Asbestos (AIB)?

[Wheres_the_soup]

Hi all,

I have sent off an enquiry to a local firm. In the meantime has anyone come across material like this and if I'm looking at Asbestos (AIB)?

The house (ex council) was built late 1970's and had a metal b vent flue pipe running from the ground (assumption legacy back boiler) up through the airing cupboard into the loft and out via a ridge tile.

In the airing cupboard is a new boiler / the stainless b vent flue was left in situ by prior owner.

With that said, I'm now paranoid that this heat spacer contains Asbestos as you can see fibres are present bottom edge. There is a similar plate at the top of the flue into the loft, and one at the side under the floorboard vertical against the wooden floor joist and mental flue.

Appreciate the help.

 

[Brigadier]

I'm not good at diagnosing from photos, but they are certainly very suspect (the surface colour in the third photo looks a good match to AIB IME too).

Make sure they test all three items, unless they're absolutely certain they're identical.

Leave it be until your tester has given definitive answer.

 

[Wheres_the_soup]

I'm not good at diagnosing from photos, but they are certainly very suspect (the surface colour in the third photo looks a good match to AIB IME too).

Make sure they test all three items, unless they're absolutely certain they're identical.

Leave it be until your tester has given definitive answer.

Thank you - what does IME stand for please?

 

[Brigadier]

In My Experience

 

[RandomGrinch]

I'm now paranoid that this heat spacer contains Asbestos as you can see why fibres are present bottom edge.

It's good to be cautious, as your 70's house is ripe for containing asbestos.
However, to help put your mind to rest, those boards look like plasterboard to me.
As far as I know, asbestos boards were never paper lined - it sort of defeats the purpose!
And you would not normally be able to discern asbestos fibres by eye, this is why testing laboratories use polarised light spectroscopy.
So, remain cautious, get some samples tested, but don't panic!

 

[Wheres_the_soup]

The third photo looks like plasterboard was cut away and the aib is on top.
The other two sheets bottom there is no paper on the boards / have fibres.
As it's a flue it needs to be heat resistant so has to be some type of heat resistant material

 

[RandomGrinch]

The third photo looks like plasterboard was cut away and the aib is on top.
The other two sheets bottom there is no paper on the boards / have fibres.
As it's a flue it needs to be heat resistant so has to be some type of heat resistant material

Thanks,
Sorry, I couldn't see that on my phone.
Get some samples taken, and leave it alone until then.
Even if it is asbestos and not a modern substitute, its very unlikely to cause you harm, unless it's disturbed.

 

[Brigadier]

And you would not normally be able to discern asbestos fibres by eye,

Not correct. While the individual fibres are microscopically small, the bigger fibres and fibre bundles which give rise to the tiddly ones are very obvious.

I'll find a photo to demonstrate.

 

[Brigadier]

 

[Wheres_the_soup]

Does Supalux board look similar to what I've posted ?

 

[Brigadier]

Yes, as does Glassroc, but I repeat that I personally would not diagnose from photos alone.
Reason being mainly the emotive nature of asbestos, and that wrongly giving a "it's assy" answer can give significant worry to some, while a wrong "It's not" answer can do the same, when the correct answer is latterly known.

 

[Wheres_the_soup]

Yes, as does Glassroc, but I repeat that I personally would not diagnose from photos alone.
Reason being mainly the emotive nature of asbestos, and that wrongly giving a "it's assy" answer can give significant worry to some, while a wrong "It's not" answer can do the same, when the correct answer is latterly known.

Thank you for your review. The Asbestos company visually (email) have stated it looks like AIB.
Very concerned as I have 2 kids.

 

[RandomGrinch]

The Asbestos company visually (email) have stated it looks like AIB.
Very concerned as I have 2 kids.

As @Brigadier states above, asbestos is an emotive issue.
Again I apologise, my asbestos experience has involved dealing with contractors encapsulating asbestos in ducts at a large building, and personally disposing of corrogated sheets. I haven't dealt with AIB.

The professionals I have dealt with, all treat asbestos with care, but aren't scared by it, even though they deal with it every day. Their attitude may seem blase, but it's a matter of familiarity, over emotion.

Treat it with respect and don't disturb it. You don't need to be overly concerned for you and your kids. Keep the airing cupboard door locked shut if you can.

For more info, have a look at the .GOV and HSE websites:

Asbestos: general information

www.gov.uk

Where can you find asbestos? Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB)

www.hse.gov.uk

 

[Old Salt]

I have worked with asbestos extensively over a number of years and a photo and email cannot determine asbestos.

You need to send a sample to a specialist testing company. They will provide instructions on how to take the sample. Test results come back relatively quickly.

Until then do not disturb it and you will be fine. You could tape some polythene over the opening to contain anything that may or may not be present. If you want to be extra cautious wear an p3 mask available from any good diy store whilst taping up. You dont need to get close, to seal it up, until you get the results.

I would not use a company who offer a visual opinion and then offer to remove as they may have a vested interest in keeping you ”scared of asbestos”.

If you leave it alone, sealed, it will not cause you any harm.

Once you have proper scientific test results you can make an informed decision on whether to have it removed it or not.

 

[Brigadier]

What part of the UK are you in, LMB?

Also, I reiterate; IF you sample it yourself (under instruction from the lab. you engage), please ensure that you sample each separate board. Do not presume they're all the same.

Law of Life, and Law of Sod: the bit you can easily get to is the one that is easily got to. Which means it was also the one most likely to have been damaged in the past (and therefore replaced with non-asb. alternative), and also the one that was most easily replaced as part of planned works (so it was the ONLY one that got replaced).

Take all of the medicine in one go, and remove all doubt going forward