Asbestos garage roof

Niv

If your roof is in good condition. Leave it if you are on a budget. Undamaged corrugated asbestos ('Big 6') is perfectly harmless. If you wish to put lighting up in the garage be sure not to damage the roof or drill into the material. Personally I would paint the underside of it to work as both a barrier and to be an indictator to any future accidental damage (i.e paint it white and if it gets damaged the 'non white' patch should be easy to see.

If you decide to remove it, it is a fairly simple low risk task as long as sensible measures are taken. Wearing a P3 mask and appropriate disposable overals including 'booties' is advisable. Cut any bolts that hold the roof in place as opposed to unscrewing as this action can rub/grind the material and potentially release the odd fibre. Make sure your garage is empty also and wash the floor/walls afterwards with a generous volume of water. In my area most HWRC (or local tip to some people) will take it if it is double bagged, call them up first to check.

I dont want to sound too relaxed about it but asbestos cement sheet removal (especially if its in good nik) is no biggy if the simple and cheap measures are taken.

keith969

mantamark wrote: »

Would you cross a street without looking at the potential risk of being hit?

Get the facts before you panic.

http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/residential/help-AsbestosCementMaterials.html

sorryitsme

Thank you all for the advice it is very much appreciated.
:beer:

mantamark

That website is going against everything i've been taught about asbestos before, regardless of what form it somes in, i have always been told it is a health risk.

You can dispose of it how you wish, but i'd be suited & booted with mask & goggles, and sleep easy at night. I know of someone who died from asbestos exposure, so perhaps thats why i'm overcautious.

mantamark

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

I would follow the HSE over anyone else tbh, its better to be safe than sorry.

keith969

mantamark wrote: »

That website is going against everything i've been taught about asbestos before, regardless of what form it somes in, i have always been told it is a health risk.

No doubt by people who make a lot of money from asbestos removal.

mantamark

As i mentioned earlier, we have asbestos testers (not removal people) who go around industrial plants testing for asbestos, i would hope they knew what they were talking about.

Niv

Hey Mantamark, I do not wish to get involved in your discussion with others here but I dont think anyone suggested you were wrong, simply that you were a little alarmist , probalby due to the 'asbestos is a hazard and can kill you'. This is true however when we are discussing what is considered the least harmful form of asbestos (crysotile or white asbestos is normally present in cement although I do agree blue can sometimes be detected too) in one of the least harmful forms (firmly bonded in cement) then it is quite unlikely that fibres will be released into the air and able to be breathed in as any particles of cement on the fibre will force the fibre to drop to the ground fairly fast.

Anyone handling asbestos are right to be cautious and awrae of any health hazards.

Also if your firends in the council told you 'This material should be disposed of by a certified company, and the local tip should not be taking it, if they are, they either dont know what it is, or are not doing their jobs properly.' they are wrong. Many local HWRC (local tips) do have facilities for asbestos disposal.

keith969

mantamark wrote: »

As i mentioned earlier, we have asbestos testers (not removal people) who go around industrial plants testing for asbestos, i would hope they knew what they were talking about.

What you're failing to understand is the concept of risk. I expect you get in a car and drive regularly, as most people do. There is a far, far greater risk of you dying in a road accident than from handling some asbestos cement roofing.

Niv

keith969 wrote: »

What you're failing to understand is the concept of risk. I expect you get in a car and drive regularly, as most people do. There is a far, far greater risk of you dying in a road accident than from handling some asbestos cement roofing.

I couldnt agree with you more.

It is common for people to suggest that if you have asbestos present in your house you must remove it asap. This is absolutly not the case. The product must be risk assessed and appropriate action taken after such a process.