Asbestos - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Bluepenguin · 03-03-2009, 04:51 PM

Please help me with this. My husband is an electrician, and he was working on a service upgrade today.

It's a 1940's house in Calgary, and he suspects that there was asbestos in the drywall. They stopped all work and ordered an inspection. But the damage was done.

How often do you come across asbestos? I plead complete ignorance, and find it hard to believe it may be so incredibly common (Google..) In fact I read electricians are in the highest risk area!

What about attics? How often did I hear "I was crawling in this attic today.." What precautions do you take? (ie... respirator..I'm almost afraid to ask him if he uses one)

I'd appreciate any responses... I don't feel good at all.

Boycer88 · 03-03-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluepenguin

Please help me with this. My husband is an electrician, and he was working on a service upgrade today.

It's a 1940's house in Calgary, and he suspects that there was asbestos in the drywall. They stopped all work and ordered an inspection. But the damage was done.

How often do you come across asbestos? I plead complete ignorance, and find it hard to believe it may be so incredibly common (Google..) In fact I read electricians are in the highest risk area!

What about attics? How often did I hear "I was crawling in this attic today.." What precautions do you take? (ie... respirator..I'm almost afraid to ask him if he uses one)

I'd appreciate any responses... I don't feel good at all.

Its part of the buisness when you do any sort of remoleding, the best advise is to be aware and educated. it sounds liek he did the right thing and spoke up, thats all you can do. almost every older house has some sort of asbestos and you always should treat it as asbestos until it is tested

buildstrong009 · 05-04-2009, 06:43 AM

Asbestos is nothing but strong aluminium sheets used for roofing purposes. There is no damage from these sheets as long as they are not corrugated.

neolitic · 05-04-2009, 06:59 AM

Geeze, talk about the blind leading
the ignorant!

Don't worry too much ma'am.

You don't know if there was risk,
and prolonged and or massive
exposure wasn't involved here.

This stuff was in very common use
for a long time, and it didn't kill
every man in the trades, nor every miner.

Jordy3738 · 05-04-2009, 08:54 AM

I've always wondered when they stopped using the stuff in walls. I recently did a major remodel on a house that was built in the early 60's. All plaster walls...Inhaled some dust even though we were using dust masks.

neolitic · 05-04-2009, 10:25 AM

Guys, the vast majority of
older houses have no asbstos
save what might be in mastic
or some vinyl sheet goods
(not linoleum.)

Go worry about the comet
that's coming to take you out.

MALCO.New.York · 05-04-2009, 10:31 AM

Mesothelioma and/or Asbestosis, the Asbestos Exposure related DEADLY Diseases, require years of concentrated exposure to become a point of concern.

Go to bed tonight, rest assured that yer Hubby will be just fine!

.And watch out for that Comet!!!!.

A W Smith · 05-04-2009, 12:37 PM

about 20 years ago i stripped a small house of asbestos cement siding, loaded it up in my truck. In three trips took it to a 4 yard front load dumpster i had at my storage/shop (which was a deal @ 4 weekly pickups a month @ $65) and reaching into my cap raked it out of my truck using a masons hoe in a cloud of dust. Wearing not even a paper dust mask. So RELAX already. And MIDCO didn't even give a ****.

Celtic · 05-04-2009, 03:26 PM

This thread has got to be the most convoluted rumor mill I have ever read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by buildstrong009

Asbestos is nothing but strong aluminium sheets used for roofing purposes. There is no damage from these sheets as long as they are not corrugated.

Asbestos is not metal.

How about we see some likes that show:
- what products are SUSPECT of containing asbestos?
- exactly how much exposure is safe exposure to asbestos?
- what type mask offer protection from asbestos?
- etc

A W Smith · 05-04-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

This thread has got to be the most convoluted rumor mill I have ever read.

Asbestos is not metal.

why of course it is!
http://www.ventingpipe.com/index.cfm...ld_vp_redirect

Celtic · 05-04-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

why of course it is!
http://www.ventingpipe.com/index.cfm...ld_vp_redirect

That's "Metalbestos".

naptown CR · 05-04-2009, 05:40 PM

There are really two types of Asbestos one is called friable and one is non friable. The friable is the one to be careful of. Ols Asbestos shingles tended to be of the non friable type and pose little danger. The friable type is the type that releases small needle type particles and are linked to a particular type of cancer called mesothelioma. The real concern is when your husband started in the construction industry. Was it after 1978? This seems to be the cut off for mesothelioma cancer damages in the US. Not to be flip or anything but have the material checked out and see if it was a friable type. DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT the exposure if any. This type of cancer takes many years to manifest itself and if there is a case you will need to have as much back up as possible. If what he encountered was an insulation in the walls that was a brownis color and itched like a mother then it was probably rock wool which is not asbestos. However a white fiber tpe stuff might be asbestos. An industrial hygenist will be able to tell the differance. If it is asbestos then you will have to protect your rights. There are many law firms that specialize in this type of case. In the US the big one is Peter Angelos in Baltimore. I hope it was not asbestos. Sorry I to writing and forgot the part about the drywall. This is a material that DID contain asbestos when it was manufactured back then. Not all manufacturers used it however and a test is the only way to be certain. On a down side this tended to be the friable type if my memory is correct.

