Boulder Colorado Commercial Real Estate Asbestos by Michael Bittner

What is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in almost every country. It consists of thin separable fibers which can be spun together to produce heat-resistant properties often used for insulation. While the simple definition sounds harmless, asbestos has proven to be the cause of several life threatening diseases. Asbestos is found in older building materials and is released into the air when disturbed. It is most often disturbed when workers complete maintenance and repair jobs which involve drilling into walls or ceilings. Although, these damaging chemicals can also be released with as little force as hammering one small nail into a wall. Asbestos is a problem all over the world, even in an otherwise clean and safe environment like Boulder, Colorado. Commercial real estate companies have to deal with harmful chemicals such as these. If the airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled they cannot leave the body and continuously penetrate body tissues. Several asbestos-related diseases have arisen throughout the years. Although many are fighting to have it banned, asbestos is still legal in the United States.
From the real estate perspective, the relevance of asbestos lies in the liability aspect. Tenants, lenders and owners may all potentially be held responsible for asbestos-related issues. It is imperative that commercial property owners, lenders, developers and managers comply with the several laws and regulations that have been set into place concerning asbestos and its safe removal. If a building was built before 2000, one may assume that asbestos is present. For Boulder, Colorado commercial real estate, it is important to find any asbestos information that has been recorded about a building, for example surveys or insurance reports. If asbestos is found and removal work is necessary, a licensed contractor must be hired to take the proper precautions in the removal process. For more information on how to manage asbestos in a commercial building visit: hse.gov.uk/pubns/manageasbestos.pdf


For further information visit:
accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-14522700/effects-asbestos-commercial-real.html

firstam.com/content.cfm?id=3054
maacenter.org/asbestos/