asbestos

lchmb

ok...I personally find this a scary subject. With that said how does someone identify all of the different styles of asbestos used over the years? I have been in this buisness going on eight years now and have never really been shown all the form's of it. I know they have used the "mud" to wrap boiler's and piping with. Have seen the shingles and siding but are there other forms? I have seen pipes with what look's like a paper wrap on them, with waffer's in side. Is this asbestos? Are there site's out there that discuss this?

Al Letellier

asbestos

If you think it might be asbestos, LEAVE IT ALONE. You should be able to find an abatement contractor in your area that will give you the info you need, or a testing lab, or you State's DEP should be able to help you out. the pipe insulation you mention is most likely asbestos. It looks like corragated cardboard on the inside and white gauze wrap on the outside.

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jack_14

The paper wrap you are talking about contains 20% asbestos . Don`t touch it.

Alan_6

asbestos


Asbestos contractors usally can tell by looking at the material, but dont take there word on it, it has to be tested in a lab. But any material on equiptment manufactured before 1981 can have it, even fire cement. I have had materials that look like white fiberglass, come back positive. It seems to be a gray area by most contractors, nobody wants to talk about it, they just say dont disturb it. It is hard to know what is the point when to stop. Even removing a burner or a pilot can cause airborn particles. Another thing I have learned, dont even suggest to home owner that they can remove it, on ther own. That can make a work space ten times worse, ask them for a air sample test. Good luck.

lchmb

no

the stuff I am talking about is all paper. about 1/2" thick. I just don't know if it has any asbestos in it. I never touch anything I can't identify. The older tech in the company said that this stuff is fine. I have no idea. The "mud" asbestos I have no problem identifying and stay well clear of..

Mike T., Swampeast MO

The corrugated pipe insulation almost certainly contains asbestos. It's also HIGHLY friable (meaning easy to crush and release the asbestos). The more friable the more dangerous.

The "cardboard-looking" thin, whitish insulation on old ductwork most likely contains asbestos as well.

Becky H

So what happens when you need a new boiler and it is covered in asbestos. Isn't this very costly? The pipes are wrapped with it also. What to do??

JimGPE_3

Watch the walls....

If you need to cut holes for new pipes, conduit, etc. be careful of the walls and ceilings in older buildings, even houses. The plaster can contain asbestos.

JimGPE_3

Public school?

I note your email address pertains to a public school. If your question pertains to the school, I STRONGLY suggest you run - don't walk - to the nearest industrial hygene consultant. This is VERY tricky in K-12 schools. The standards are much higher there than in a home or office building.

At least that is true where I come from in Pennsylvania.

In any case, don't do this yourself - get a partner in this matter who has lots of insurance.

Unknown

some pictures

http://www.decodog.com/inven/arch6.html

Mark Hunt

Asbestos

I was sent to do a boiler replacement several years ago for a church.

The old beast looked like a marshmallow!

I called the sales rep to inform him of the covering (he HAD to have noticed it). He became frustrated and asked,"Well how do you know it's asbestos?!?!You can't tell just by looking at it!"

"Well," I said, "It stands to reason that if I can't tell it IS asbestos by looking at I can't tell that it ISN'T asbestos by looking at it. But it sure does look like asbestos!"

It was.

Always assume that it is and do not touch it.

Stay safe!

Mark H

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J.C.A._3

There was a segment....

On the History Channel just last night about the dreaded "fire retardant material". It was on a program called Modern Marvels. (I took it in BETWEEN INNINGS!). There were so many different uses for the miracle material that they actually lost count at some point.

If you have ANY doubt,get a small sample and take it to an abatement company.(in a plastic bag after wetting it enough to keep the fibers from flying!) They have a field test kit that even shows trace amounts. Chris

Bluenose_21

field test kits?

Do they have field test kits? How much? Seems like something that would be very useful in our business.My company has to eat the cost of testing most of the time if I suspect a material is asbestos.