Asbestos in Floor Tiles and Flooring Materials Still a Concern in Puerto Rico

Up until the late 1970s, asbestos was added to various types of flooring materials and tiles during the manufacturing process to increase the strength and durability of the products. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Health warns that flooring, including sheet vinyl, vinyl or asphalt floor tiles and any associated paper-like backing, mastic, adhesive or glue, may contain asbestos.

Virtually every school, building and home constructed decades ago when asbestos was commonly used will at some point need to replace the flooring due to wear and tear or to simply provide for an updated look. Even left alone, old asbestos flooring tiles and materials will become friable over time and will likely release fibers into the air as people walk on them.

“Asbestos exposure hazards frequently arise when floor tiles and flooring materials are disturbed during renovation, remodeling or demolition activities without the proper safety precautions in place,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This often occurs because people don’t realize asbestos is in these materials. This is especially true in residential settings as flooring projects are a common DIY project. Homeowners don’t realize that tearing up old floors could be exposing their families and guests to asbestos fibers. The only way to know for sure if flooring contains asbestos is to have it tested.”

To protect Puerto Rico’s residents and visitors, there are also health and safety regulations associated with asbestos-containing materials. This is certainly the case when these materials may be disturbed in certain types of buildings during construction activities. To help businesses and institutions comply with these regulations, and mitigate exposure risks to families, workers and building occupants, Zimmetry Environmental offers comprehensive asbestos testing, monitoring and consulting services in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean.

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their asbestos, indoor air quality, environmental, or compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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