Is this asbestos

[SteveJ247]

Hi all, first post so thought I'd better make it an interesting one. Have brought a 1968 house which is in need of a bit of a makeover! I took the bath panel off the bath but a piece of it broke and I wasn't sure what the material was but wondered if it could be Asbestoes? A couple of builders have taken a look at it, some say it could be others say it doesn't look like it so I'm not sure what we have got. I've called around a few places re testing and its not cheap but equally want to make sure things are safe. Could you take a look at the pic below and let me know what you think the material could be.

The bath panel is tiled, and the board that broke is quite sturdy, doesn't flex and its feels quite heavy (although that will in part due to the tiles). I'm assuming that anything used as a partition which has paper on the outside is plasterboard whereas this hasn't.

Let me know what you think.

thanks
Steve

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• SteveJ247
• 1 Jul 2012
• 1

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• SteveJ247
• 1 Jul 2012
• 1

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• SteveJ247
• 1 Jul 2012
• 1

 

[Alastairreid]

Possibly asbestolux.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/building.htm

 

[Luckyphil]

If the House is 1968 , i`d doubt it will be Asbestos , There was Supalux which contained a non dangerous Asbestos sustitute , then there was Masterboard , This Board was generally NOT waterproof , so I guess it would`nt be used a Tile Backing Board

So my Money is on Supalux which will be ok and safe.

Lucky

 

[Alastairreid]

If the House is 1968 , i`d doubt it will be Asbestos

Asbestos was extensively used as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s.

 

[SteveJ247]

Thanks all for the comments - I guess I might just have to bite the bullet and get some samples done though to be sure. Fingers crossed!

 

[SteveJ247]

......saying that, the bathroom is in pretty good nick for 40 years old, everything is solid, tile grout is surprisingly clean and in very good condition - did they have aqua tiles back then?

 

[hotrod]

So my Money is on Supalux which will be ok and safe.

Lucky

I can assure you that ain't supalux.

 

[Paul Roscoe]

If the House is 1968 , i`d doubt it will be Asbestos , There was Supalux which contained a non dangerous Asbestos sustitute , then there was Masterboard , This Board was generally NOT waterproof , so I guess it would`nt be used a Tile Backing Board

So my Money is on Supalux which will be ok and safe.

Lucky

As a qualified specialist I can assure you its asbestos , it's licensable material "board" and quite dangerous if broken up.

 

[joe-90]

If it were me I'd spray it a couple of good coats of watered down PVA then take it out into the garden. Don't get ripped off by 'specialists'.

 

[roy c]

Look at dates of the thread....

 

[joe-90]

Oh yeah. Our asbestos specialist has bumped the thread to try and drum up business. Wish they'd lock threads after a month.

 

[PGrim]

What was this in the end? Asbestos or something else?! Interested to know

Thanks
Paul

 

[Thomasthepiperson]

Asbestos was used, heavily in the 1960's till the mid 1980's. So its, very likely to be asbestos.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

In fact asbestos was used until the late 1990s quite legally. Supalux has metal speckles in the surface from my recollections of installing it - asbestos lacks these. Worth knowing that even Artex contained asbestos fibre at one time. Anyone suggesting a quick and dirty removal without cautioning about clothing, the need to double bag, etc is being downright irresponsible - as well as betraying a lack of understanding.

 

[Paul Roscoe]

I don't understand the attitude of people like joe 90 I am not drumming up business the question was asked is it asbestos and the answer is yes.

I have 11 years as a qualified asbestos surveyor and hold the highest qualification the Coca Competence in asbestos which means I know what I'm talking about .

Asbestos kills 4000 people per year and is not to be messed around with by amateurs .

The advice on the forums is really poor at times and I'm gobsmacked people actually have posted they don't think this will be asbestos if from a home built in 1968 ?? Like luckyphil , which was probably at its peak use .

People shouldn't post advice when they don't know what they are talking about as it can cost people their health and life. I would not comment on an electrical contractor forum and give advice as I'm not competent in that field.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/aib.htm

Never mess around with this stuff guys , it's high risk material.Cowboy builders are prosecuted weekly by the Health & Safety Executive for not identifying it prior to works and unlicensed uncontrolled removal.

If unsure seek analysis from an accredited UKAS laboratory samples can be analysed as little as £15 its worth it , taking samples is described here for future reference . http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/managing/sampling.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm gives you advice you need about what to do after that. See the part for members of the public .