Asbestos ceilings

javajim

My daughter and son in law have bought a house which has asbestos ceilings, which is the 'safe' kind. But they are going to take them out does any one have any tips to get the ceilings down.
thanks in advance

Nobleck

No asbestos is the Safe kind, a proper firm should be used to remove the ceilings and dispose of the asbestos properly, it cannot just be broken up and dumped as it is classed as Hazardous waste.
The asbestos is only safe until it is broken.

kitchpoo

Assuming you are talking about artex on a ceiling here?

Artex contained asbestos until quite late, usually chrysotile type and you wll only ever find trace elements with it. It is entirely safe whilst undisturbed and in tact.

The Health and Safety Executive has just deemed this to be a lower grade of risk as of the 17th November 2006, and as such can be removed in a less controlled manner, previously requiring room sealing, air tests and removal by a specialist contractor. Now it can be removed by a trained operative - but not requiring the same level of monitoring or masking up/sealing of the room. The disposal is another matter - the waste management legislation hasnt caught up with HSE yet, and the disposal of the material still has to be done in a conrolled and licensed way (double bagged and removed by contractor).

Personally, if the ceilings are in tact - and no signs of flaking or damage to the artex, I would PVA the ceiling, then give 2 or 3 coats of fresh paint - effectively sealing the asbestos and artex away from the room and ANY potential risk. The removal causes disturbance and can be seen as only required if the ceiling is damaged.

Nobleck

I though Artex was made from fish bones. If in doubt don't touch it yourselves.

javajim

Thank you for your answers

Softstuff

We pulled out of buying a property with an asbestos ceiling.

I'd beg you to make sure they don't tackle this themselves, and get someone qualified to deal with it. There is as a previous poster said, no "safe" asbestos.

I'm all too aware of the dangers of asbestos, my dad has asbestosis from being around it when he was in his late teens. Now at the age of 65 he can't walk more than 100m without becoming breathless and has a much shortened life expectancy (most of the guys who worked with him in his teens are already dead as a result of it.)

Just take care with this one, it might be a few thousand saved not to deal with it properly, but in this case the saving is not worth it.

angchris

my cousin died last year at the age of 45 from asbestosis leaving 2 teenagers due to pulling down an asbestos ceiling. please seek proffesional advice first.

kittiwoz

Why are they going to take the ceilings down? It is bound to create dust and you do not want to do that with asbestos. Why don't they just leave well alone?

ktm_hansi

i'd agree with the last poster, just seal it in.. have a look here http://www.asbestoswatchdog.co.uk/
for some more advice...

javajim

Thanks kittiwoz and ktm_hansi this could be the way to go.

LJacks

PLEASE, PLEASE be very careful with this asbestos ceiling. Whilst I don't mean in any way to be-little the debilitating disease asbestosis, please be aware exposure to asbestos fibres CAN cause an always fatal cancer called Mesothelioma. This cancer can develop 10-60 years after exposure to Asbestos fibres. All types of Asbestos cause this cancer. It is always diagnosed very late and it's victims have an average of 1 year to live.

It is people exposed over a period of time who are most at risk but it could be just one fibre that is the cause of this devastating disease. It is rare to develop this disease but exposure to asbestos is entirely preventable, therefore so is the disease.

The only reason certain types of Asbestos were down graded by our darling government was to fit into European guidelines on H & S. It WAS NOT because it has been proved to be any less dangerous. As I have said ALL TYPES of Abestos cause Mesothelioma.

I do not wish to scare you, merely inform you that Asbestos poses a bigger risk to your health than many poeple believe.

27th February 2007 is ACTION MESOTHELIOMA DAY. Please write to your local MP to get them to attend the parliamentary reception on this day and encourage him/her to ask the government to make Mesothelioma a National priority and help raise awareness for the disease and funds into research.

1 person dies every 5 hours of Mesothelioma in the UK.
1 in 100 men born in the 1940's will die of Malignant Mesothelioma.
Incidence of Mesothelioma is predicted to continue rising until 2045.
It is predicted 1 MILLION men will die from Mesothelioma by 2035 in Western Europe.