Asbestos in old ceramic 3036 consumer unit ??

[Soulsurfer]

Hey all,

Friend and client who rents out a flat has some works to do on electrical installation there, problem I have is old / very old consumer unit likely MEM 4 prong ceramic 3036 type re-wireable fuses / carriers, and the asbestos rope / weave webbing in the casing of them, prob Chrysotile (white) but still an issue, no log as it's a domestic and privately owned property but it's rented out and still dangerous stuff and there will be one or a few people liable if and when the board is removed and replaced with AMD 3 unit soon as is likely as I think the original C/U is 40-50 years of age and the main bonding and supplementary bonding is not right too.

I have been on phone and awaiting call back from H & S inspectorate regards whether I need to quote in a company licensed to remove the asbestos containing parts and or seal up area, PPE needed, and or anything else. As manufacturer is saying every single time a fuse blows the arc hitting the asbestos wadding will loosen it somewhat and that's never good, two gents I know have in past 5 months died with Mesothelioma and it wasn't pretty at all. Plus my friend / client is also a lawyer ! self explanatory why I also want to get things right. Any advice welcomed

 

[Risteard]

I doubt whether the removal of it would be licenced work, but certainly proper precautions should be taken and the offending materials double bagged in Asbestos-marked bags. When inspecting installations with these I generally include in the limitations that fuse carriers are not to be removed for inspection owing to the presence of perhaps damaged Asbestos.

 

[Hawk]

If you look on the hse website there is a guide on how to go about removing it.

 

[Soulsurfer]

Hey all, yes been in touch with locall HSE and online got download too but seems open to interpretation, one advisor says use shaving foam to seal the C/U then chop all cores above the fuse carriers and double bag it properly ! Hmmm either way I'll go through the documents again I think. Thanks guys.

 

[Hawk]

Yeah cut the cables at top of fuses. Just wear a white suit and a good mask. As sparks we have probably all drilled through it before without knowing!

 

[Flanders]

It may be worth checking how much tbe asbestos company will charge you for disposing of it as it may not be much more for them to remove the flash pads for you they will give you the wast ticket and you don't have to worry about exposing yourself to the asbestos

 

[telectrix]

just drag it out and chuck it in the bin. it's less dangerous than that bloody fibreglass in attics that we have to work with every day.

 

[BigSim]

I removed a few three phase fused isolator switches a while back, containing asbestos flash guards. We marked the cables, and cut outside of the enclosure, sprayed water inside just to dampen down any loose fibres, then removed from the wall. I had to wear a FFP3 face mask, and double bag in marked asbestos sacks and cable tie shut. The office has a dedicated asbestos skip where it was disposed off (I think local rubbish dumps also have asbestos skips), and had to complete a waste carriers notice for the transportation of asbestos (this was all pre-approved by our H&S officer). We had also undergone an asbestos awareness course before hand. Small amounts like we were removing were fine, as we didn't remove any fuses as to disturb the asbestos. Obviously with large amounts, an asbestos removal company would be recommended.