Panicked tenant re. boiler asbestos

[MikeJhn]

A plumber or any individual would not know how to identify if the Asbestos is of a lethal type or not, only by testing are you able to identify the different types, if I was in that situation I would contact the landlord and express my concern's if they are any type of decent landlord they should be just as concerned and address the situation. In my pervious life it was always accepted that if a any building was built around the 1960's it was assumed it had Asbestos somewhere in its construction and testing was carried out and a clean air certificate was issued once it had been address or not found, Asbestos was even used as facia boards.

 

[Burger]

You could try contacting the manufacturer to see if their technical team know if asbestos was used during production or if it’s listed in the instructions (usually downloadable).

 

[Aire]

A plumber or any individual would not know how to identify if the Asbestos is of a lethal type or not.

For a start, all types of asbestos are leathal/harmful if your exposed to enough of it. A heating engineer may not be able to test which type of asbestos is present but he will be able to show where the possible asbestos is. I can tell you without looking that unless that rope seal has been replaced, there is a good possibility that it contains asbestos, I also know from the numerous asbestos awareness courses I have been on, that if the rope does contain asbestos, it will be brown asbestos. Very dangerous stuff when messed with, don't mess with the rope and you'll be fine. The other possible location will be in the burner, again it will be either of the blue or brown variety and again it is perfectly safe if it is not messed with.
Op, if you can tell me what boiler you have installed, I will check it against the database of boilers/heaters that are known to contain asbestos.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Will need GC and possibly serial number if you have it.

 

[jisseh]

Thanks. I have a scanned copy of the last safety check and it lists an Ideal Mexico CF40-50.

I'm not sure what would constitute disturbing the rope in a dangerous way - as it's frayed and sticking out into the kitchen (though not where it can be directly bumped), it will move because the boiler will be bumped, the floor will vibrate, air circulation will happen (the oven will blow air in its vicinity) etc. I don't have any concept of what would be enough to cause fibres to break off.

 

[jisseh]

Latest is that the landlord's usual plumber came this morning and said that the only asbestos in the boiler is the rope. That seemed unlikely to me based on what I've read, but all I can do is take his word for it. Tomorrow we have an asbestos assessor coming in who I hope will recommend it be removed - I don't think I'll ever feel ok in the kitchen while that fray is there, and I'm a passionate cook so that will be difficult. The plumber wasn't at all keen on the idea of a new boiler.

 

[Harvest Fields]

It isn’t the plumbers choice to be honest

 

[Ric2013]

I'm sure I read somewhere that asbestos rope tended to be made of longer fibres and thus less likely to be breathed in.

Strictly speaking, a tradesman should treat any material that might be asbestos as if it were asbestos, and since your house is currently rented, no one that is not qualified to carry our licensable or non-licensable asbestos works should be touching it at all, even the landlord. So if the boiler instructions show that asbestos is not present, then the boiler can be worked on. If they show that asbestos is present, then even a Gas-Safe Registered Installer would not be allowed to disturb the asbestos in the boiler - couldn't even remove the casing if the seal being unsealed is asbestos, unless the Registered Installer also has had specific training in non-licensable asbestos work.

The logical thing would be to check the manufacturer's instructions and, then, possibly, get a specialist asbestos inspection company to take a sample and analyse it.

Quick point I've noticed though: if you hold a lighter under the end of a fibre string and it starts to melt, then it is ceramic fibre as used in modern wood-burning stoves: asbestos will glow red, but won't melt. You can see why asbestos was the preferred option in the old days.

 

[rpm]

Latest is that the landlord's usual plumber came this morning and said that the only asbestos in the boiler is the rope. That seemed unlikely to me based on what I've read, but all I can do is take his word for it. Tomorrow we have an asbestos assessor coming in who I hope will recommend it be removed - I don't think I'll ever feel ok in the kitchen while that fray is there, and I'm a passionate cook so that will be difficult. The plumber wasn't at all keen on the idea of a new boiler.

No suprise the landlords usual plumber wasn`t keen on a new boiler, not sure what you expected there and I get the feeling you aren`t going to be comfortable there whatever you`re told so start looking for somewhere else to live.

 

[Aire]

I could be wrong on this as things may have changed, but I think when removing anything containing asbestos, the percentage of the asbestos compared to the rest of the product is taken into account. So because the percentage of the asbestos compared to the boiler is so low, it can be removed without the need of a registered asbestos removal firm.

 

[jisseh]

rpm you're probably right. But we are stuck in a 12-month lease and I want as much peace of mind as is possible for that time. Along with the family I lost, I was exposed to a lot as a child (dust cloud levels) in an accident. I'm only 31 and had a 34yo friend die of mesothelioma last year with no idea of when she had been exposed. So I'm already high risk, about to try to start a family, and willing to fight/pay if need be.

Here are some more photos including the serial number from inside when the plumber opened it this morning. Serial number is JE-8800511.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I could be wrong on this as things may have changed, but I think when removing anything containing asbestos, the percentage of the asbestos compared to the rest of the product is taken into account. So because the percentage of the asbestos compared to the boiler is so low, it can be removed without the need of a registered asbestos removal firm.

We were instructed to do this when I was a contractor for BG. I still wouldn’t.

 

[Harvest Fields]

rpm you're probably right. But we are stuck in a 12-month lease and I want as much peace of mind as is possible for that time. Along with the family I lost, I was exposed to a lot as a child (dust cloud levels) in an accident. I'm only 31 and had a 34yo friend die of mesothelioma last year with no idea of when she had been exposed. So I'm already high risk, about to try to start a family, and willing to fight/pay if need be.

Here are some more photos including the serial number from inside when the plumber opened it this morning. Serial number is JE-8800511.View attachment 36899 View attachment 36900 View attachment 36901 View attachment 36902

My list states that it has mastic containing fibres.

 

[jisseh]

My list states that it has mastic containing fibres.

Thanks for checking. What does that mean?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thanks for checking. What does that mean?

That it is in the heat proof silicone that they use to hold some of the appliance together.