There are no plans for any future renovations to a federal government building in downtown Red Deer, which would pose the potential threat of disturbing asbestos in the structure, said Public Works and Government Services Canada.
The Government of Canada Building at 4904 Ross St. is one of three federal buildings in Alberta that contains the cancer-causing mineral.
The government department Labour Minister Lisa Raitt released a list earlier this year that found 318 of its federal buildings, most of which are in Ontario, to contain asbestos.
The department also recently acknowledged it did not keep track of any asbestos-removal projects.
The Red Deer building, constructed of brick and white stone in 1951, served as the post office until 1991 and is currently being used for office space by the Canada Revenue Agency.
“There are no plans for building renovations at this time. If we must undertake work that would expose asbestos, removal and management is conducted in accordance with standards and protocols,” said Tom Corrigan, corporate communications for Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Asbestos fibres are only harmful when disturbed and released into the air. Asbestos has been linked to diseases such as lung cancer.
The department states on its website, for every Public Works and Government Services Canada-owned building that contains asbestos, regional asbestos co-ordinators ensure that asbestos inventory and assessment reports, training records, notification letters and work records are maintained and made available to facilities managers.
Dave Swanson is the owner of Airfresh Services out of Spruce Grove which has been handling asbestos removal and abatement around Central Alberta for the past 10 years.
Airfresh easily conducts about 100 or so asbestos removal jobs for residential and commercial structures a year, said Swanson.
It would be hard to say how intensive the asbestos removal of a heritage-conscious building like the one downtown would be, he said.
It all depends on the type and location of the asbestos. For example, there is asbestos tape in furnace joints, asbestos in attic insulation, drywall compound and in linoleum flooring.
“The key is to be diligent about testing for asbestos and air quality as a building or home owner,” said Swanson.
rfrancoeur@www.reddeeradvocate.com