asbestos or not?

[Hawk]

This is in between a cavity wall on a late 60's 70's proberty. Do you think it could be asbestos?

 

[Pete999]

What is???

 

[Hawk]

Yes, the pictures would help! Lol

 

[Leesparkykent]

This is in between a cavity wall on a late 60's 70's proberty. Do you think it could be asbestos?

Yes, the pictures would help! Lol

Is that an external wall and is it loose?

 

[snowhead]

I know what it is.

But you are the one onsite, or is it your house?

If you're not certain it's not asbestos then it needs testing.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I know what it is.

But you are the one onsite, or is it your house?

If you're not certain it's not asbestos then it needs testing.

What is it then?

 

[snowhead]

What is it then?

It's what I paid to have injected in the first house I bought in 1972.

 

[Leesparkykent]

It's what I paid to have injected in the first house I bought in 1972.

"U" foam/ICI cavity wall insulation?

 

[Hawk]

I'm on-site and noticed it there have been builders on-site all week I only was here today.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

I think you should leave it to TRAINED EXPERTS, i did a mickey mouse course online about it.. its all a blur now

 

[solarsavings]

urea formaldehyde foam
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=u...ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIrp-7i5TPxwIVIyPbCh3AkAAg

 

[chris murphy]

It's what I paid to have injected in the first house I bought in 1972.

"Hello snowhead",

Obviously I hope that You and your Family did not suffer any ill effects after having what may well have been Urea Formaldehyde Foam injected into the cavity of your Home back then.

BUT - I remember reading [during the 1980`s ?] that it was found to be `Hazardous to Health` as it released Formaldehyde Gas for quite a period of time after installation of the Foam - that Gas is highly poisonous.

I believe that as small an amount as 3 parts per MILLION released into the Air within a Building is enough to cause quite serious Medical problems - impacting on the Respiratory system and Eyes / Nose.

I don`t think that there has been any evidence found that this Insulating Foam posed any Hazard to Health after it has fully `cured` - but I do remember that there were traces of Formaldehyde found in some properties when they were tested for that perhaps 2 or 3 Years after the installation.



With regard to the OP`s question / concerns:

As the OP already knows one must be very careful when finding an `unknown material` in Buildings - but personally I would be fairly confident in being able to discern between Asbestos and a FOAM material.

Although if this is going to be disturbed by some of the Wall being taken down for example I would definitely NOT want to be breathing in any of the disturbed material.

I would be fairly sure that there would not be any release of Formaldehyde Gas now as that would have `evaporated` long ago - but I think that there is a slight possibility of a small amount of Gas being produced if the Foam gets wet.

Formaldehyde may still exist within the Foam and it is poisonous - regarding ensuring that it is NOT inhaled in a `dust` form.

I know from previous experience that when this Foam Insulation is disturbed / removed some of it crumbles into a `powdery` state and some of this can easily become Airborne even just by someone opening an external door for example.

As with ANY Construction Material We do NOT want to be breathing it in while working - depending upon whether it is going to be disturbed / removed the Builder and Client should be liaising about this and carrying out a Risk Assessment plus researching exactly how to deal with this material / if a Specialist Contractor will be required.


Contacting the HSE for specialist advice regarding the correct removal and disposal of this material may be necessary.


It MAY be difficult to find a Specialist Contractor for removing this type of Insulation - although an Asbestos Removal Contractor would be ideally equipped to do so, they might NOT be prepared to remove the area of Brickwork [in the Photo] IF that was required as part of removing the Insulation / Building works - ?

IF it is permissible under Health & Safety Regulations for the Builder to remove this Insulation [from the small area in the Photo] at the very least they would require `proper` Respirator type Dust Masks - with the appropriate Safety / Dust rating - disposable hooded `Coveralls`- and `approved` disposal bags that can be correctly Sealed - however there would also be a concern about the Airborne `dust` that landed around the Room / Building etc.

Then correct disposal of the bagged material at a Waste facility that handles `Hazardous Materials` would be required.


I hope that these comments may be helpful to Hawk / the OP and other readers.

Regards,

Chris

 

[chris murphy]

"Hello again",

Specialist Cavity Wall Insulation Removal Contractor:

Cavity Wall Insulation Removal Specialists

They are obviously primarily contracting to remove Whole Home / Whole Building Cavity Insulation - not small sections.

From what I read they `Vacuum` out the Insulation from a series of holes drilled in the walls - obviously using specialist `vacuuming` equipment.

They advertise that they carry out work `All over England & Wales`.

Having found this Company online I thought that the details might possibly help someone in the future - although they would have to be reading this thread about Asbestos and ALSO want to have Cavity Wall Insulation removed - NOT very likely !

Regards,

Chris

 

[Hawk]

Appreciate the reply. Thanks. Very informative.