Asbestos
Information about Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occuring material and is found on rock. It is mined in places such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.There are 6 kinds of asbestos. The three most common types are commonly named based on their colour. These are white, blue and brown asbestos.
Asbestos was used in a wide range of building uses until 1999. These include toilet cysterns, spray coatings, insulated boards, pipe laggings, floor tiles, roof tiles textiles and blankets.
Asbestos is chosen for a number of its properties.
- it’s imcombustible
- resists high temperatures
- strength
- flexible
- resists electrical currents
- resists acids and alkalis
- sound absorbency
The level of danger with asbestos is related to how easily the fibres are likely to be released. They are harmful when they are breathed in. Then the fibres are said to be respirable and they are hazardous as they sit in the lung linings and are so small that they are not removed by coughing and mucus.
Asbestos can be split into licensed products and non licensed products. Both types can be hazardous and have specific requirements for their safe removal.
As well as sheet roofing which is the most common use people think of it is also used in pipe laggings, steel protection, fireproof panels and fire doors (as well as many other uses).
Asbestos removal is now covered by the 2006 Asbestos Regulations. They apply to people who work with or may come into contact with asbestos. Buildings that are known to contain asbestos should have a register of the asbestos.
Asbestos is hazardous as exposure to it can lead to Asbestosis and Mesothelioma. Both are nasty and can cause death. Levels of death from exposure are believed to reach a peak in 2019. The following link provides some more information on the medical facts associated with asbestos. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos
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