Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that was heavily used in various construction materials in past decades for its durability and insulating properties. However, once its health hazards became more widely known, asbestos usage declined sharply. Still, the threat remains very real in countless older buildings. This is especially true in a sunny southern locale like Jacksonville, where AC units and insulation were even more ubiquitous.
If you own or manage an older property in the Jacksonville area, some form of asbestos testing should be one of your top priorities to protect those living, working, or visiting your building. While the mineral is generally only a health risk when airborne fibers are inhaled, you likely won't know if your asbestos-containing materials are eroding without testing first.
In this blog post, we'll break down the basics everyone should know about asbestos testing in Jacksonville FL, including:
Why Asbestos Testing Matters
Jacksonville Buildings Most at Risk
Overview of Asbestos Inspection & Testing Procedures
Understanding Asbestos Lab Analysis Reports
Next Steps If Asbestos Is Discovered
Asbestos Removal Considerations
FAQs About Asbestos Testing
Equipped with this information, you'll be better prepared to protect your property, occupants, and visitors while staying compliant with strict federal and state asbestos regulations. Let's explore some key details together.
Why Asbestos Testing Matters
Before jumping into the testing specifics, it helps to revisit why asbestos is such a big deal in our region in the first place. This gives helpful context for why testing is so vital.
Asbestos fibers are concerning because:
Their shape and size allows them to be easily inhaled and embed in lung tissue when airborne
The fibers resist breakdown within the lungs, increasing disease risk over time
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies have classified various asbestos types as known human carcinogens
When asbestos materials erode, fibers can be released into the air and create an inhalation hazard. This process is accelerated in warm, humid environments with recurring air circulation—like what you find in many Jacksonville buildings.
Over time, embedded asbestos fibers can trigger serious lung conditions:
Asbestosis - scarring and reduced lung function
Lung cancer
Mesothelioma - aggressive cancer in lung/abdominal linings
Symptoms of these diseases generally take 10-50 years to manifest after initial asbestos exposure. And there are no safe levels of asbestos exposure. This long latency period means past exposure could still present issues decades later.
This is why asbestos testing has enduring importance for older buildings. It allows property managers to pinpoint risks and take corrective action before air quality declines and lung disease cases crop up.
Jacksonville Buildings Most at Risk
While any property erected prior to 1990 could theoretically contain asbestos, some construction eras used astonishing amounts of asbestos and are naturally higher priority for testing today.
In Jacksonville, buildings especially at risk include:
Pre-1970 homes, factories, warehouses, schools, hospitals, power plants, and commercial centers
Military facilities like the Naval Air Station complex
Office spaces, hotels, shopping malls, churches, and apartments built using asbestos-laden materials prior to 1978
Sometimes newer buildings are also at some risk, as:
Asbestos usage declined gradually rather than stopping outright in 1978
Builders may have used old materials still warehoused in inventory for years after
Buildings could have been renovated using vintage asbestos products
If your Jacksonville property is over 20 years old, contains original insulation, plaster, flooring, roofing, or fireproofing, or has undergone renovations, asbestos testing is smart due diligence.
Thousands of sites in Jacksonville likely contain asbestos and would benefit from testing. But where do you even start in practice?
Overview of Asbestos Inspection & Testing Procedures
If the idea of managing asbestos testing feels overwhelming, don't worry. Qualified environmental professionals make the process smooth and painless for property owners through these standard steps:
Initial Asbestos Inspection
A licensed asbestos inspector tours your property, inside and out, to note materials that may contain asbestos and identify testing locations
Common sample sites include insulation, walls/floors, roof sealants, cements, and various building products
State-of-the-art tools like laser levels and digital cameras precisely record sample sites
Collection of Samples
Once probable asbestos sites are identified visually, samples are carefully collected
Sampling techniques vary based on the material, including core, chip, scrape, or bulk methods
Proper safety protocol ensures no fibers are released during collection
Each sample is sealed in its own container and marked for tracking
Analysis by Accredited Asbestos Lab
The marked and sealed asbestos samples are shipped to an accredited analytical laboratory
Labs examine each sample using polarized light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, or other approved methodology to determine asbestos content
Most test results are delivered to the inspector within a few working days
Review of Asbestos Testing Results
The inspector interprets the lab results and summarizes findings in an inspection report
Reports confirm whether samples tested positive or negative for asbestos
If positive, the asbestos type & percentage is noted
Reports may include improvement recommendations aimed at asbestos safety & removal
For occupied buildings, this process takes place after hours or during periods of low occupancy to minimize exposure risk. As you can see, asbestos inspection and testing requires specialized equipment, accredited labs, and licensed professionals.
Attempting do-it-yourself asbestos testing typically voids liability insurance and opens major liability. It's simply smarter and safer to hire established industry veterans.
Understanding Asbestos Lab Analysis Reports
Asbestos testing reports from accredited laboratories can be highly technical and confusing for everyday folks. Some key terms and concepts include:
Asbestos Types - Labs identify specific asbestos types like chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and crocidolite
Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos - Friable contains fibers that can be crumbled by hand, making them easily airborne
Trace Analysis - Tiny asbestos fibers visualized with electron microscopy
Percentages - Labs estimate the proportion of asbestos fibers relative to the whole sample
A reputable inspector can translate your property’s lab results into plain language. They also make recommendations for safe ongoing management, containment, or removal of any identified asbestos hazards.
Asbestos Removal Considerations
If keeping asbestos materials intact proves unfeasible, or if they pose an active hazard, removing asbestos becomes essential. But similar to testing, asbestos removal isn't a DIY endeavor.
Below are a few key reminders if faced with this scenario:
Hire accredited professionals for your own safety and to comply with regulations
Removal often requires an asbestos abatement plan with notifications
Air monitoring ensures fibers stay controlled throughout removal
Asbestos gets double-bagged and sealed, usually with water misting to control dust
Professionals use meticulous decontamination and site cleanup procedures
Removed asbestos gets disposed of in approved landfills
Reputable abatement pros go above these minimums to prevent improper asbestos disposal citations, liability claims if fibers spread, exorbitant cleanup bills, fines for non-compliance, or long-term occupancy risks.
In Closing
I hope this post helped demystify asbestos inspection and testing basics while spotlighting unique asbestos concerns in the Jacksonville area.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when old, damaged materials release fibers people inhale. Since symptoms take up to 50 years to appear, asbestos testing today prevents lung disease cases tomorrow. Testing also heads off removal/cleanup costs down the road.
Now that you know asbestos testing matters, the region's most vulnerable building eras, standard testing procedures, how to decipher results, next steps when asbestos gets discovered, asbestos removal considerations, and common testing FAQs...
You're fully equipped to protect your older Jacksonville property and occupants through smart, ethical asbestos testing and management practices. Here's to healthier buildings and breathing for all!
