For buildings constructed prior to 1990, the provincial legislation requires hazardous materials surveys to be completed before renovation, expansion or demolition, to protect occupants and workers from harmful exposures. Such hazardous materials would include asbestos in all types of building products. If not handled correctly, there is danger of inhaling asbestos-contaminated air and serious chronic health problems can occur.
U.F.F.I. or Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation was a product used in the 1970’s most extensively from 1975 – 1978. The use of the insulation was banned in 1980 in Canada. It is estimated that over 100,000 homes in Canada were insulated with U.F.F.I. The primary issues with the use of this type of insulation was increasing reports of home owners suffering from respiratory difficulties, eye irritation, running noses, nosebleeds, headaches and fatigue.
REALTORS® NEED TO KNOW:
- Realtors® need to have a heightened awareness of these two building products that are no longer in use but still may affect many of the properties they work on.
- The Real Estate Council of B.C. expects that Realtors® take appropriate steps to alert their clients to the existence of known health or environmental concerns.
- It is therefore appropriate for a Realtor® to advise their client to have a home inspected for the presence of asbestos and/or U.F.F.I.
- Realtors should also advise their clients of the removal of such hazardous materials can come a great expense.
- Realtors® should use the safety, health and environmental inspection/testing/government approval clause in these circumstances.
- Realtors® should not take it upon themselves to attempt to identify the presence of such hazardous products and provide their own opinions but rather advise their client(s) to contact the appropriate professionals to handle the inspection.
- Materials that are widely known to potentially contain asbestos include but are not limited to: insulation, shingles, exterior siding, pipe and boiler coverings, compounds and cement, wallboard, acoustic ceiling tile, vinyl floor tiles, linoleum, and wiring to name a few.
- There is no laws that mandate the immediate removal of these hazardous materials but there are laws governing the handling of these products should a Buyer choose to renovate or demolish the home in the future.