Asbestos in Screed - what a claim

[Nozzle]

Hi,

I wrote off to a couple of asbestos testing firms to get some vermiculite tested for contamination, my email had a short explanation about digging up some screed to have uncovered the vermiculite in the first place. One of the responses claimed that I should send a sample of the cut up screed too, and they state that some screed contains asbestos too... REALLY?!?!

(It's a bit late now, I've dug it all up...)

Nozzle

 

[Nige F]

No worse than tarmac indoors

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Some old screeds can indeed contain asbestos. So do old vinyl floor tiles, old pipe lagging, old Artex, old airing cupboard insulation, etc, etc. In fact anything which could benefit from insulation or extra strength from the fibres may have it included (prior to the 1980 in any case)

 

[Doggit]

Why bother about getting it tested. If it's got asbestos, then you might have been contaminated, so why worry yourself to death. Wet it, take it up carefully, bag and tape it up, then dispose of it.

 

[Nozzle]

I'm getting the vermiculite tested, and the firm said they'd test a sample of screed for gratis. No worries. It's beyond wetting and putting in a bag - I need gallons and a massive skip! Having googled the subject, it would seem I should expect it to be pink coloured if it were containing "magnesite" and also be falling to pieces, as long term it's not robust against moisture. None of which are the case.

Nozzle

 

[Nozzle]

Test results are back - neither the vermiculite nor screed contain any asbestos. Huzzah!

Nozzle

 

[cjard]

In the back of an old building I have, there's one of those old Niagra falls style toilets with the cistern up the wall. Apparently both the vinyl tiles and the cistern itself contain asbestos, as does the curious black greasy smear of a tar like substance on part of the wall next to it.. I've to avoid flushing the toilet too hard and damaging the cistern..

 

[Nozzle]

I'm sure! And when you really need to punish the porcelain with the previous nights' ruby murray, you have to wear a mask??

Nozzle