have I just been breaking up asbestos boards unknowningly?

dragonfly101 · 27 Dec 2013

First big diy project in my first house was to take down a dilapidated lean-to conservatory. This conservatory must have been decades old (house was built in 1964) and had some 5mm thick white boards, and some 10mm thick grey boards.

The thicker grey boards crumbled quite easily, and the thinner white boards (which had a slightly pockmarked texture on one side) weren't so crumbly but snapped quite cleanly.

In both cases I needed to break the boards up to fit into rubbish sacks to take to the dump, and I was crowbarring, kicking, and karate chopping them to do this. I did wear a respirator while doing this thankfully, but took no other precuations, and the broken bits of board are currently lying in some plastic bags in the garden.

After doing this an elderly neighbour warned me that these boards might have been asbestos, and so I've been scaring myself reading stuff on the internet since.

What should I do now? From reading round the internet it looks like I should buy some proper protective clothing and thicker/stronger plastic sacks, and take them to the nearest dump that handles asbestos. But what about the clothes I was wearing when I did this job - should I throw them out?

Also, the nearest dump that receives asbestos (20 miles away annoyingly) says it only takes something called 'cement bonded asbestos' - how do I know if these bonds are they?

cajar · 27 Dec 2013

They could be so treat them as if they are. Double bag them and take them to the dump, most of the dust will have blown away in the wind by now.

Most people get exposed to asbestos in their lives (watching high rises being demolished) and there is even one guy on here who used to cut it up with no dust mask. Still, bag and throw away the clothes and respirator you had on, wipe down any tools, and dampen the area before cleaning it and you should have nothing to worry about.

gritmonkey · 27 Dec 2013

The stuff that was quite hard to break could be asbestos cement and has a lower (but no less potentially harmful) asbestos content. The stuff that broke up easier could possibly be AIB or Asbestos Insulation Board, and has a far higher asbestos content.
As the above poster has said, bag all the clothing you were wearing as well as the dust mask, which, and I don't want to sound alarming, won't really have given you much protection, but will have been better than none(for a respirator to be effective you need the correct filter and pre-filter(after having a face fit test).
Damp down all the suspect materials and double bag them then mark them clearly as Asbestos.
Go to the doctors and inform them that you may have unwittingly exposed yourself to Asbestos, there's nothing much can be done at the moment other than it being on record(which is important!).

If you need any more info then you can have a look at HSG 248 which is available as a free download on the HSE website.

Ps, while HSG 248 is the guidance for Asbestos Analysts there is still a lot of useful info in there. Link... http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg248.htm

Grit monkey (former Asbestos Analyst).[/url]

mattylad · 29 Dec 2013

Before dismantling it, it would have been a good idea to paint it.

This keeps the dust in.

sasteh · 8 Jan 2014

cajar said:
They could be so treat them as if they are. Double bag them and take them to the dump, most of the dust will have blown away in the wind by now.

Careful with this information.

He is correct, but you need to let your local dump know you are coming and to make sure they have an asbestos waste bin. Throwing asbestos in general waste is illegal and can lead to all sorts of legal problems.

The boards you're describing sound like AIB (Asbestos insulation board) which contains Amosite, i'm not sure a dump will accept this.

Please don't be concerned, i'm talking worst case scenarios here.

wanderer84 · 8 Jan 2014

If you have / think you have smashed an AIB ceiling to pieces you should call in a specialist, it will need a proper clean up by a licenced asbestos removal contractor. Do not attempt any clean up or transporting of the waste it will only make things worse!!

wanderer84 · 8 Jan 2014

mattylad said:
Before dismantling it, it would have been a good idea to paint it.

This keeps the dust in.

Not true. It is illegal to knowingly disturb this type of asbestos (AIB) so dismantling should always be done by proffesionals. Painting is a make safe option to seal in fibres if asbestos materials are being maintained rather than removed.

Also the advice about it blowing away in the wind... some truth in that but there will still be high levels of dust / debris in the area.

I've worked in the asbestos industry for a number of years by the way.

DeadBeat · 5 Mar 2014

How could I go about finding out if there is any asbestos in a house I'm about to buy? I think its a 1950's era house, so would fit in.

Is it possible to test materials for asbestos?

AIb looks like it could be too difficult to spot until its too late! and I want to make sure while im smashing down walls and ceilings im not going to expose myself to any. am i over worrying?

diyer56 · 5 Mar 2014

You can arrange an asbestos survey by a specialist. Preferably a refurb/demo survey if you intend to make changes to the property.

matt1976 · 10 Mar 2014

DeadBeat said:
Is it possible to test materials for asbestos?

There's not really a test, like add something to it and it goes blue etc. All you can do is get a trained person to look at it with the right equipment and experience.

robbieee · 8 May 2014

I thought I might have had asbestos in the bathroom plaster as the house was built in the 40s. I sent a sample away to a lab for testing and it came back negative (£25 i think it was).

Please if anyone thinks they are dismantling asbestos, DON'T! Get a specialist team in to deal with.

My Dad died of asbestosis!

plugwash · 8 May 2014

DeadBeat";p="3046643 said:
Is it possible to test materials for asbestos?
Afaict the process is to take a sample and then have a specialist look at it under a microscope to see if asbestos fibers are present. There are special kits available to take said samples while minimising the risk of exposure.

freddiemercurystwin · 8 May 2014

When alls said and done people didn't die of asbestosis because they broke up a few boards here or there or drilled a few holes, they died due to long term exposure in their workplace.

robbieee · 8 May 2014

freddymercurystwin said:
When alls said and done people didn't die of asbestosis because they broke up a few boards here or there or drilled a few holes, they died due to long term exposure in their workplace.

I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about. No offence Like! I know first hand why people die of exposure to asbestos!

freddiemercurystwin · 8 May 2014

So you are saying the OP is really at a measurable increased risk of suffering from asbestosis at some point? Please state the increased odds.

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

have I just been breaking up asbestos boards unknowningly?

Similar threads