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Chapter 2Asbestos-Containing Materials

Version 2012.1

Asbestos NESHAP Inspection and Safety Procedures Course

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Topics

Brief discussion of historical asbestos use

What is asbestos?

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History of Asbestos Use

Asbestos has been used for thousands of years

Principal use was in woven materials until the 1800s

1850s – First commercial production

1870s – Large deposits discovered in Canada

1940s – 1970s – Greatest use in U.S.

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History of Asbestos Use(Cont.)

More than 3,000 products have contained asbestos

Asbestos products are still legally used

Major ongoing challenges in managing asbestos Naturally occurring sources Workplace

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Geological Information

What is asbestos? A naturally occurring fibrous mineral 6 varieties of asbestos currently regulated

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Varieties of Asbestos

ASBESTOS

Serpentine Group Amphibole Group

Serpentine (Chrysotile) Cummingtonite-Grunerite (Amosite)Riebeckite (Crocidolite)

AnthophylliteActinolite-Tremolite

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Commonly Used Asbestos Products

Most commonly used ACM products in the US currently: Roofing materials (mainly flashing & cements) Gaskets Friction products

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Other marketed asbestos products

Asbestos-cement products

Asbestos clothing

Pipeline wrap (typically asphaltic)

Flooring materials

Caulks/putties/mastics (glues)

On rare occasions banned materials like pipe insulation are imported and installed

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Asbestos Origin and Uses

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Where is Asbestos Found?

Naturally occurring fibrous mineral

Mined from the ground like coal or iron ore

Was once mined all over the world, including the US, Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, and the former USSR

No longer mined in the US

Still mined in Canada, China, and a number African countries

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Asbestos Mine – Canada

Asbestos Milling Plant

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Use of Asbestos

Civilizations have found many uses for asbestos since early history

Manufacturing of asbestos containing products still occurs in many parts of the world

Ancient oil lamp

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Demolition & Renovation

Regulation of asbestos began in the early 1970s

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Manual Renovation & Demolition

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Chrysotile - most common - white

Amosite - less common - brown

Crocidolite - rare - blue

Other types - remolite, actinolite, anthophyllite are sometimes found as contaminants with other minerals such as talc and vermiculite

Chrysotile - most common - white

Amosite - less common - brown

Crocidolite - rare - blue

Other types - remolite, actinolite, anthophyllite are sometimes found as contaminants with other minerals such as talc and vermiculite

Asbestos Types

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Chrysotile Asbestos

White Asbestos

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Amosite Fibers

Brown Asbestos

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Crocidolite Fibers

Blue Asbestos

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Vermiculite – Libby, Montana

Source: U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver, Colorado.

Tremolite Fibers

Winchite/Richterite

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Asbestos Material Categories

Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) >1%Surfacing Materials (SM) such as fireproofing or decorative textured ceilingsThermal System Insulation (TSI) such as pipe and boiler insulationMiscellaneous (Misc.)

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Misc. Asbestos Materials

Floor tile and masticsCeiling tilesRoofing materials like shingles and tarWallboard joint compoundGaskets and valve packing materialsCement asbestos products including Transite

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Friable ACM

Material that, when dry, may be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure Includes damaged non-friable material or

non-friable material that is not kept substantially intact (OSHA)

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Very friable ACM

Non-intact

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But when damaged like you see in the

picture it can be very friable and

release asbestos.

Floor tile is considered non-

friable.

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Asbestos is a concern when it

becomes airborne.

Fibers do not just “jump off” materials that

contain asbestos.

They get into the air when ACM or

ACM debris is disturbed.

They may then be breathed or

swallowed.

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Surfacing material (SM)

Material that is spray- or trowel-applied, generally to ceilings and structural steel

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Surfacing material

(fireproofing)

Friable

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Soundproofing on a gym ceiling

30Significant damage on a high school gym ceiling

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ACM Acoustical Textured Ceiling in Good Condition

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Modern non-ACM fireproofing looks much

like ACM.

Looks can be deceiving!

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Thermal System Insulation (TSI)

Insulation materials on systems such as: boilers/steam delivery chilled water condensate returns ductwork

34Undamaged TSI

If undamaged..

EPA and OSHA allow TSI to be

managed in place

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Badly damaged TSI

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“Air Cell” Insulation – This is NOT cardboard

37TSI in abandoned structure

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Miscellaneous Materials

A broad spectrum of ACM’s that do not fall into the categories of surfacing materials or thermal system insulation.

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Resilient Floor Coverings (RFC)Floor Tiles, Linoleums, and Associated Mastics

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Resilient Floor Coverings (RFC)Floor Tiles, Linoleums, and Associated Mastics

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Wallboard Joint Compound

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USEPA - DENVER

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Asbestos Cement BoardThe most commonly

produced ACM worldwide today.

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Exterior asbestos panels

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Asbestos cement pipe in good condition. Non-friable.Also a very commonly produced ACM worldwide.

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Damaged asbestos

cement pipe is

considered friable!

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Some ceiling tiles contain asbestos, but this is not common.

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Roofing Materials

Roofing materials (flashing, cements, felts, and coatings) may STILL contain asbestos materials in new construction

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Questions?