Posted By Baskaran Kumarasamy Hi all, We recently recognised that in few of our fuse plug have asbestos in it. It is a small batch with loose fibers on it. Now we need to decide how to replace the fuse in case it blows. It is too small job to call for Asbestos consultant to do this job and at the same time we can't force our electrician to do this job. ( ultimately we will be replacing the panels with new models which doesn't have asbestos but in mean time we need to plan some actions )Could any one suggest best solution for this problem? Thanks for the responses in advance, Regards, Basky

Posted By JPM You are right there, you can't force your electrician to do the job! Get hold of HS(G) 210 and HS(G) 213 Asbestos task manuals, you may find the answer within Regards

Posted By TBC I think something may be lost in the terminology of 'fuse plug', what we are probably talking about is the good old fashioned fuse distribution board where the mains comes in and goes out to various points. The pads behind each of the fuses may and probably will, contain a certain amount of asbestos. The pads are there to protect the board from heat or sparking. I’m sure a reputable surveyor will easily identify the substance and arrange to replace it with a non-asbestos substitute. I don’t think you will have to replace the whole distribution board. It’s a long time since I had any of these done, so things may have changed. Hope it helps.

Posted By Peter MacDonald I was assuming it was the flash pads.

Posted By Robert. In the meantime Baskaran, if a fault develops and the fuse wire has blown does that mean it gets left. I bet if it was the fuse that operated the kettle and microwave or rest room heater, it would be fixed pretty quickly! If it only has just been "noticed" by your "electricians" then what have they been doing. What about the periodical testing etc. A dist panel like the one you describe sounds to me as being very very obsolete. You have very very coarse protection and you've possibly more chance of a fire in the premises with circuits overheating than with somebody being contaminated with awhat you appear to describe as asbestos rope fibres. There is no reason having been given an approriate dust mask, gloves and maybe a disposable suit that, based on the assumption that ACMs are there and you've assessed the risk content, that the "routine" maintenance can't go ahead.

Posted By Tom Warner Some electrical distribution equipment contains small white asbestos (chrysotile) plugs (plastic and rubber also used) located in front of the fuse carrier retaining screws, the fuses are of the cartridge type. The same manufacture also uses fuses with the fuse wire passing through an asbestos (chrysotile) sleeve.

Posted By MungoDundas << Best thing to do is leave alone and replace the whole thing when the time comes as part of routine mainenance or as plannes work. I work in the industry and hold P402 and RSP etc etc. Flash guards are a very widespread item and as long as they are in good condition then can be left alone.>> So it's fair enough, meantime when necessary, to pull out & push in the fuses [with the little asbestos mat flash guard in place - assuming that it's intact, etc.]. Then when its's time to replace the fusebox with a modern breaker board, is it OK to mask & glove up and ease the flashguards out of the fusebox and into orange double polythene bags marked something like "low risk asbestos". (I'm sure I saw floor tilers put the old tiles they'd lifted into such). The bag could be taken to the local asbestos specialist for approved disposal.

Posted By Donald Hi I don't have any suggestions as to getting rid of the asbestos other than using a registered contractor but there could be a problem if you remove the asbestos from you existing fuse board and continue to use it. I take it the fuses are the BS3036 semi enclosed re-wireable type. These old type of fuses are best replaced as they may not be suitable for higher fault levels.