Removing asbestos

Soldato
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I've just moved into a new house. In the loft there are about 6 pipes. According to the survey we had done these are made from asbestos and were used for a flue that has since been dismantled.

There are about 6 of them that are roughly 0.5m long and about 6" in diameter.

My local tip will take in asbestos if its wrapped correctly, but I'm not sure how safe it is to wrap these up myself. Some of the info I've found on the web says about using overalls and full face masks when handling the stuff. Does this apply to anything with asbestos in, or is this more to do the flaky stuff or if you're cutting it up?

I wouldn't have thought I'd create many fibres from moving it a few feet into a bag, especially as it's all loose and cut up already. But then again I don't know very much about asbestos...

I know you can call people in to remove it but that will cost a bomb. What would the land of ocuk do?!

Oh, and the reason I want it moved is I'm putting loft insulation down. If it is going to be risk then I guess I can just leave it there and either leave that area un-insulated, or lay insulation over the top of it!
 
I would just carefully wrap it up and take it down the tip and not worry about it.

I would not jump up and down on it smashing it to pieces and inhaling the dust.
 
Just pay the dime and have someone come and get shot of it, clean the area wearing a boiler suit and full (suitable) facial mask and insulate. Dispose of suit/mask afterwards. Jobs a good un.
 
I wouldn't have thought I'd create many fibres from moving it a few feet into a bag, especially as it's all loose and cut up already. But then again I don't know very much about asbestos...

Disclaimer: You should do your own research, here's my input for what it's worth.

The danger from asbestos is that if you inhale the fibres, they will sit in your lungs without degrading for a very long time. After a number of years of sitting there, they can trigger a very dangerous mesothelioma lung cancer, which would then kill you in months. I'm not sure how many fibres you'd have to inhale for it to be dangerous, but you probably don't want to inhale any if possible. That's why I expect the professionals will use masks, suits and probably bags to seal any asbestos being moved out. Any technique to remove asbestos will be aiming to minimise exposure to any fibres, so that's what you need to research.

A major danger is any process that generates asbestos dust, e.g. cutting it, as then the fibres are airbourne.

Hope that helps.
 
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I have taken out asbestos piping before. Just wet it down a bit with one of those water spray bottles and make sure you don't break it up much and so won't release the fibers into the air.
 
I would kill it with fire.

Mission Impossible.

"If asbestos materials are left in buidings and the building is burned down – The other materials which are used to bind the material together will perish but the asbestos fibres will not. They will be dispersed into the air where they cah be easily inlaled by anyone within close proximity. The asbestos fibres can be suspended in the air for several hours even days – eventually landing on hair and clothing."

http://canidoit.org/can-i-burn-asbestos
 
I have taken out asbestos piping before. Just wet it down a bit with one of those water spray bottles and make sure you don't break it up much and so won't release the fibers into the air.

If you break it at all fibres will get into the air. You cannot stop them all.

Pay the money and have an experienced, approved contractor come in and do it, it's not worth the risk.
 
I'll never forget my Granddad dying of Abestosis, two and a half weeks we were at that ****ing Crematorium.
 
DO NOT USE A VACUUM CLEANER ON ANY DUST YOU FIND

The particles are too small to be captured and all you end up doing is puttiing the worst of the material into the air.

It is almost certainly asbestos cerment and can be handled relatively safely but do not damage it. Local tips take asbestos cement for a reason, the risk is relatively low as long as you're not stupid. Normally you need to phone ahead and confirm they can take it.

Paying a contractor removes the risk but is easy money for them.
 
are these pipes made from concrete (with the asbestos in that) - like old roof boards you see on garages or agricultural buildings?

edit: here http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/cement.htm

If it is just get some bags from the council and put it sensibly in them. Wear a decent mask and some coveralls (I've used a 3M P3 half face respirator and Dupont Coverall disposable suit in the past for really nasty dusty work). Damp every thing before you start.

So long as your not cutting or drilling in a confined space you'll be fine (the main reason they don't like you cutting up concrete like that is it releases massive amounts of Silica dust, which is nasty stuff)
 
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Do not take this lightly :( as a child I spent a lot of time playing around our old garage that had exposed (and damaged) asbestos and even played around with it, still another ~20 years that the symptoms could present within :S
 
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Removed a fair bit of low grade stuff on various jobs.
To be safe and for your own peace of mind, buy a semi decent throw away mask like for around 5-7 quid for a single one and a disposable suit which will cost you similar. Also a pair of throwaway gloves.
Put on some old clothes and wash afterwards.
Get some decent strong plastic bags and some duct tape.
Double or triple bag it, tape it up and take it to you local refuse centre who will get rid of it for free as it's domestic.

Also bag up your disposable stuff and take it with you.
You could just bag it up, but for 15-20 quid of throw away stuff it isn't really worth the thoughts over the years of what if.
 
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Do not take this lightly :( as a child I spent a lot of time playing around our old garage that had exposed (and damaged) asbestos and even played around with it, still another ~20 years that the symptoms could present within :S

in my early teens, me and my friends took great pleasure in smashing up an abandoned chicken run in a field. i look back and realise the roof we had fun chucking bricks through was asbestos :(

get a pro in, op.
 
in my early teens, me and my friends took great pleasure in smashing up an abandoned chicken run in a field. i look back and realise the roof we had fun chucking bricks through was asbestos :(

get a pro in, op.

Same here. Me and a friend found some corrugated (what I believe now to be asbestos) dumped in a field and we had a bit of fun karate chopping it etc :o:(. From what I have read the grey corrugated stuff is not as harmful as other types and its more people who have long exposure to asbestos that are at risk.
 
most important thing would be to contain the area you're packaging it in so that asbetos fibres don't spread through your home and most definitely wear overalls and an approved mask.
 
If it is concrete bonded asbestos then wetting it down and black bagging it will be ok. IF it is CBA.
 
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