Asbestos Lagging

[superhands]

Would i be right in saying this is asbestos?

 

[snowhead]

Looks more like Rockwool with a cotton covering on the pipes.

BUT, you either need to go on an Asbestos awareness course Or pay for an expert inspection

 

[Reg Man]

Could be. White and fibrous?

 

[DaveTidy]

Hi Superhands

You can't tell by looking (but can take a good guess!!). You can get it tested by using a member from the 'Asbestos Removal Contractors Association;' look in the top right hand corner and choose your area from the drop-down.

[DLMURL="http://www.arca.org.uk/arca-asbestos-removal-contractors-association.asp"]Asbestos Removal Contractors Association - ARCA[/DLMURL]

Lost 2 colleagues over the years from asbestosis and they were both considered very experienced in their field and supervised others so you can all get caught by the odd job if not careful.

At the end of th day, you didn't install it and it is owned by the customer so unfortunately it is their financial responsibility to ensure you have a safe working environment so I would want to be sure before entering again.

Found a good link for asbestos in gas appliances the other day if you're interested: Asbestos Watchdog

 

[REDSAW]

Looks more like Rockwool with a cotton covering on the pipes.

BUT, you either need to go on an Asbestos awareness course Or pay for an expert inspection

torch it, if it burns its not.lol

 

[DaveTidy]

I'd be a bit careful as not all of the old lagging covers were non combustible so you might get a flame off the combustible stuff and then consider it safe to work on?

 

[AWheating]

an asbestos awareness course wont help you apart from giving you the information that if your come across something and dont know what it is then it needs testing or removing by a competent person. Only experience can really help in most of these situations.

if the property is rented then its the landlords responsibility to tell you where any asbestos is in there property. So if so then the landlord needs to do a asbestos survey and remove anything relating to your work.

if its a private property then the home owner must get it tested and removed, or you take on the duty of care as part of your working contract.

 

[Sag]

Not even funny. This stuff kills people. A painful way to go too.

send the apprentice up to rip it make up some name for it like fire wool so they be none the wiser

 

[Reg Man]

Quote>send the apprentice up to rip<Quote Could be very true (RIP). Most of us have know people who have passed on through this evil material and most of us have been exposed to it at some time. One of the biggest exposures to the public being New Yorks 9/11. Plant rooms used to be rife with the stuff, that's where I as an apprentice was first exposed to it and thankfully I'm still here waiting to see if it's got me or not.

 

[Koogatubac]

send the apprentice up to rip it make up some name for it like fire wool so they be none the wiser

Naughty hammer.... Very naughty....

 

[superhands]

Thanks for the replies, will ask the customer to get it tested.

 

[Sag]

Don't trust the customer to do it, get a firm in yourself. Should cost about £80 ish and you'll have a certificate of results.

 

[Ermintrude]

Mix pva and water, soak it. Do u need to disturb it. Worth considering that if its asbestos fibres probably all over that loft space.

 

[DaveTidy]

Hi Guys

I personally wouldn't try the pva and water method although I agree there's possibly fibres around the loft space.

We were shown a video once of someone wetting damaged lagging around a two inch pipe and in slow motion you could see all the asbestos dust coming off the rest of the pipe!!

Bear in mind the asbestos is shaped like a barb so when inhaled it hooks in your lungs and doesn't come out. It's also that small that a single barb is the size of a pin-head and is enough to kill you so is it worth being brave (or other?).

Even if the customer arranges it, we were always told you don't re-enter until you see the 'Clean air' certificate from the registered removal company, no certificate, not coming back in.

The bit that stopped some of my guys being brave was when we told them about the dockyard workers who used to bounce the kids on their knees when they came home, some of the kids aren't here now, it ain't worth it, what have you got to gain?

If you do surveys for installs, I'd also protect yourself (the surveyor) by attaching a 'Gas Asbestos Risk Survey Form' which you can get off the net, but as always, it's your call.....................

 

[Ermintrude]

Sorry. I wasn't condoning stripping asbestos or disturbing it I was simply saying to soak it in pva , to bond any surface fibres in place . I did ask if pipes actually needed touching.

Asbestosis is horrible. Work colleagues and relatives have both died from exposure.

 

[Reg Man]

Hi Guys

I personally wouldn't try the pva and water method although I agree there's possibly fibres around the loft space.

We were shown a video once of someone wetting damaged lagging around a two inch pipe and in slow motion you could see all the asbestos dust coming off the rest of the pipe!!

Bear in mind the asbestos is shaped like a barb so when inhaled it hooks in your lungs and doesn't come out. It's also that small that a single barb is the size of a pin-head and is enough to kill you so is it worth being brave (or other?).

Even if the customer arranges it, we were always told you don't re-enter until you see the 'Clean air' certificate from the registered removal company, no certificate, not coming back in.

The bit that stopped some of my guys being brave was when we told them about the dockyard workers who used to bounce the kids on their knees when they came home, some of the kids aren't here now, it ain't worth it, what have you got to gain?

If you do surveys for installs, I'd also protect yourself (the surveyor) by attaching a 'Gas Asbestos Risk Survey Form' which you can get off the net, but as always, it's your call.....................

Wise words.

 

[DaveTidy]

Ermintrude

Nasty stuff asbestos. Having lost some long time friends to it and having been exposed to it by some pillocks it is one of my passionate things.

I'm always trying to push my nipper with how dangerouse it is as he's a chippy but it's difficult to get them to understand.

Sad stuff but i'm sure a few of us yet still have the hammer hanging over us.