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asbestos

Asbestos (pronounced: or ) is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various dangerous lung conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, so it is now notorious as a serious health and safety hazard.Archaeological studies have found evidence of asbestos being used as far back as the Stone Age to strengthen ceramic pots, but large-scale mining began at the end of the 19th century when manufacturers and builders began using asbestos for its desirable physical properties. Asbestos is an excellent electrical insulator and is highly fire-resistant, so for much of the 20th century it was very commonly used across the world as a building material, until its adverse effects on human health were recognized in the 1970s. Many modern buildings constructed before the 1980s are thought to contain asbestos.The use of asbestos for construction and fireproofing has been made illegal in many countries. Despite this, at least 100,000 people are thought to die each year from diseases related to asbestos exposure. In part, this is because many older buildings still contain asbestos; in addition, the consequences of exposure can take decades to arise.Many developing countries still support the use of asbestos as a building material, and mining of asbestos is ongoing, with top producer Russia having an estimated production of 790,000 tonnes in 2020.

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  1. D

    AUS Difficulty of removing asbestos; Plumber that can repair Gyprock wall

    I have been given a quote to fix a noisy tap. Apparently they have to “replace breech to main shower” — which I understand to mean the thing one level behind any normal work on a tap. (“It is worn down and still has a small crack in it.”) “This will have to be done through the Gyprock wall...
  2. G

    could this white material on radiator thread be/contain any asbestos?

    Hi everybody, I have noticed that unlike the other threads of the radiator which are sealed with something that really looks like hemp ("foto 1"), one of them has this white material wrapped around/inside the joint ("foto 2"). Could anybody tell me if it may be/could contain any asbestos? Many...
  3. D

    Is this pipe lagging safe to remove?

    Ideally, I want to cut these redundant pipes out. I’m pretty sure this is hair felt insulation but I’m a sparky by trade so not familiar with pipe lagging. I do know pipe lagging often contained asbestos and as the house was built in 1890 and sporadically worked on ever since… could do with some...
  4. P

    Asbestos on waste pipe?

    Hello, hope it's ok to post this here. I'm not a plumber or diyer just looking for advice. I live in a 3 bed terraced house built around 1955 and have found something on an old kitchen pipe that I am worried could be asbestos. It looks like cement, part of it is hard another part soft and...
  5. L

    Efficiency of old boiler and cracked asbestos flue joint

    Hello, I live in a conversion with 12 flats and we have communal heating and hot water. We have separate boilers for heating and hot water. The boiler for heating is a Potterton Dimplomat 225 (66Kw), and about 45 years old or more. If you were to take an educated guess, what kind of...
  6. T

    Old ash box - asbestos?

    Hi folks I've taken out an old Potterton back boiler It was standing on a sheet of asbestos cement board, so have removed that Underneath is an old cast iron underfloor draught as box. It was filled with rubble and ash - I gather blocking these up was a requirement when fitting a gas fire. I...
  7. S

    Textured wall - asbestos risk?

    Hi everyone, I’m a bit paranoid about asbestos, and I’m living in this apartment - looks to be around mid80s - with a texture on most of the walls (although not ceilings) and the built-in cupboards and shelves. It’s mostly in good condition, but there are a few damaged bits. Do you reckon it’s a...
  8. S

    URGENT White hairy material around towel heater pipe joint: asbestos?

    I’m wondering weather this stringy stuff (see photos) around my towel heater’s pipe joints could be some kind of fiber/string with asbestos in it? They don’t really look like hemp to me, and I’m a bit worried about it! Thanks
  9. W

    Warm air heating and asbestos

    Hi, I’ve just bought a property and doing asbestos survey and my father reminded me that about 15 years ago we ripped the 1969 warm air electric heating out of our house. I knew nothing of asbestos but he said not to breathe it in and hold my breath, as I carried chunks of it (I think it was...
  10. M

    UK Asbestos around pipes

    Hi. Does it look like it is asbestos around these pipes? I do not have much knowledge about asbestos.
  11. ShaunCorbs

    Asbestos anyone seen sparkly / shimmering asbestos

    anyone seen sparkly / shimmering asbestos, i think its cement board as it looks too new to be ab
  12. Riley

    Asbestos any thoughts ??????????

    Morning chaps I am doing a boiler conversion and I’ve just gone to look at the loft tanks. F& E is plastic no problems. CWSC However it’s not a material I’m familiar with. I have worked on this estate a few times and I’ve come across some old asbestos tanks but this one doesn’t look like them...
  13. RDS

    Asbestos in warm air unit being removed??

    Hi everyone, just looking for some advice for decom and removal of a Johnson & Starley J25-32 Modairflow that contains asbestos. Haven't had to take one out before and customer (and me!) is concerned about the asbestos in it. Is it possible to remove complete unit without disturbing anything...
  14. jisseh

    Panicked tenant re. boiler asbestos

    Hi, posting here in the hope someone can help me. Just moved into a 1950s detached rental and really don't like the look of the back of the boiler re. asbestos. It's standing on the kitchen floor and there's a few inches gap between it and the wall. It's an Ideal Mexico of some kind so I know it...
  15. J

    Is this asbestos? It's old pipe lagging roughly 1940s?

    I've recently bought an old RAF estate house witch hasn't been touched since 1940. I removed some lagging stupidly without checking if it was asbestos just wondering if anyone can help me out? Cheers.
  16. Jock Spanners

    Who's ever done this? Asbestos horror story

    Hi Guys, I'm sitting here beating myself up again. I got my big hole saw out to drill a ceiling for a flue today. It was in the old airing cupboard and wasn't cutting very quickly so I had to stand on the stepladder and get up near it to get some extra leverage. I thought it was just the lath...
  17. N

    Plumbers and asbestos

    Hello I was just wondering if anybody knows how often a plumber would have to deal with asbestos in the uk in 2018?
  18. B

    Is this immersion heater washer made of asbestos?

    Hello. Whilst replacing my immersion heater, I came across this washer. Is it made of asbestos? Is there a way of telling? The cylinder must be from the 60's or 70's, but I'm assuming the heating element has been changed since then. The existing one's been in place since 2006 at least...
  19. 1

    Asbestos cold water tank???

    Had a survey done. Suspected asbestos on a defunct cold water tank :'( Do you agree? Many thanks.
  20. A

    worried if this contains asbestos

    while removing some timber/wood that was connected to the wall where the boiler was located before it was moved, this stuff came from behind it or in the wall, now to me it doesnt look like asbestos, but im a right in saying it could contain asbestos? it feels soft and is very easy to break.
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