Death may be lurking in your air-conditioning system

The serious health effects, such as asbestosis, bronchial cancer and mesothelioma, associated with exposure to asbestos are well known. Even the general public is aware of the fact that asbestos is a dangerous material that may be encountered in our environment, for example, in the form of asbestos-cement roofs. However, there are other applications of asbestos in our homes, offices and factories where this material was also frequently used, and not all of them are as apparent as roofs. 

Many companies that operate old HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems are unknowingly exposing their employees to deadly asbestos fibres each time they operate the HVAC system. Certainly one of the most dangerous applications of asbestos, and also the least noticeable, is the presence of raw asbestos millboard inside old HVAC duct systems. The asbestos millboard that was applied inside heating banks, for instance, breaks down and deteriorates over time and eventually releases dangerous concentrations of fibres into the workroom air. Identification of asbestos within the ductwork can only be done by a visual inspection of the heater banks and a sample of the material sent to AirCHECK’s fully-equipped Asbestos Laboratory for testing. 

Asbestos millboard inside an HVAC heater bank.

HVAC systems in buildings are necessary to maintain stability in temperatures and to ensure a supply of fresh air into the building. These HVAC systems consists of heating, ventilation and air conditioning components that work in harmony to warm or cool the environment, as required. In order to perform these warming and cooling functions, the HVAC unit needs to be insulated. One of the most commonly used materials for insulation before the 1980s happened to be asbestos.

Building occupants may also be exposed to asbestos fibres originating from pipe insulation that dislodges, or falls from HVAC pipe components and are swept away by Cleaners that are unaware that they are spreading the risk throughout the building. During building inspections, it is not uncommon to come across a Janitor sleeping inside a HVAC room on a mattress of asbestos insulation that dislodged from a water pipe above. Poor workmanship and illegal removal of raw asbestos insulation further contributes to the problem of contaminating the indoor air in buildings with deadly asbestos fibres. Once a building has been contaminated, it is almost impossible and extremely expensive to remove the risk.

Duct insulation that dislodges from the HVAC system may be swept away by Cleaners.

We can safely say that many of the people who now show signs of asbestos related diseases were exposed to asbestos that originated from HVAC heater banks and insulated ducting. However, because asbestos related diseases have such a long latency, ie up to 40 years after exposure, we can often not trace the disease back to the source of exposure. AirCHECK has more than 30 years of experience in asbestos control. 

For more information on our comprehensive range of asbestos services, including asbestos building surveys that can assist you to identify hidden asbestos in HVAC systems, call Piet Marais +27 82 444 8713 or Lisa Roux +27 82 554 6479 now or email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.