Floor Tile Asbestos Exposure

When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable.

Floor tile asbestos exposure.

Will not release asbestos fibers unless they are disturbed or damaged in some way. Asbestos floor tile is not. At above left is a 12 x 12 vinyl asbestos floor tile found in a home built in 1969. Sbestos was once considered a miracle material used in everything from paint and pipe insulation to even tiling.

In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure. That means it is safe to walk on but not safe to scrape sand or use power tools on. However once considerable testing proved that it was a killer the miracle became a nightmare to deal with and remove. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods mostly in building materials roofing shingles ceiling and floor tiles paper products and asbestos cement products friction products automobile clutch brake and transmission parts heat resistant fabrics packaging gaskets and coatings.

In the united states federal law requires employers in industries that work with asbestos products such as construction to take special safety measures. Many homes schools and other buildings built before the 1970s have materials such as pipes and floor tiles. Identifying asbestos floor tiles. Armstrong s seneca white image it is likely that this is an asbestos containing floor tile.

You can either engage an asbestos remediation expert or obtain a test kit for. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring poses a significantly greater asbestos exposure risk than floor tiles or wallpaper. Car brakes and floor tiles insulating board. Asbestos containing ceiling tiles floor tiles undamaged laboratory cabinet tops shingles fire doors siding shingles etc.

Vinyl sheet flooring comes in large pieces and is usually cut to the size of the room and laid down in one piece. But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable. Asbestos floor tile identification photos 1949 1959. See armstrong floor tile list 1969.

Reducing exposure to asbestos is the best prevention against asbestosis. Asbestos is found naturally in rock and soil. The definitive way to find out if tiles contain asbestos is to have them tested. The properties of asbestos made it an ideal material for use in a number of products including insulation material for buildings boilers and pipes.

When these mineral fibers are released into the air and breathed in over long periods of time they can cause lung disease. Manufacturers often made this type of flooring with a friable asbestos backing which means mineral fibers are easily.