The public became aware that asbestos was a considerable health risk not so long ago, relatively speaking. The presence of the material is unwanted in our homes.
So how is this material linked to wireless access control at home? And what should you, as a property manager, know before proceeding with your duties?
Let’s look at the risk asbestos poses and ways you can prevent exposure to the substance.
Exposure to asbestos at home
Asbestos has indeed been a naturally occurring mineral on our planet for thousands of years, but it wasn’t officially reported that the material could be seriously damaging to people’s health if exposed to it until 1918 when the US government published research findings.
Asbestos has been used as a form of insulation, among other things, for a long time. It was considered a durable and cheap material that builders could easily source to put in the walls of homes and use for other applications.
Of course, we now know that asbestos is incredibly harmful and a significant amount of exposure is linked to deadly diseases. This, unfortunately, doesn’t change the fact that there are homes up and down the country that have asbestos inside them.
What does this mean for the average person though? Well, if your tenant is piercing their walls, perhaps via an electrician or plumber drilling into the wall, there is a chance that asbestos exposure could occur. If not, then there isn’t much to worry about.
Mostly-superficial holes in the wall, for hanging a painting or a clock, for instance, won’t penetrate deep enough into the wall to touch the asbestos; it’s usually when more extensive work is carried out that asbestos becomes a concern, like needing to access wiring.
Speak to Intratone if you or your tenants have concerns about the current security measures in place at your property and want to upgrade them with our products.
Asbestos and control access
When you want to fit a wired intercom system into your walls, does this present a risk of asbestos exposure? Potentially, yes it does because of the need to access the property’s wiring.
There are now laws in place about what should be done if somebody is exposed to asbestos and the guidelines for the steps you should take. Staying on top of these regulations is vital to your job.
This is why, as a property manager, you should consider installing a wireless intercom system onto the building’s walls. This removes the need to perform any drilling so that any potential asbestos will be left untouched within the walls.
Wireless intercoms are easy to operate and much quicker to install too. They can be used and managed via a smartphone for convenience so there is no need for too many gadgets – Intratone sells a range of intercom systems, along with an abundance of other products, for you to explore.