Absestos Worry

zuzuspetals

My flat was built around 1900. When I moved in eight years ago there was artex on my kitchen ceiling. I had it plastered over. Since then I had a new kitchen light fitted so the electrician had to drill into the ceiling.


I've since found out that the artex probably had white asbestos and one of my colleagues told me that it was really dangerous to drill into it.


Should I be worried?? I'm also worried that the electrician would have been exposed and I unknowingly put him at risk.

DaftyDuck

Asbestos in Artex isn't really much of a problem. It's certainly one of the least-worrying forms. I wouldn't be worried myself.

Annie1960

If you are really worried, you can get it tested. I've just moved into a house that has Artex on most of the ceilings, and I'm planning refurbishment which will involve lots of drilling so I had mine tested. The results came back from a lab in Essex within a few days, and cost £120 for the first sample, then £20 for each additional room.

Mine all came back negative, so it's given me confidence that I can just plaster over them and it will be OK.

If you want to put your mind at rest, then a quick google search will enable you to find local asbestos contractors who will be able to get it tested.

garryselby

This is a hard one as Asbestos is a hell of a product and I shouldn't be giving you advice But if you are going to drilling it put a mask on get a spray bottle water get some one to keep spraying it while you drill kills dust to min then put your Plug or screw in ,throw the mask away after .

wallbash

garryselby wrote: »

This is a hard one as Asbestos is a hell of a product and I shouldn't be giving you advice But if you are going to drilling it put a mask on get a spray bottle water get some one to keep spraying it while you drill kills dust to min then put your Plug or screw in ,throw the mask away after .

Thats good advice, but so is DaftyDucks .I have seen figures of the dangers to those involved in construction or professional
lagging ( or removal) over there working life time but no one has proved to me the dangers to the common DIYer who looks at something which is unlikely to be asbestos.
Been doing my own DIY for over 40 years, but my exposure to asbestos peaked whilst at school in the biology lab whilst looking for the mat to sit the busen burner on.

garryselby

wallbash wrote: »

Thats good advice, but so is DaftyDucks .I have seen figures of the dangers to those involved in construction or professional
lagging ( or removal) over there working life time but no one has proved to me the dangers to the common DIYer who looks at something which is unlikely to be asbestos.
Been doing my own DIY for over 40 years, but my exposure to asbestos peaked whilst at school in the biology lab whilst looking for the mat to sit the busen burner on.

man to my own heart but I cant seeing it being asbestose but your still on my Christmas list

Kiran

Blue and brown asbestos fibres are hydrophobic and as spraying them with water doesn't work. The training for people who need to drill/fix through acm's is to use shaving foam or wall paper paste to catch the fibres. P3 masks etc. are still required.

Not recommending these techniques, just some information on what the training says.

BobQ

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/assets/docs/beware-asbestos-reference-cards.pdf