Is this an asbetos flu?

[Timmer]

Taking down this chimney within the loft room:

on taking off the first layer of bricks - exposed this:

Which looks worrying like an asbestos chimney to me...

looks like the buliders broke it and left the bits in the chimney - not ideal...

Is this a specialst job to extract??

I guess when it was doen there was less of a hoo har about asbestos - does having this expose any risk to the household? (its not within the main living area but it is not as remote as a normal loft...

any advice on how best to deal with it most welcome,

Cheers

 

[Notch7]

Its likely to be asbestos cenent which contains contain 10-15% Chrysotile Fibres.

Its one of the less dangerous types -if left alone it wont contaminate house, if you need to move, you should follow the recommended method -you dont need a specialist contractor in.

 

[Timmer]

Cheers Notch -

so its not as brutal as the blue stuff - but not exactly pleasant....

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

this details getting shot of sheets of the stuff - but i guess its a little trickier within a chimney? -

would it be reasonably safe going block by block around it? then carefully prepping the flue itself?

as the pics show its already a bit ragged from earlier building work

how do those it the trade get rid?

Thanks guys!

 

[footprints]

As a domestic householder most councils have a tip that takes AC as long as it is double bagged. Best way if practical would be to seal it up undisturbed. If it must come out be aware that the joints may be packed with asbestos rope very nasty stuff 100% asbestos and very prone to shedding fibres.

 

[Timmer]

Its likely to be asbestos cenent which contains contain 10-15% Chrysotile Fibres.

Its one of the less dangerous types -if left alone it wont contaminate house, if you need to move, you should follow the recommended method -you dont need a specialist contractor in.

So got it tested - & indeed, came back as Chrysotile - but no qualification about what sort of risk this presents

Need to get shot, but cant see too much about how remove encased flues - would be a PITA to leave in as in the middle of the room...

cant be too long, as it is not visible from the room below & only 1.5m about the floorline

any advice?

Have got the full kit (suit, polythene double bags, wipes, mask etc.)

 

[SpecialK]

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

Personally I would wear my force 8 mask, break up the chimney around it and double bag the asbestos and dispose of it. Cement asbestos is low fibre release. Hopefully there are not any asbestos rope gaskets etc which are high fibre release...

 

[domdee]

As long as you are careful and go brick by brick, I think you'll be fine. Get a really good quality face mask and make sure its sealed around your face well without gaps. (rubber type of mask with filters and adjustable straps). Maybe hire an industrial vaccum that can deal with aspestos dust and have that runningin very close to the area while working. im not sure a henry hoover bag will be up to the job and they also create a big draft when running which will blow dust everywhere.

 

[Mottie]

Christ! I had one of those flues in my house. When I removed the floor mounted boiler, I just smashed that out - smashed the first bit, the whole lot dropped a few feet, smashed some more, it fell some more and continued doing that until it was all out - or so I thought. Looked up the chimney and there was one section still hanging and swinging on the chimney pot. Had to get up on the roof and remove the pot before that crashed down into my kitchen. That was over 25 years ago so too late to do anything about it now.

 

[^woody^]

Christ! I had one of those flues in my house. When I removed the floor mounted boiler, I just smashed that out - smashed the first bit, the whole lot dropped a few feet, smashed some more, it fell some more and continued doing that until it was all out - or so I thought. Looked up the chimney and there was one section still hanging and swinging on the chimney pot. Had to get up on the roof and remove the pot before that crashed down into my kitchen. That was over 25 years ago so too late to do anything about it now.

The bad news is that mesothelioma can take between 20 and 50 yeas to develop. The better news is that unless you were snorting the dust, a single exposure should not be serious.

But I'd say you are more likely to get ill from Wuhan flu than asbestos flu

 

[Safety First]

Get yourself a cheap sprayer and make a thin PVA mix. Set to medium mist and if /as you are breaking any parts the dust is dampened and then 'locked up' once dry.

 

[Safety First]

As long as you are careful and go brick by brick, I think you'll be fine. Get a really good quality face mask and make sure its sealed around your face well without gaps. (rubber type of mask with filters and adjustable straps). Maybe hire an industrial vaccum that can deal with aspestos dust and have that runningin very close to the area while working. im not sure a henry hoover bag will be up to the job and they also create a big draft when running which will blow dust everywhere.

Depending on your compass, you might want to ask hire firm before you use their machine for this to which I'd expect they would decline.