| The term "asbestos" is understood to mean a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Asbestos is toxic, as well as heat and acid resistant. As it is non-combustible, tear and tensile-resistant, flexible, elastic, and insulating, asbestos was formerly used in industrial, commercial and residential buildings, for instance in spray asbestos, fabrics, foams, panel linings, vinyl floor boards, cardboard, cords. The fine fibres of asbestos are invisible to the naked eye. When they enter the lungs, however, they can cause severe lung damage, rhinitis, or abdominal disease, including cancer. The Ordinance on Hazardous Substances has therefore named asbestos a carcinogenic substance. The use of asbestos was banned in Germany in 1993, and in the EU since 2005. The rehabilitation of asbestos-contaminated buildings is demanding, and it can only be carried out by experienced, well-equipped and approved specialist companies. Lindner is a founding member of the Association for Asbestos Treatment (FAS). As an approved and certified refurbishment specialist, we observe the technical regulations for hazardous substances (to name a few: TRGS 519 / TRGS 521 / TRGS 524 / BGR 128) in which various protective measures related to the areas of technology, environment and personnel are regulated.
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