The first step in my 1880’s basement transformation was to get rid of the asbestos tape and pipe insulation. Asbestos is extremely hazardous to human health. Even small amounts of asbestos can cause serious illness and death years after exposure. It was a common building material.
If anyone but the homeowner removes the asbestos, they must be licensed by the Department of Labor. Extensive training is required, including how to use personal protection equipment. While a homeowner is not required to be licensed. You will need a respirator that is equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate (HEPA) filter. These filters are magenta colored P100.
Wetting parts before starting work helps to keep fibers and dust from becoming airborne. Use a spray bottle with dish soap and water to mist areas prior to beginning work.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and deposits of it can be found in most countries around the world. Most asbestos comes from the former Soviet Union, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Asbestos is mined from the ground usually by open-pit method. The raw material is very coarse and looks like old wood. The raw material is processed and refined into fluffy fibers. The fibers are added to a binding agent, like cement, to form an asbestos containing material.
Asbestos is heat and chemical resistant, doesn’t corrode, and performs well in insulating products. In addition being heat and chemical resistant, the flexibility of asbestos fibers allows them to be woven and used in many industrial applications.
In homes built prior to 1978, asbestos is most commonly found as thermal insulation on boilers and pipes. Unfortunately, it can also be found in many other household materials, which include:
*Attic insulation (blown in and sometimes vermiculite insulation)
*Vinyl floor tiles - usually 9" X 9" tiles contain asbestos, but all tile should be tested to be sure
*Textured ceilings
*Glue that attaches floor tiles to concrete or wood (also called "mastic")
*Some forms of linoleum
*Window caulking or glazing
*Roofing materials
*HVAC duct insulation (usually found in corrugated or flat paper form)
*Siding material
*Plaster
*Fiber cement siding (usually 1/8” thick and 8’ X 4’, brittle)
*Corrugated heavy duty panels
*Boiler Lagging
*Hot water pipe insulation
Friable means that a material is able to be reduced to a powder by hand pressure. Asbestos containing materials (ACM) that are friable have a much greater tendency to release fibers into the air. Conversely, non-friable asbestos containing materials, because of their nature, do not easily release their fibers into the air. This class of material must be mechanically impacted (power tools such as sanders, drills, chippers, saws, etc.) to release fibers. ACM floors, mastics, and siding are classified as non-friable materials.
Full Face Mask Respirator;
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3M P100 Respirator Cartridge Magenta;
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Heavy Duty Coverall with hood;
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32oz Spray Bottle;
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