What material is this?

[RPB123]

Hi All,

I have some concerns other some material in my heating cupboard which I disturbed.

My property was built in 1965. I believe that the current warm arm heating unit was installed in 1988.

What is the material around the flue, is there any chance it could contain any nasty materials such as asbestos? Would asbestos ever have been used in such an application as I know they used to insulate pipes with such a material? I am wary as the grey material panel above probably is asbestos.


Would the flue pictured be the original one from 1965 or would it have been installed when the new system went in? Do these items always get replaced when a new unit goes in? It is made by a firm called Rite-Vent.


View media item 53885
Thanks,

Rob

 

[jeds]

Looks like fire cement to me. Nothing to worry about.

 

[RPB123]

John,

Would it be normal for the material to be very crumbly, I touched it and a piece fell off. When I picked it up the material disintegrated in my hand?

Thanks

 

[jeds]

Fire cement does break down over time due to the long term exposure to heat. That stuff also looks quite old to me. modern cements are better quality. Assuming the cement is simply sealing the gap between the flue and the plate I woiuld probably remove it and reseal with new. The plate may well be asbestos cement board but that's also nothing to worry about. Just don't go sawing or sanding it.

 

[Tipper]

Damp it down, ie soak it well before working on it to keep any dust down. Bag it immediately and the double bag and take it to your local council recycling site. They will have a special bin for it. Sounds like overkill but better safe than sorry.

Don't put it in your normal landfill rubbish collection, that's illegal!

 

[noseall]

Damp it down, ie soak it well before working on it to keep any dust down. Bag it immediately and the double bag and take it to your local council recycling site. They will have a special bin for it. Sounds like overkill but better safe than sorry.

Don't put it in your normal landfill rubbish collection, that's illegal!

Yeah and don't forget to wear a chemical suit, respirator, thick rubber gloves.

Seal all rooms. Buy a Geiger counter. Get a carbon monoxide indicator too.

In fact evacuate all properties within 1 mile radius.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

 

[Tipper]

No, no I don't think a Geiger counter is required.