Any ideas what this might be?

[DPS Plumbing]

I am wondering on the possibility of this soil pipe being made of asbestos. Before cutting with a dremel I decided it was probably better to get a second opinion on it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yep azzy

also looks like you’ve already started

 

[DPS Plumbing]

Yep azzy

also looks like you’ve already started

You are correct. Without a mask. A very fine dust.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Will need to be replaced

 

[DPS Plumbing]

Will need to be replaced

All of it up to the manhole I assume?
What are my alternatives?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Where it converts to clay

leave it alone but as you’ve disturbed it I would personally want it removed also it’s not the best as can break / degrade

 

[Chuck]

What are my alternatives?

Get a licenced contractor to clear up the 'fine dust' and remove the unwanted pipe.

Get yourself on an 'asbestos awareness' course.

Asbestos information, instruction and training - HSE

Every employer must make sure that anyone who is liable to disturb asbestos during their normal work, or who supervises those employees, gets the correct level of information, instruction and training so that they can work safely and competently without risk to themselves or others.

www.hse.gov.uk

 

[Ric2013]

What kind of asbestos pipe is that then? All the asbestos cement pipework I've come across seems to be cast and thick, whereas this appears to be made from a helicoidal roll of strip.

Is it pitch fibre? If that's a pitch fibre pipe, it might not necessarily contain asbestos, though I'd want a sample tested to confirm.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

What kind of asbestos pipe is that then? All the asbestos cement pipework I've come across seems to be cast and thick, whereas this appears to be made from a helicoidal roll of strip.

Is it pitch fibre? If that's a pitch fibre pipe, it might not necessarily contain asbestos, though I'd want a sample tested to confirm.

they used to coat the last layer with azzy as a fire proof and hard layer

 

[Chuck]

Is it pitch fibre? If that's a pitch fibre pipe, it might not necessarily contain asbestos, though I'd want a sample tested to confirm.

You have to assume that everything that might contain asbestos does contain asbestos until a lab test says otherwise.

I've known personally two people of my own age die from mesothelioma, one a commercial plumber the other a doctor and, trust me on this, it's a nasty way to go. (The doctor was probably exposed as a med student when they had a den/common room in a service corridor beneath the hospital. They shared the corridor with asbestos lagged pipes.)

 

[Ric2013]

You have to assume that everything that might contain asbestos does contain asbestos until a lab test says otherwise.

I've known personally two people of my own age die from mesothelioma, one a commercial plumber the other a doctor and, trust me on this, it's a nasty way to go. (The doctor was probably exposed as a med student when they had a den/common room in a service corridor beneath the hospital. They shared the corridor with asbestos lagged pipes.)

As I said, I'd want a sample tested to confirm. It's not a huge expense. We're not saying different things (but I agree with you, we need to spell this out to the OP and your approach is exactly that of the HSE: assume everything is asbestos unless there is clear evidence that it is something else).

And yes, this is what I would do. I once had a customer say she wasn't too bothered if I drilled through a bit or Artex. My reply was, okay, but I am bothered! For myself, from the point of view of the law, and from the point of view that I don't want to take asbestos home and into the houses of other customers. Truth be told, I suspect I've already been exposed to asbestos, but that doesn't mean I want to buy any more tickets for the mesothelioma lottery. One ticket can be enough, but the more tickets, the more chance of winning.