Asbestos flue on Warm Air

[Bolty123]

I can only echo what just been said whenever I have found an asbestos flue to be leaking from joints it is because there has been some movement in the flue not just random leakage from joints.

 

[tamz]

No point in getting it tested. It will have asbestos rope in the joints as it was put in in the 70's
Something to read for the uninitiated
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a35.pdf

 

[DaveTidy]

I agree there's no point in a test but it has been said that there are neutral substances out there; it was just to say that if you are in any doubt, always get it tested.

The sheet you have linked to is very comprehensive. Got to admit that I and many others still wouldn't do it due to the fact you can get 5 million fibres on a pin head; still don't agree that you can guarantee to keep them all protected when 1 single fibre is enough to cause you to have the disease.

I guess we all take our choices but does the guy that removes the asbestos and takes it to his local tip really follow all the guidelines on the sheet and own an H type VAC?

What are the advantages for the engineer in taking a risk which could also put his/her family at risk if on overalls?

 

[tamz]

Fibre rope (and plastic bolts) weren't used until the 80's.

I must have billions of them fibres in me then as i fitted them and worse. I'm still here........for now but i agree, don't take un necessary risks with yourself or others for the sake of a few quid.

 

[DaveTidy]

Hi Tamz
I too worked on asbestos without all the facts from the company and probably have all the undesirables in me and the rest is all down to luck. That said, I have a couple of friends that aren't here to tell the tale that have passed with this disease so clearly get a bit tetchy with it and angry as I wasn't told until after I'd worked on it for a few years.

I see no benefits to us engineers taking any personal risk or to customers or even our families and kids; it still makes me cringe when I think of the examples of peoples kids who died because they used to get bounced up and down on the overalls when the Dad goes home from work.

As regards when the gaskets and bolts were made, I worked and live near two estates locally which were both built in the 70's and both have warm airs, circulators, asbestos flues, rope gaskets and plastic ridge bolts; I know as I changed most of them in an exercise back in the eighties and nineties (lucky old me now!).

Sorry if I was a bit blunt, just a sore subject and cheesed off that now the knowledge is out there I would steer clear of it, just wish we had that knowledge when I started!!

 

[tamz]

We used rhone bolts and penny washers :smile:

I agree there is no need for people to take risks anymore as we did through lack of knowledge.
All the information is out there for free if you look. Here is a good place to start. Lots of stuff on here.
HSE - Asbestos: Asbestos essentials

 

[northeastsun]

Thanks for the replies, I ended up getting a 2nd opinion from a gas engineer who had been practicing for a good while who felt that it was a bad idea to replace the flue without getting a specialist to confirm that it is indeed asbestos although given the date of build it could well be. He checked the flue and felt that any joint leaks could be sealed safely as it was structurally sound.
I was a little concerned about the first contractors asbestos removal guys originally as the first engineer said they like to stay anonymous and refuse to deal with the end client (property owners) leading me to suspect that it might end up in a farmers field, it happens regularly around my area too which is close to the town centre. So feel better to have err'd on the side of caution.

 

[Rickster123]

Thanks for the update northeastsun