Celtic · 05-04-2009, 05:59 PM

You'd think that with access to the internet and the wealth of information readily available, all the rumors would be squashed by now.

Quote:

Friable asbestos is a term used to describe any asbestos-containing material that when dry, can be easily crumbled or pulverized to powder by hand. Material that contains more than just 1% asbestos and is friable is considered to be Regulated Asbestos-Containing Material (RACM).

Some common examples of friable asbestos are acoustic ceilings and tiles, many types of plasters, wallboard, joint compound or "mud" and thermal insulation for water heaters and pipes. Although use of asbestos in these products was banned by 1978 those already in the marketplace remained on the shelves and were used in construction for many years after. They are still commonly found in homes today.

Non-friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) is not regulated because it contains a binder or hardening agent such as cement, asphalt or vinyl. Examples of ACM are asphalt roofing shingles, vinyl asbestos floor tiles and transite siding made with cement. ACM products are still being manufactured today. The danger with this type of material is that it can pose the same hazard as friable asbestos during remodeling, repairs or other construction. Burning ACM also creates friable asbestos.

When asbestos is crushed it disperses a dusting of microscopic fibers in the air that can remain for very long periods of time. These fibers can be unknowingly inhaled and permanently lodged in lung and other body tissues, yet symptoms might not appear for 20 years or more. Inhaling the fibers has been linked to cancer and asbestosis, a chronic lung disease similar in symptoms to emphysema. Unfortunately there is no known safe level of exposure, which is why asbestos remains a concern today.

If you suspect your home might contain friable asbestos or ACM you can consult a licensed asbestos expert to conduct a survey of your home and take samples for analysis. If asbestos is found but your home is in good shape, the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) recommends leaving it while being cognizant of avoiding damage that might cause release of fibers. If you want to remodel or perform other repairs, then a licensed asbestos contractor should be hired to remove the material legally and safely. Unfortunately this is rather costly due to the hazard involved and the care that must be taken to do it properly. Materials must be wet to eliminate fiber release, and anti-dust emission controls like large specialty vacuums are used. The removed material is treated as hazardous waste, must be double-bagged and disposed of properly.

Sweeping, dusting, or using a household vacuum will only make fibers airborne. They will pass through household filters and are not visible to the naked eye.
If a home or building is being demolished for any reason, the law requires a licensed asbestos contractor remove all ACM and friable asbestos prior to demolition.

Asbestos, is a term that covers many types of naturally-occuring fibrous materials that are long-lasting, lightweight and fire-resistant, making them a popular choice for construction until the dangers were discovered in the 1970s.

kubie · 05-04-2009, 08:16 PM

i was told by a WI asbestos trainer that the fibers are like little hooks, well hook shaped and they will lock into your soft tissue of your lungs and stay there.

davitk · 05-04-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kubie

i was told by a WI asbestos trainer that the fibers are like little hooks, well hook shaped and they will lock into your soft tissue of your lungs and stay there.

...actually worse than that, once the fibers go in they can keep moving, I've heard of the fibers going through the lung and on into other organs. No wives tale, this was actually in the literature of an asbestos training class.

And for you "tough guys" out there, my father was a remodeler all his life, poo pooed asbestos and lead, washed his hands with gasoline because it got the job done. Came home from work every day, contaminated by God only knows what, took a shower once a week when he was really dirty. Healthy up to six months before he died from leukemia.

MALCO.New.York · 05-04-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davitk

Healthy up to six months before he died from leukemia.

White Blood Cell/Marrow Cancer is NOT a result of Asbestos!!! Although the Leukemia may have gotten him BEFORE the chance for the Asbestos to get him. Who knows!!!!

Sorry he had to go in such a manner!

A W Smith · 05-04-2009, 10:11 PM

Mesothelioma is an asbestos related diesease of the lining of the chest cavity, not the lungs.

Quote:

The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracal cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery) and pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis) and covers the internal reproductive organs of women (the tunica serosa uteri). Mesothelium that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the layer that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium.

MALCO.New.York · 05-04-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

Mesothelioma is an asbestos related diesease of the lining of the chest cavity, not the lungs.

Mesothelioma is a result of the Fibral Migration THROUGH the lungs in to the pleural cavity.

neolitic · 05-05-2009, 12:54 AM

I'm still worried about the comet.

chris n · 05-05-2009, 02:49 AM

was built in the early 60's. All plaster walls...Inhaled some dust even though we were using dust masks.

You're for sure gonna die.

If not from old age then the damn comet it going to get you.