Asbestos Pipe Chases at the Royal Military College

Defence Minister Peter Mackay has been feeling the heat lately – perhaps that’s why his office issued a slew of press releases earlier this week. Among them is a contract issued by Defence Construction Canada for pipe chase asbestos abatement and removal in one of the Royal Military College facilities.

Abatement by removal would have the advantage of also removing the need to constantly monitor and maintain the asbestos-containing material, in this case riser pipe chasing. The so-called pipe chase is a common area to find asbestos in both residential and industrial buildings.  A “pipe chase” is typically a narrow area of a home or building that contains plumbing piping and sometimes electrical wiring. It can be something like a small, tight room or simply a groove where the pipes fit in.

Once thought of as a “miracle mineral”, asbestos has many properties that seemed ideal for construction purposes, among them its fireproofing abilities as well as its insulating properties. Asbestos seemed like the natural material for pipe chasing, insulation and many other uses – and what’s more, it’s an area of your own older home that you may have overlooked.

What Should I Do?

It sounds alarming, but the first thing to remember is this: as long as the material is intact and/or bound up in concrete (as it would be in tiles or paneling), asbestos is not considered to be a threat. Once it has deteriorated, or is damaged, it can become friable, which means that the fibres may be inhaled. Inhaled into the lungs, it can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Standard home inspections do not look for asbestos in all these areas, and it’s doubly important if you’re planning on renovations.

If your home was built before 1970, then you have to assume that it does contain asbestos- perhaps in your pipe chases. Before any renovation projects, call in the experts from GreenStream Environmental Services for an asbestos inspection. At GreenStream Environmental Services, we offer professional vermiculite and asbestos remediation services to help you contain and then rid yourself of this problem.

In the Toronto area contact GreenStreamEnvironmental.ca at (416) 818-9414.

Featured in Mike Holmes’ magazine, HGTV’s Income Properties, W Network’s Love It Or List It and chosen by Homestars.com as “Best Toronto Asbestos Removal Company” based on customer ratings and reviews, GreenStream Environmental Services are fully-certified, trusted and insured professionals in the removal and disposal of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential asbestos, vermiculite and mould (hazardous and non-hazardous). Providing emergency service 24/7/365 for all of Toronto and the GTA (North York, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Scarborough, Ajax, Oshawa, and beyond) GreenStream has over 40 combined years of experience serving clients such as the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board and many more. For a free estimate in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario, call today at 416-818-9414.  You’ll be glad you did.