Possible Asbestos under the boiler

johnathan45

Hello,

I am planning to replace an ancient non condensing floor standing boiler( Glow worm 52B Super, possibly installed in the 70’s) in the kitchen with a combi boiler and move it to the bedroom airing cupboard upstairs. I live in a 60’s semi in Essex.

I had a couple of quotes from local plumbers who were highly recommended by friends( £2300 and £3200).

Yesterday, I got a quote from the British Gas engineer – £4500! He suspects that the floor standing boiler is on top of a ‘possible’ Asbestos Insulating Board ( AIB) and his quotes assumes that we will remove the AIB through a contractor myself. He said it would cost nearly £1300 if British Gas remove it and about £400 if I get it removed through a contractor myself. The contractor has to give a ‘safe to breathe’ certificate before British Gas can carry out the work.

He said that if we commit to British Gas, in the form of an advance for instance, he could send a sample of the board to a lab as he is not sure if it is asbestos. But without this commitment, he won’t do anything.

My questions:

1. Considering the size of the board ( 50cm by 50 cm), does it really cost(£400 to £1300) that much for its removal?
2. From what I read on the internet, I gathered that prolonged breathing of Asbestos is dangerous. But what about potential one-off exposure? If I remove and dispose it safely myself, how much of a hazard is it? The underlying assumption here is that the board will get damaged during removal. How valid is this assumption? Is it a risk worth taking?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Regards,
John

System

As long as you follow the correct procedure then you can do it yourself.

Beware British Gas. We got a quote from them for a new boiler to replace one that we knew stood on asbestos sheet in a small cupboard. I informed them that I would arrange removal but they stated that because asbestos had been in that cupboard then they would not install the new boiler in that location

onomatopoeia99

You can get a sample tested for not very much (under £20 was suggested to me a few years ago). Some asbestos you can remove yourself and take down the tip if suitably wrapped - your council should have information on its website.

I started looking into this as my garage roof is probably asbestos, but haven't done anything about it in a few years and it's still there!

paddyrg

Does it actually need removing? Can you spray/paint it with dilute PVA and just leave it in situ?

wallbash

. From what I read on the internet, I gathered that prolonged breathing of Asbestos is dangerous. But what about potential one-off exposure? If I remove and dispose it safely myself, how much of a hazard is it? The underlying assumption here is that the board will get damaged during removal. How valid is this assumption? Is it a risk worth taking?

And a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Are you positive its asbestos ..........no
Are you positive its 'blue' asbestos ( that the bad stuff) .......no.Remember at school we all had 'asbestos' sheets in the science lab , in my case thats well over 40 years......and I survived.

Will the 'board 'lift in one piece ( perfect) or a few large pieces ?
Will it cause vast amounts of dust??


Personally, as you may have gathered, I suggest you DIY

ps tell B.G to take a running jump.

Risteard

!!!!!! wrote: »

As long as you follow the correct procedure then you can do it yourself.

NOT if it is AIB.

System

Risteard wrote: »

NOT if it is AIB.

Allied Irish Bank?

I am assuiming that AIB is something that you can not deal with yourself?

In which case 'Follow the correct procedure' is the part of my statement that is relevant as the correct procedure will be to employ a specialist.

DTDfanBoy

AIB is Asbestos Insulating Board, which is a doddle for anyone to deal with if it's only 50x50cm

johnathan45

Yes, it does need removing as I intend to renovate the kitchen after moving the boiler.

johnathan45

Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated.
I think I will take a chance on this and do it myself. Even the HSE guideline website categorizes it as a minor hazard when the size is less than 1m by 1m.
Regards,
John

Ruski

For the sake of £20 get yourself kitted out with PPE from Screwfix or the like...

Bag it all up and dispose of responsibly

HTH

Russ