Friable Asbestos Siding

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Friable asbestos siding.

However heat water weathering or aging can weaken nonfriable siding and roofing to the point where they are considered friable. Most cases of mesothelioma asbestosis and other asbestos related diseases involve workers who are exposed to high levels of airborne asbestos fibers. These materials rarely become friable because the asbestos is locked securely into the material. Dufour re applicability to transite siding january 14 1993 pdf 4 pp 129 k.

Non friable asbestos however which is generally part of an indurated material that will not yield until under substantial effort. Other forms of gaskets that are composed of asbestos containing rope or sheet gaskets are considered to be friable. Friable asbestos which is asbestos that is easily broken down is always a health hazard. Read more about asbestos on the epa s website.

You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. Ring gaskets are a common variety of asbestos containing gaskets which are commonly composed of metal and asbestos. This means that human contact and weathering is unlikely to release the non friable asbestos. Friable materials can release asbestos fibers into the air.

Asbestos only poses a health risk when the fibers are airborne and friable which in the case of asbestos siding only occurs if the siding is actively sawed or broken into many smaller pieces. Examples of non friable acm include vinyl floor tiles and cement transite siding or roofing. Not sure if it is asbestos. Conversely non friable asbestos containing materials because of their nature do not easily release their fibers into the air.

Non friable asbestos is hard to break into smaller pieces. Category i non friable acms are asbestos containing resilient floor coverings like vinyl asbestos tile asphalt roofing products packings and gaskets. Although it is less dangerous than friable asbestos it should still be treated with caution and disposed of properly. Acm floors mastics and siding are classified as non friable materials.

The danger with this type of material is that it can pose the same hazard as friable. Non friable asbestos containing material acm is not regulated because it contains a binder or hardening agent such as cement asphalt or vinyl examples of acm are asphalt roofing shingles vinyl asbestos floor tiles and transite siding made with cement acm products are still being manufactured today. Also the siding and roofing can be made friable when it s being removed. Non friable acm is divided into two categories.

Burke re applicability to category ii material january 8 1992 pdf 3 pp 94 k letter to j. Friable means they are easily damaged by hand pressure. Asbestos gaskets would have been ideal for systems using steam gases or caustic compounds.