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The
Asbestos Information Centre Ltd
FAQs on low density products
Below are listed the most frequently asked
question that we receive about low density products. For FAQs on asbestos
cement products please click here
Q:
For some years I have been working in an office, which I am now told has an
asbestos ceiling. Will this have damaged my health?
A:
The ceiling will probably be a low-density insulation board containing amosite
asbestos. If it is in good condition and is not being abraded it will not be
releasing dangerous quantities of fibres. You need to ensure that if any work
needs to be carried out on the ceiling that it is carried out by a contractor
licensed by the HSE to work with low-density asbestos products. Unless the work
is going to take less than 1 hour, in which case you only need to use a
competent contractor, who must take the necessary precautions to keep the
release of dust to the minimum possible.
Q: I
am considering buying a house and the surveyor has advised me that the integral
garage ceiling may be asbestos and so should be sealed or removed. How do I
find out if the ceiling is asbestos?
A:
You can not tell from looking at the product if it does contain asbestos. The
first question to ask is when was the ceiling constructed? As this is an
integral garage the ceiling will need to have been fire protected and so it
will be a fire protection product. Asbestos containing fire protection products
were withdrawn in the late 1970s and so if the garage was built after 1980 you
can be reasonably confident that it does not contain asbestos. If the garage
was built before 1980 it probably is a low-density asbestos insulation board,
which will contain 20 to 25% amosite asbestos. The only way to be sure is to
arrange for a sample to be analysed by a competent laboratory, you can obtain a
list of laboratories that have been accredited to check for asbestos in samples
from the
If
the ceiling is in good condition and not being abraded or likely to be abraded
in the future then I suggest that it is painted. Do not sand the ceiling prior
to the painting and ensure that the paint used is alkali resistant. The ceiling
should only be removed if it is bad condition and breaking down. See the DETR’s
advice at the bottom of our ‘About us’ page
Q: I
have an asbestos ceiling in my kitchen and I wish to drill some holes for a
light fitting, the work will only take half an hour and as it seems excessive
to have to use a licensed contractor I am going to do it myself. What
precautions should I take?
A: Legally
as the work will take less than one hour you do not have to use a licensed
contractor although it is safest to use an expert such as a licensed
contractor. You may also be in the situation that the ceiling is asbestos
cement rather than a low-density board in which case you only need to use a
competent contractor. If though you are going to do the work yourself, you
should clear the room and ensure that no one enters whilst you are doing the
work. You should wear a mask that is ‘CE’ marked to EN 149 with FFP3
particulate filters suitable for protection against asbestos and ensure that it
is fitted as well as possible and wear disposable overalls with a hood. Lay
polythene sheeting on the floor beneath where you are working and have to hand
some damp disposable cloths. If possible gain access to the top of the ceiling
boards and damp with a fine mist spray. Mark on the ceiling where the holes are
to be drilled, over the marks place a blob of ready mixed wallpaper paste and
drill through the blobs of wallpaper paste with the drill set on the slowest
setting, ensuring that you are not directly beneath where you are drilling.
Once the drilling is complete wipe the surface of the board you have drilled
and your drill with damp cloths and place the cloths in a plastic bag. Fix your
light fixing. Wipe everything down with damp cloths and place the cloths in
plastic bags. Place the plastic bags with cloths in the polythene sheet and then
place the polythene sheet and the plastic bags in another plastic bag. Take of
your overalls and disposable mask and put into the plastic bag. Seal the bag
and mark asbestos. This bag will now need to be disposed of as asbestos waste,
with your local authority being able to advise you what arrangements they have
for the disposal of DIY asbestos waste.
Q:
What are the rules for when I have to use a licensed contractor to work with
asbestos containing materials in my building?
A: If the work is on asbestos containing material with a density
of less than 1000 kg/m3 and will take more than 1 hour to complete or where an
‘Action level’ or ‘Control level’ may be exceeded. If the work does take less
than I hour it must still be carried out in such a way as to ensure that fibre
release is kept to the minimum possible and certainly below the ‘Control or
Action levels’ for the fibre concerned.
Q: I
have some sprayed asbestos around some pipe work that it will only take me an
hour or two to remove and it seems excessive to employ a licensed contractor.
So what precautions should I take whilst I do the work myself?
A: Sprayed asbestos coatings are very friable and if worked on
without the correct specialist tools will release large amounts of fibre. Even
with the correct precautions and the specialist tools the operative should
still be wearing a full positive pressure head mask or suit. Since none of this
is available on the DIY market this work should not be undertaken on a DIY
basis. The specialist licensed contractor must be employed.
Q:
How can I tell if the product in my building has a density of less than 1000
kg/m3
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A: This is sometimes not easy with out removing part of the product
for analyses, but there are some ‘rules of thumb’ that can be used
if the product has been used outside and
has survived for a number of years it will be asbestos cement
if the product is moulded in shape (except
for some half round pipe covers and column covers) it will be asbestos cement
If the product was supplied after 1980 it
is probably either be asbestos free or asbestos cement, because the low density
asbestos containing boards were withdrawn in the late 1970s
If the product was used for fire
protection, or thermal insulation it will have been low density (remember the
1980 date)
All spray applications and lagging
applications will be low density
Director
General: A M Hutchinson FIoR
Asbestos Information
Centre Ltd
E-mail: director@aic.org.uk