Help pls - worried about asbestos in central heating system

bundance

My central heating system is the conventional, non combi type, and it is a potterton flamingo 20-30.
On this document http://www.stop-think-asbestos.co.uk/pdf_downloads/GAS_ELECTRICALAPPLICANCESLIST.pdf it says that potterton flamingo CF 20-30 and potterton flamingo RS 20-30 both have asbestos containing materials in the insulation and the gaskets.

I cannot tell if my system is an RS 20-30 or a CF 20-30 as it only says "potterton flamingo 20-30" on the boiler.

Here is a pic of my water heater
http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee447/starfish53/?action=view&current=hotwatertank_cylinder.jpg

and here is a close up of the exposed insulation
http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee447/starfish53/?action=view&current=exposedfibre.jpg

Do I have reason to panic or am I just worrying about nothing?

Please advise
Many thanks

jd87

Not an expert and can't tell much from those pics, but asbestos is normally harmless when left undisturbed. I wouldn't worry about it.

bundance

Thank you for your reply jd87, I'm not saying you are not an expert, but my next question is a bit more specific.

I am still concerned, however that my system may contain the "loose fill asbestos" as insulation around the water heater, as loose-fill-asbestos is supposed to be the most dangerous type.

How would I go about finding this out?
and
How would I go about correcting the problem?

Many thanks

sharkie

unless there is a manufactures name or it says asbestos filling on the outside, think you will never be sure unless you send samples away to a lab. I am lead to believe they test by examining the particles under a microscope, but not sure.

believe the rule is to make it wet (or paint it) to stop particles flying around

plumb1_2

Dont panic, you will inhale more crap walking to work in the morning.

bundance

sharkie wrote: »

unless there is a manufactures name or it says asbestos filling on the outside, think you will never be sure unless you send samples away to a lab. I am lead to believe they test by examining the particles under a microscope, but not sure.

believe the rule is to make it wet (or paint it) to stop particles flying around

The manufacturer is potterton and I phoned them this morning, and they confirmed that there is asbestos in the boiler. They told me, if the boiler breaks, and I need an engineer to ask if he is registered to work with asbestos.

Is there a list anywhere I can find of heating engineers who work with asbestos?

Do heating engineers who work with asbestos normally charge more?

thanks so far.