Metropolitan Insulation Services.

By contrast, modern open-concept design and bare floors promote echo-y spaces and room-to-room noise, with little regard for acoustics.

Jan

2018

Is Asbestos Present On Your Farm?

A recent case where a farmer died following years of exposure to harmful asbestos fibre highlights how the material is a significant hazard to health that cannot be ignored. There is a very good chance that on most farms, asbestos may still be lurking leading to the possibility of more people being exposed to its fibres while they work.

People who breathe in asbestos fibres are at an increased risk of developing a rare form of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Unfortunately, the illness has no cure, which means it is vital to ensure that asbestos is made safe and any risk of contamination with fibres is removed.

If asbestos is present on your farm it is often far to easy to disturb it through various tasks such as repairing clutches on old vehicles, carrying out repairs on insulated pipes and boilers and especially when demolishing old buildings.

The most common type of asbestos found on farms is white asbestos but there may be other types used in the construction of building prior to 2000 as well. White asbestos can typically be found in corrugated roofing, cladding and in wall panels.

Removal of asbestos can be expensive, but the good news is it can be encapsulated so that it can be made safe. Undisturbed asbestos poses no risk and encapsulation ensures that it remains undisturbed.

Jan

2018

£1m Added To Cost Of Leisure Centre Demolition Due To Asbestos

The BBC website reports this month that the demolition of a leisure centre in Blaenau Gwent has been held up after brown asbestos was found.

The asbestos was found to be present even though the building had been surveyed and the presence of the brown asbestos wasn’t detected. This highlights the continuing risk asbestos poses even though the use of this particular type of asbestos in building was banned way back in 1985.

Demolition work can often reveal hidden asbestos and any disturbance can lead to the risk of exposing workers to harmful fibres which can cause diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer.

Following the discovery of the asbestos, the BBC website reports that and extra £1 million has been added to the cost of the demolition work. Specialists in asbestos removal will need to be brought in to ensure the asbestos is removed and then disposed of safely which adds a substantial amount to the original cost.

The discovery of asbestos during demolition work can lead to all sorts of legal ramifications, but there is a way to make asbestos safe through encapsulation. IF you want to find out more about our asbestos encapsulation service, get in touch today.

Dec

2017

The Hidden Danger Of Asbestos And How To Deal With It

The number of deaths resulting from exposure to asbestos has peaked according to statistics, however there may still be hidden asbestos dangers lurking in homes as well as commercial building and schools.

A type of lung cancer called mesothelioma can result from even low levels of exposure to asbestos fibres and in 2014 2,567 people died as a result of the disease. While most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos it can be unwittingly disturbed during renovation projects leading to fibres finding their way into the surrounding air.

The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 as a result of the risks, however this doesn’t mean that the risk is eliminated either now or in the future in older properties that have yet to be modernised.

While having asbestos in the home is ok if it is left undisturbed, the risk to health is acute when it is disturbed. The cost of having a professional remove the material safely, however, can be high and there will be significant disruption during removal works.

To avoid this, homeowners can opt for asbestos encapsulation which coats the asbestos preventing fibres from escaping. The process is cheaper and faster than removal and in most cases safer.

Dec

2017

Builders – The Cost Effective Way To Deal With Asbestos

Most builders will have come across asbestos at some point for the simple reason that asbestos was still being used in buildings up until the year 2000, which isn’t that long ago.

Asbestos was used widely in the years prior to 2000 mainly for its flexibility and magical ability to resist heat. Just as importantly it was also a cheap material which is why it remains so abundant in buildings all over the country from industrial buildings, to schools and even residential properties where it can be found in places such as behind boilers.

Asbestos continues to present a major hazard to people in the building trade when it is disturbed. The tiny fibres released can get into the lungs when protective equipment isn’t used at cause deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma.

Discovery of asbestos has often presented builders with a problem; do they arrange to have asbestos removed or find ways to contain it?

Removal requires a specialist team of people wearing the correct safety gear to ensure it is removed safely. This can take a lot of time and lots of safety procedures will need to be adhered to,, otherwise there is a risk of prosecution if people are exposed to the dust.

The solution to this is encapsulation which coats the asbestos and protects it from damage. It also happens to be a cheaper alternative to removal.

Nov

2017

Why Consider Asbestos Encapsulation?

The dangers of asbestos are well known, yet there are still many buildings in the UK that have some of this potentially deadly material which lies hidden in roof spaces in particular. Worse still, the material is often found in schools and other public buildings, particularly those built between the 1950s to 1980s.

While asbestos that remains undamaged and in good condition is often left in place, there is always the outside risk that it could be disturbed and emit particles that can cause all sorts of lung diseases from lung cancer to asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. This is why it was made illegal to use the material in construction in 1999.

If asbestos is present in a building, its removal is governed by strict regulations due to the considerable health risks. If these guidelines are not adhered to and lives are put at risk, this can result in hefty penalties including jail terms for those involved.

One way to avoid damage to asbestos and the associated risks is to use a process called encapsulation, which as the name suggests involves coating the asbestos. This prevents any disturbance which might damage the asbestos.

It is also cost effective in reducing the amount of down time and the associated costs of safe removal of the material.

Nov

2017

Asbestos Encapsulation Methods

If you have a building which contains asbestos and you want to deal with the problem before any damage occurs which might result in fibres escaping into the air, then one method is to use encapsulation.

