Is this likely to be asbestos?

[South Spark]

Cut this out of a kitchen wall. Like a cement board on a steel frame house. 1950s build . Some kind of mesh in the middle.

Should I get it tested?

 

[Vortigern]

If you have cut it, it is a bit late really the harm is done. You should have tested it first prior to cutting it out. Anyway, it looks enough like asbestos to scare me into not cutting it, and recommending it gets tested.

 

[Strima]

I'd get it tested TBH, Certainly looks like ACM.

 

[7029 dave]

I would get it tested.

 

[DPG]

Don't lick it.

 

[ipf]

Don't lick it.

....or sniff it!

 

[Let me think]

Recommend you spray it, where you've cut it, with PVA solution to encapsulate it - help stops spread of any more potential fibres until you get test results back.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Don't cut it at all, spraying is not going to save you, get a specialist in the test it in-situ and stay away from the area and post notices't to the effect that the area is dangerous until you know otherwise.

 

[Red Tony]

If you thought it possible to be azzy why take it into your van?? You didn't then take it home and sit it on your kitchen table I hope?

 

[South Spark]

If you thought it possible to be azzy why take it into your van?? You didn't then take it home and sit it on your kitchen table I hope?

It's bad news when you cut it and the fibres are airborne but its not novichok. Wore a proper mask, put it in a bag.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I can't believe that in the 21st century anyone can be so unaware of the dangers of Asbestos and the transfer of fibres from them to everyone around them, did you dispose of what you where wearing at the time or did you put them in the linen basket with your wife and children's clothes.

 

[Midwest]

As said get it tested, before you do anything else.

You can carry out non-licensed removal yourself, HSE. But personally I wouldn’t touch the stuff.

 

[South Spark]

I can't believe that in the 21st century anyone can be so unaware of the dangers of Asbestos and the transfer of fibres from them to everyone around them, did you dispose of what you where wearing at the time or did you put them in the linen basket with your wife and children's clothes.

As luck would have it the washing machine is bust atm.

 

[Darkwood]

As luck would have it the washing machine is bust atm.

I think you missed the point, by the time it's in the machine it may have spread the fibres into the atmosphere in the house, they can float and hover like dust.
My Grandad died of the lung disease associated with asbestos due to one day interaction with the stuff in his career of 45yrs, there were several blokes assigned to demolish a old boiler room at work 25yrs ago, all but one of them have died from the condition for 1 days work, no one else in the factory of hundreds were affected.
I personally know I have been drilling through it and ripping it out in my early career, long before we were made aware through company policy and site practices, I get a lug checkup every 10yrs now to ensure no shadows are showing.. by the time it affects your health it is often too late.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Why am I not surprised he missed the point, the dangers of Asbestos exposure can not be over emphasised, if you ever see the precautions taken by the professionals, with airlocks into a connected container with a dirty side in where the clothes (full body covering) are stripped off and disposed of, then into the decontamination unit and then into a shower.

My wife's music teacher (Barry Cole) died of Asbestosis over forty years after the exposure, demolishing a pre-fabricated building with his farther when he was a teenager, he was a successful saxophonist with many records to his name.