Posted By John Battye
Whilst checking fire damaged premises (over 100 years old), I have come across a sheet product called para abestos.

Has anyone come across this or can throw any light on it?

Posted By Chas
I have not come across that name before however asbestos containing materials and products were traded under a wide variety of names. It may be worth looking at www.aic.org.uk/Tradenameslist.htm Your product or similar may be listed. Hope this helps.

Posted By Ron Hunter
Is it a name, or is it a fragment of another language e.g. Spanish would = 'for asbestos'

I think!

Posted By Dave Wilson
Doesn't matter what its called you have a statutory obligation to find out whether it is or is no, otherwise you have to assume its blue/brown.

Reg 5 CAR 06

Posted By Karen Wilson
John - The fact the material has the word "Asbestos" on it tells you that it will contain at least one of the major types of asbestos (and possibly also one of the three lesser known). You will need to submit a sample to the laboratory to determine its asbestos content. An important request will be to determine if it is classified as asbestos cement or insulation board. The definition used to be by the density of the product - now it is by the % water absorption of the product.

May I suggest (if I am understanding your main concern reading between the lines) - that following the fire, the asbestos containing materials may no longer be regarded as "firmly-linked" products and that clean-up of the property will need to be conducted by a licensed contractor. Remember - that asbestos is fire resistant and that the fibres in damaged areas of the property will not have been destroyed, but will still be there. They may be slightly altered in their structure but because they are no longer tightly bound - will hold a higher risk factor. When wandering through the damaged areas, pease remember to don the appropriate FFP3 RPE or higher grade.

NB as an extra guide.....if these sheets had been asbestos cement in nature and subject to fire - then they are likely to have shattered into many smaller fragments and traversed a great distance. (its a bit like a bomb going off).

The lab should be able to analyse the sample for you for about £15 (will take about 15 minutes if you sit and wait for the result) and the % water absorption test at an additional £30 or thereabouts. Hope this helps.

Karen

Posted By Karen Wilson
Adrian,

In response to your question:-

1. Analysis is required to determine if this material is asbestos or non-asbestos material. However - from my initial response I would suggest the fact that this material has the word "asbestos" printed on the back of it - would be a good inference that some asbestos is within it. Positive identification however can only be determined by analysis. [The analysis procedure automatically determines the type of asbestos material present, first analysing for Crocidolite, Amosite and Chrysotile, followed by Actionolite, Anthophyllite and Tremolite. Hence you will know the type]

2. Following a fire, if the asbestos containing material were damaged, then the material will be wide spread. Hence the fibres will no longer be sealed within the matrix of the material. Asbestos has good fire resistant properties however the structure of the asbestos fibres can be altered in a fire. The hazard remains the same however the fact that the fibres are no longer bound within the matrix means they can be more easily disturbed and hence an increase in the risk factor. Therefore, if you are walking through a fire damaged building, and hence possibly disturbing asbestos fibres, then it is prudent to wear a respirator with at least the minimum protection factor for fibres - FPFP3

Hope this answers your enquiry.

Karen

Posted By Karen Wilson
Also with respect Adrian. The beginning of this thread references a material "para asbestos" - which having read through once more - no-one replying here appears to know the correct composition of this material.....I would suggest that Ron Hunter has come to the most probable conclusion

One must presume it to be asbestos containing until determined otherwise.

As you have a field in Occup Health (as I do too) - you are also aware that only the analytical process will provide positive identification.

This thread is not whether to or whether not to anaylse the material - it was to answer the question - what is "para asbestos". My guidance - to have been helpful in nature - were to point out that the only positive means of identification is by analysis.

I have not stipulated that this material is asbestos cement. I do not know the precise make up of this material.

You are quite right that although asbestos cement may spread far and wide - the fibres within still complete fragments will remain tightly bound.

However - asbestos materials with higher percentage content can be damaged much more easily and may become more widespread.

Fibres will become airborne if damaged materials are disturbed. Of course the degree of fibre release is related to the original percentage content, the extent of fire damage and the degree of disturbance of the damaged material.

As you are unable to see the fibres - it is prudent to protect yourself from the microscopic material.

If you wish to discuss this further, please email me directly. The thread is deviating from the original assistance requested.

Regards

Karen