Encapsulation acts as a seal to prevent asbestos fibres escaping and can be a cost effective and safer alternative to removing the material altogether.

The encapsulation process involves applying a thick material which resembles paint being sprayed onto the asbestos, which then dries and hardens over the material to prevent any of the harmful fibres escaping.

There are two types of encapsulation, one called ‘bridging’ and the other ‘penetrating’. Bridging acts as a protective coating over the asbestos while penetrating as the name suggests, penetrates into the material before hardening and sealing it.

Encapsulant must be sprayed onto the asbestos with a low pressure spray and care must be taken to remove any damaged or loose asbestos before the chemical is applied. As the process involves working with asbestos, there is still the danger that the person applying the encapsulant material can be exposed to fibres, so it is essential to wear protective clothing including a suit and a respirator.

If you wish to find out more about encapsulation contact one of our experts today.

Oct

2017

What The World’s Noisiest Cities Tell Us About Excessive Noise

Depending on which study you find, the noisiest cities in the world tend to be found in cities that are densely populated with high volumes of traffic with poor planning which exacerbates the effects of noise on their populations.

The worst city in the world for noise pollution is Guangzhou in China and the effects on residents are really quite frightening. The average hearing loss in proportion to age in the city stands at nearly 17 years. In Delhi where noise pollution levels are not too far behind the hearing loss is 20 years.

In Western Europe, however, the effects of noise on the local population is in some cases considerably less at 10 years in proportion to age. Vienna tops the list in Europe followed by Zurich and Hamburg.

However Barcelona and Paris have the misfortune of appearing in the worlds top 10 worst cities for noise pollution at 7th and 9th respectively.

While studies have focused on actual hearing loss, the more subtle underlying effects are still a fertile area of study where links to dementia, cardiovascular disease and depression are only just coming to light.

Of course the best way to deal with noise if you live in a city is to insulate your property to keep it out. If you want to find out more about sound insulation for your home of business then contact us today.

Oct

2017

Hidden Noise Hazards That May Be Lurking in Your Home

Have you ever been irritated by the noise of a vacuum cleaner or the rumbling of a washing machine? You may be surprised to hear that these noises can sometimes be comparable to the noise you would hear on a factory floor or building site.

When you consider that even low levels of noise can have an impact on health and wellbeing over time, then insulating against noise can do much more than create a more peaceful environment.

According to studies carried out on how noise impacts on our health, anything over 85 decibels can damage hearing. Of course most people are going to be wearing ear protection if noise is regularly exceeding these levels but with lower level noise, the effects can be more subtle and accumulate over time.

The World Health Organisation’s studies on noise found that 40% of the people they surveyed were regularly exposed to the kind of noise levels found in noisy offices. A noisy office will typically see noise exceeding 50dB.

The noisiest appliances in the home most likely to reach and exceed this noise level include vacuum cleaners with some emitting more than 80dB of noise. Washing machines can also contribute 50dB or more. A food processor will see noise levels reach 90dB and even the flush of a toilet will come in at 85dB.

DIY and garden maintenance are the main culprits when it comes to excessive noise. The 120dB noise level from hammering a nail is equivalent to that of a chainsaw while an electric drill comes in at 95dB.

Sep

2017

If You Don’t Like Noise Avoid These Jobs

Sound insulation can be an effective barrier to noise in the workplace, however the nature of some jobs means exposure to excessive noise is inevitable.

Noise exposure can increase the risk of acquiring all sorts of health problems, particularly if noise levels are high in a work environment where most of us spend the majority of our time. Some noise in buildings can be reduced by fitting adequate sound insulation and individuals can wear ear protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs.

Some of the noisiest jobs include:

Teaching
Noisy classrooms are often just a part of the job for most teachers. It is also not possible to wear ear protection for obvious reasons, so it is important to fit effective sound insulation in schools to reduce the effect of being exposed to noise levels of 85dB.

Factory work
Depending on the industry, factories can be exceptionally noisy environments leaving employees at risk of hearing damage from the 105dB they will often be exposed to. An assessment should be carried out to see if noise can be reduced by fitting sound insulation.

Even the above is nothing compared to working as a construction worker or formula one driver. Noise from hammer drills can reach 120dB and if you thought being a race car driver was glamorous, consider how you would cope with 135dB of noise on a regular basis.

Sep

2017

Acoustic insulation against noise from loud machinery

If your office building contains noisy mechanical equipment then there can be a problem not only with internal noise but also complaints from neighbouring properties. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the volume of noise from machinery if you fit the right type of sound insulation measures.

Build an enclosure
This may be one of the more expensive options to insulate against sound from loud machinery but it will be the most effective.

Erect barriers or a partial enclosures
If you fit barriers at double the height of the machinery producing the noise then this can be an effective step towards reducing the amount of sound that escapes.

Fit sound insulation and absorption materials to walls behind the machinery
If fitting barriers and enclosures proves to be difficult or expensive, insulating the wall behind the machinery will help bring a small reduction in sound travelling. The key is to reduce the sound being reflected.
If noise is becoming a problem in your workplace and you need further advice on fitting sound insulation or ways to reduce noise in particular circumstances, then please contact one of our experts who should be able to help.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog