asbestos on ricwil

Ted S.

Does anyone know when they stopped insulating ricwil-type pipe(pre-insulated steet pipe for burial) with asbestos? My guess is 1988 and perhaps later with Canadian mfg's.

Also if the insulation "is black and smells bad" what is in it?

Tony Conner

There's Only...

...one way to tell, and that's get a sample tested. Asbestos was pretty much a dirty word by the early to mid '80s at the latest. That isn't to say somebody didn't have some "old stock" laying around that they let somebody have a "deal" on. The stuff that's "black and smells bad" could be Foamglas. Does it smell like sulfur when it's cut or broken? Brittle and abrasive to handle? Floats in water? Then it's likely Foamglas. Excellent for underground service, or anywhere else that me be exposed to water or excessive moisture.

Tony Conner

There's Only...

...one way to tell whether or not something contains asbestos, and that's get a sample tested. Asbestos was pretty much a dirty word by the early to mid '80s at the latest. That isn't to say somebody didn't have some "old stock" laying around that they let somebody have a "deal" on. The stuff that's "black and smells bad" could be Foamglas. Does it smell like sulfur when it's cut or broken? Brittle and abrasive to handle? Floats in water? Then it's likely Foamglas. Excellent for underground service, or anywhere else that me be exposed to water or excessive moisture.