Can this be asbestos?

Dedekind

Hello

Can this be asbestos? A builder who came over to quote some works said it definitely is, but our buildings survey did not identify it (survry did identify potential asbestos in a different outbuilding, a garden shed). I am very scared now.. it's right there in the living room. We are planning to redecorate soon but still.. it's freaking me out a bit.

Was it usual to have asbestos for this kind of usage? I can't say when the boarding was done but my guess its probably in the 70s.

https://imgur.com/a/lnzmW2E

Doozergirl

Has it been painted? Your pics aren't that clear, but Google 'asbestos insulation board' for images.

You'll see it better than we can, but if I did think it was asbestos, that's what I think it would be. It's in the right place for it

TheCyclingProgrammer

The only definitive way to know is to have it tested but it looks similar to board we had under our stairs.

Does it have shiny sparkly bits in it? Ours does and when I spoke to an asbestos contractor they suggested it was probably an asbestos free replacement for Asbestolux insulation board, likely from the 80s. I was worried as we had some of it removed to access and repair our stairs and replaced it with fire rated plasterboard. We never had it tested but I’ve stopped wasting any sleep over it

If you want it removed and want peace of mind get it tested. It doesn’t look like it would be too difficult to remove if it can be carefully unscrewed and removed in one piece.

Dedekind

It does have shiny sparkly bits!

sevenhills

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

If you want it removed and want peace of mind get it tested. It doesn’t look like it would be too difficult to remove if it can be carefully unscrewed and removed in one piece.

Its likely the fire has been serviced, its looks modern too. It has philips screws which look like they have been unscrewed in recent years.
Many houses still have some asbestos, despite it being banned for over two decades.

You could get the whole house tested or just take the board out yourself, your choice.

Davesnave

Dedekind wrote: »

I am very scared now.. it's right there in the living room. We are planning to redecorate soon but still.. it's freaking me out a bit.

You don't need to be scared. It's been painted-over, whatever it is, and the general direction of air travel ought to be up the chimney rather than into the room.

Rather than mess-about with testing, I would take the dimensions and use the money saved have a piece of modern insulation board made to replace it, if you plan to keep the fire there for some time.

If you plan to keep the existing fire for a short while and then change, paint some coats of non-vinyl thick matt emulsion or outdoor weatherproof paint over it to seal it; after all it's not breaking down, so as a hazard to you and yours it's probably far less dangerous than driving along the nearest A class road.

Dedekind

Thanks everyone
I do plan to redecorate everything in the next 3 or 4 months and we want to so something different in the chimney so the board needs to go. I will post clearer pics later.

I suppose if we want to get rid of it there's no other way to go than having it tested..

Mistral001

If you do dump it thinking that it is an asbestos board substitute (Masterboard etc. ) and it is asbestos then if caught you could face a very heavy fine and a criminal record. Getting it tested might be the best option.

Davesnave

Mistral001 wrote: »

If you do dump it thinking that it is an asbestos board substitute (Masterboard etc. ) and it is asbestos then if caught you could face a very heavy fine and a criminal record. Getting it tested might be the best option.

Where I am, I'd double bag it, seal, and take it to the recycling centre.

Rodders53

Davesnave wrote: »

Where I am, I'd double bag it, seal, and take it to the recycling centre.

Ditto. You'll likely need heavy duty clear plastic bag/sheet to wrap the board(s) in.

The builder would have to do it differently (and have a waste licence).

Check out your Council Recycling Centres - e.g. https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/asbestos-disposal-at-recycling-centres/

ic

As above - if it were me, I'd get the fire disconnected, and unscrew the board, bag it and take it to the local tip where they have a big red covered container specifically for asbestos. I did the same for the sheet roofing on the old outbuilding that was here when I moved in. It only gets dangerous when its damaged and dust is released - as long as its removed by unscrewing it, rather than taking a sledge hammer to it, everything should be fine. Paying someone to remove and dispose will get very expensive, very fast.

In the meantime, you are safe with it where it is - there should be no immediate rush to remove it, just do it when you do the decorating in that room.