If you suspect your home has asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), you might be compelled to perform tests independently. While we understand the desire to keep you and the inhabitants safe, conducting a DIY asbestos management survey without professional aid may be dangerous.

DIY home asbestos test kits can appear quick, easy, and affordable, but you must understand the potential drawbacks. It is advisable to have your survey performed by experienced professionals.

Below, we'll discuss why DIY asbestos surveys may not be a good idea and why you should partner with asbestos management firms instead.

The Dangers of DIY Asbestos Surveys

Though DIY asbestos surveys are convenient and cost-efficient, they are highly discouraged. In certain jurisdictions, they may also be banned. 

Here are some reasons why you should not consider performing asbestos surveys by yourself:

  • Health Hazards – There are many instances wherein you may not know the condition of ACMs on your property. Without proper equipment and experience, you could expose yourself to high asbestos levels and develop ailments.
  • Asbestos Disturbance – Non-experienced individuals might accidentally disturb ACMs during the search or while taking samples, causing a release of airborne asbestos fibres.
  • Inadequate and Inaccurate Sampling – Unlike lab results, DIY test kits are inaccurate. This could lead to incorrect conclusions about the asbestos situation in your home and affect the abatement planning process.
  • Lack of Expertise – As a homeowner, you do not have the experience and expertise to correctly interpret results about the presence or absence of asbestos on your property.
  • Legal Compliance Issues – As mentioned, certain jurisdictions strongly discourage or have made DIY asbestos testing illegal. Proceeding with unprofessional surveys may result in unwanted violations.
  • Incomplete Assessment – DIY kits cannot cover the entire area of your home, especially and do not detect asbestos in less conspicuous or hidden spaces. You could miss major asbestos contamination a professional would have easily discovered.

Gain Peace of Mind with Professional Surveys

DIY asbestos test kits can be problematic, so you should instead invest in professional services.

Unlike do-it-yourself home test kits, professional asbestos surveys follow a methodical and precise process to ensure the whole property is thoroughly inspected and given a report. Additionally, all samples are taken for lab analysis, promising more precise results than a test kit.

Don't risk your health dealing with asbestos on your own. For reliable asbestos inspection and testing services in Australia, contact Global Asbestos Audits today.