The best thing to do about asbestos? Leave it alone — if the structure is safe.
That was one of the takeaways from the SPECS session, “Hazardous Building Materials Among Us.”
Asbestos was a mainstay in both commercial and residential buildings for decades because, simply put, it was a cheap and readily available lifesaver, explained speaker Michael Ebel, VP and principal scientist at Amec Foster Wheeler.
“It was known as the ‘Miracle Mineral,’ heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and a poor electrical conductor,” Ebel said.