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.

 

[Red Tony]

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.

Erm in the picture it's not in a bag?! You think your smart coming out with novichok ref and in another post regarding your faulty washing machine......
However you come across rather dumb to me in your unprofessional approach.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Not just unprofessional, but dangerous to anyone around him and his family.

 

[South Spark]

Not just unprofessional, but dangerous to anyone around him and his family.

So you've never come across a suspect material and got it tested?

 

[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?

This is pretty flippant.

 

[South Spark]

Back and forth aside I thought this was quite useful. Realistically as a domestic electrician who works in the middle of buildings being renovated I've probably been exposed to it unknowingly more than once. On this occasion the whole ceiling and half the wall had already come down. Hence why I thought it would be a good idea to get a piece and get it tested before agreeing to rewire the kitchen.

https://asbestos-surveys.org.uk/unc...ure-is-dangerous-the-answer-may-surprise-you/

 

[Mike Johnson]

Oh come on, you where holding a suspect piece of fibrous substance in your hands in post one and asking if you should get it tested, prevaricate all you like, you made a fool of yourself and no amount of back tracking is going to change that.

I have come across many suspect materials in my construction career, but never been stupid enough to cut it out.

 

[Grant1987]

Oh come on, you where holding a suspect piece of fibrous substance in your hands in post one and asking if you should get it tested, prevaricate all you like, you made a fool of yourself and no amount of back tracking is going to change that.

I have come across many suspect materials in my construction career, but never been stupid enough to cut it out.

Absolutely ridiculous you shouldn’t be posting on here questioning if it’s asbestos surely you have undertaken the courses to gain the knowledge and understanding of asbestos? Shame on you if you havnt. Did you know that sparkies are the ones who are the highest percentage of deaths though asbestos related deaths. Also asbestosis is a thing of the past we won’t die from that disease

 

[PEG]

I feel the indignant ranting has been exhausted...who here,has not drilled in to any property built,decorated or modified,before the 80's? ...what,with no x-ray or full analysis? tut tut

The more experience you have,the more guilt you probably carry,so yeah,he should'nt be wearing it as a badge,but he asked what seemed an honest enough question,and has realised some possible consequencies.

My last proper,attended funeral,was a pal who mesothelioma took,from pipe fitting on the rigs,30 years previous,so i aint donald trumping it.....just felt the lad was getting flayed,with no regard.

 

[Grant1987]

I feel the indignant ranting has been exhausted...who here,has not drilled in to any property built,decorated or modified,before the 80's? ...what,with no x-ray or full analysis? tut tut

The more experience you have,the more guilt you probably carry,so yeah,he should'nt be wearing it as a badge,but he asked what seemed an honest enough question,and has realised some possible consequencies.

My last proper,attended funeral,was a pal who mesothelioma took,from pipe fitting on the rigs,30 years previous,so i aint donald trumping it.....just felt the lad was getting flayed,with no regard.

It seemed like a modern question not one before the 80’s with a badge. My old man used to remove asbestos as if it was nothing and fortunately is not one of the unlucky ones and he is fit and healthy but my point is any current tradesman should not play down the risks of asbestos.

 

[South Spark]

It seemed like a modern question not one before the 80’s with a badge. My old man used to remove asbestos as if it was nothing and fortunately is not one of the unlucky ones and he is fit and healthy but my point is any current tradesman should not play down the risks of asbestos.

Playing down the risks would be not asking at all and cracking on with the job.

 

[loz2754]

Asbestos was being used in construction in the the UK up until the year 2000. There's a lot of it about. Some types are more dangerous than others, hence the need to stop work if you suspect there is asbestos present and get a specialist company in to test it. As has been said, it's not only your own health and life you're putting in jeopardy if you ignore the risk, but others who may breathe in the fibres.

 

[PEG]

I think everybody agrees on the risks with this product,and a sensible approach,should it be suspected.

The issue i was politely addressing...i hope,was that there was a lot of ire,aimed at the OP,by people who certainly own a drill and drill bits. They would have drilled a thousand holes,through a thousands types of decoration and substrates,without the merest clue,what was beneath.
They would have produced dust...it would be stuck to them,their clothes,everything on the tip,when their disposed henry bag burst...blah blah...

My point was,they probably never called in a HazChem level five lock-down...just had their tea,and started typing ...

Unless i have greatly misjudged things,and people either use sticky velcro pads...or,maybe have the dust from every pre-fitted rawlplug,analysed,due to that skimmed over artex,from 79' .....in which case,as Paul Newman says,in Road to Perdition......"there are only murderers,in this room..."