.
- Class A licensed asbestos removal contractors are able to remove friable and non-friable asbestos materials, whilst Class B licensed asbestos removal contractors are only able to remove non-friable asbestos materials.
- Asbestos air monitoring must be conducted by an independent occupational hygienist for the duration of, and upon completion of, friable asbestos removal works. In addition, asbestos air monitoring is recommended to be conducted during non-friable asbestos removal works.
- An asbestos clearance inspection must be conducted by an independent occupational hygienist upon completion of friable asbestos removal works and upon the completion of the removal of >10m² of non-friable asbestos materials.
- Asbestos removal works must be conducted in accordance with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 and Work Safe Victoria Compliance Code – Removing Asbestos in Workplaces.
To assist with asbestos removal works BB Risk Solutions:
Conduct assessments prior to the commencement of works to determine the presence of asbestos and whether the asbestos materials are friable or non-friable materials. In addition, the materials are subject to a risk assessment to determine the safe course of action and recommendations provided.
Provide details of suitably qualified asbestos removal contractors to obtain quotes.
Conduct asbestos air monitoring and clearance inspections, where required, to ensure compliance with legislation. Air monitoring and clearance inspections provide independent evidence that the works have been completed to a satisfactory standard and the area is safe for you to reoccupy.
Mould & Water Damage
Health effects of spending time in a mould affected building can range from sneezing, coughing and wheezing to the worsening of asthma and allergic conditions. Our experience is that the visible mould we see start to appear on the internal walls or ceiling linings of a home, accounts for only a small fraction of the total problem.
Water ingress caused by building faults, floods or rising damp are always inconvenient, but in some cases, can be devastating. To minimise on-going impact of water ingress inside a property, it is recommended that the areas are fully and appropriately dried as quickly as possible to prevent mould growth. This may in some cases include the safe removal and disposal of wetted absorbent materials such as plasterboard, soft furnishings including carpets, or stored items.
Contact BB Risk Solutions for more information or to book an inspection so we can assist you with taking appropriate and timely action to limit costs and health risks in the future.
Full assessments should include safe inspection of wall and ceiling cavities. Intrusive inspections often require extensive damage to the property, including removal of walls and ceilings, at BB Risk Solutions we can provide innovative solutions which allow for inspection of hard to access areas, whilst limiting the damage required to your home.
Lead Paint Inspections
Paints commonly used in Australian homes throughout the 1970s and beyond, contained levels of lead which can cause potential health and environmental hazards if they are not managed appropriately during home renovations or upgrades.
If you are planning a home renovation or repaint, call BB Risk Solutions today for advice and assistance with inspections, sampling and quantifying the risk to your project.
NATA Accredited Test Results
Through our affiliations with local and national NATA accredited laboratories, BB Risk Solutions will provide timely and quality assured results to our clients, every time.
For more information or to arrange an inspection by one of our trained and competent surveyors, please call us on 03 8528 1405 or email to request an inquiry.