Asbestos Abatement or Asbestos Encapsulation?

These two terms are thrown around the asbestos industry daily but may not mean much to the average consumer.

Asbestos Abatement is another term for Asbestos Removal. It is exactly as it sounds: the asbestos is removed from the building component, etc. The advantage of asbestos removal is that you do not have to deal with it again after it is professionally removed. The disadvantage is that the abatement/removal process takes more time and is typically more expensive.

Asbestos Encapsulation is a term used when asbestos is left in place but covered with a protective barrier to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure when around this asbestos. The advantage of asbestos encapsulation is that you typically save time and money upfront. Still, the disadvantage is that the asbestos is not gone, and you will likely have to deal with it again. When you deal with it again, it should be expected that the costs will increase annually as landfill fees, permit fees, equipment costs, etc, tend to escalate annually in the asbestos industry.

What is safer, asbestos abatement or asbestos encapsulation? You may hear comments that asbestos should be encapsulated versus removed for safety. This statement is incorrect, assuming you have licensed professionals who do the removal correctly. The removal process/practices/equipment/etc have come a long way and are very safe and effective. Post-removal air testing (optional) is also available for the added peace of mind that your asbestos removal project was done correctly.

Items that are commonly encapsulated include:

1. Asbestos on piping systems to include:
   1. Asbestos insulation on piping
   2. Asbestos fitting insulation on pipe fittings (90-degree elbows, Ts, etc.)
2. Asbestos on ductwork systems to include:
   1. Asbestos seam tape on ductwork
   2. Asbestos insulation on ductwork boots
   3. Asbestos insulation on ductwork

So what should I do? This question can have many answers that will vary depending on your situation. Here are some common things to consider when deciding between asbestos removal or asbestos encapsulation:

1. Will I be living in my home/owning my building forever? Forever is a strong term, but if you know you will be selling shortly, you should remember that asbestos is a scary word to many potential buyers, and they may not want it in their home/building even if it’s encapsulated. You may spend money on encapsulating asbestos only to have asbestos removal come up as a contingency for sale. Now, your asbestos encapsulation money is a complete loss, plus the cost for asbestos removal will be higher as encapsulated asbestos takes longer to remove than non-encapsulated asbestos.
2. Is there a hidden cost if I have it removed?
   1. If you are abating asbestos insulation from piping or asbestos fitting insulation, keep in mind that it was likely installed for one or multiple reasons: energy efficiency, burn protection, or condensation control. Once you abate the asbestos, you will want to consider if you want to re-insulate this item. You will not have this hidden cost if you decide to encapsulate asbestos versus remove it.
   2. If you are abating asbestos from ductwork, it can be nearly impossible or not cost-effective to remove the asbestos from the ductwork itself without actually removing the ductwork as well. Asbetos on ductwork (typically paper thin) is very well adhered to and labor-intensive to clean off. It is very common to either encapsulate this asbestos or to remove the entire section of ductwork. Remember that if the ductwork is removed, it must be replaced.
3. Will I be remodeling or demolishing the structure in the future? If you are thinking of remodeling or removing an item with asbestos on it (e.g., upgrading your HVAC System that is currently covered in asbestos), you may want to spend money on having the asbestos removed and not encapsulated. If you have the asbestos encapsulation done, you will likely have to deal with it again during the remodel/demo.

Regardless of your choice, asbestos abatement or encapsulation, we can perform the work safely and cost-effectively. We are also here to work through the financial choices between asbestos abatement and encapsulation. We can price things both ways and through hidden costs with you. Contact our office today for your free estimate.