The Truth Behind Asbestos-Cement Products
A blog about the history of asbestos and its safe usage.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has been used in many industries for hundreds of years thanks to its versatile characteristics. From being an effective insulator, to having a high tensile strength and also being resistant to corrosion, it is no wonder that asbestos was so widely used. However, in the past few decades, the use of asbestos has been restricted due to the health risks it poses on those who are exposed to it.
Asbestos-cement products have become more widely known as a source of exposure to asbestos fibers for people involved in their manufacturing, use and disposal. This blog will help you gain an insight into how this material came into being, how it was used and, most importantly, how you can safely handle and dispose of it should you ever come across this product in your home or work environment.
The Truth Behind Asbestos-Cement Products
By Joi Peczuh on May 3, 2016 in Articles
Asbestos-cement products have been used extensively across the globe for more than 100 years. Today, asbestos-cement products are commonly used in construction and building materials. The asbestos-cement industry has played a significant role in the economic development of many countries. The most popular asbestos-containing building material was corrugated sheeting used for roofs and walls, which contains 20% asbestos. Another well-known product is water pipe, with 10% asbestos content. There also were flat sheets and pipes with higher amounts of asbestos. Today, these products are still widely used in developing countries due to their low cost. They have proved to be durable and fireproof, which makes them preferable to traditional brick and timber construction.
Asbestos-cement products are widely used in the construction of industrial and residential buildings. These products are made from cement mixed with asbestos fibers, making them extremely durable.
Asbestos-cement roofing, gutters, and downpipes are common building materials on residential homes and commercial buildings which were built before the 1980s. However, even though these materials were widely used in the past, they were banned in the United States in 1989 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to safety reasons.
Asbestos-cement sheets can be found on walls, ceilings and roofs of older homes and offices. The sheets are often used as a form of external or internal cladding or as a roofing material. Asbestos-cement sheets are made from about 10% to 15% chrysotile asbestos fibers mixed with cement to form strong and durable panels that have good fireproofing qualities.
Asbestos-cement (AC) sheeting has been part of the landscape of many countries for over a century. It is still used today, especially in developing nations where other roofing materials are not readily available or affordable. Many people are familiar with the traditional grey sheets, but AC products can also be found in bright colours and can be painted, providing an attractive and durable finish, suitable for use in domestic, commercial or industrial situations. AC products have a long life expectancy, with some roofs and walls that were built over 100 years ago still in use today.
Asbestos cement (AC) is made by mixing cement with asbestos fibres. Asbestos fibres are short and have a high degree of flexibility and therefore provide strength to the product when mixed with cement. The addition of asbestos increases the tensile strength of cement sheet by over 300%. This makes it impossible to accidentally break AC sheeting by hand and this property also allows the production of thinner sheets than would otherwise be possible.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in commercial products for many years, such as building and construction materials, insulation, and friction products. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers that are strong and heat resistant. These fibers may be released into the air by the deterioration of asbestos-containing materials, or when a product containing asbestos is disturbed during repair or demolition work. We are more familiar with asbestos than we may realize. It is found in some cement sheeting products, such as flat and corrugated sheets for roofing, wall cladding and fencing; water storage tanks; fireplaces; flue pipes; some vinyl floor tiles; ceiling tiles; cement pipes; gaskets in heating systems; brakes on older vehicles; hair dryers manufactured before 1980s; ironing boards manufactured before the late 1990’s and many other things that we take for granted.
In the mid-20th century, asbestos cement (also known as transite) became a common building material for homes and commercial buildings. Due to its strength, durability and fire resistance, asbestos cement was used in roofing shingles and siding products, pipe insulation, water tanks, storage containers and other products.
The fact that asbestos was mixed into cement made it resilient to high heat and fire. It could also be used in some applications where concrete couldn’t go because of its weight or fragility. Asbestos-cement pipes were very popular for this reason.
The thing about asbestos cement is that it wasn’t only used in building products. Asbestos cement was also used for a wide range of industrial products, including tanks, troughs and pipes that were used in chemical plants, oil refineries and processing facilities.
On October 11, 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its intention to propose that all forms of asbestos be listed as a known human carcinogen under section 301(b)(4) of the Public Health Service Act. In the Federal Register notice, HHS stated that there is no safe exposure level for asbestos, and that even small amounts of asbestos can cause cancer.
However, the FTC requires that manufacturers who sell products containing asbestos must include a warning in their materials. Although the products may not contain more than 1% asbestos by weight, it is still required on all product packaging.
If you are buying or selling an older home with asbestos siding, it is best to have the area tested for asbestos fibers before making any repairs, installation or removal of the damaged material. Asbestos siding should be removed by professional contractors who are trained in proper asbestos handling procedures.