Is this Asbestos?

[SparkRick]

Hi everyone,

I just dumped an old pipe that had been disconnected about 10 years ago in my loft, I think it was going to the immersion heater from the cold water tank before I had my heater moved. It was lagged in what I thought was plain hessian but as I unwrapped the hessian I realized it was stuck to a rubber fibre type material. This lagging is probably from the late 40's. As a spark I have came across Asbestos many times and lost a lot of sleep worrying about it. You plumbers are bound to know what this is, please tell me it's not Asbestos. Thanks.

 

[danielp]

that be me dead in a few then!

 

[SparkRick]

that be me dead in a few then!

Not the reply I was hoping for.

 

[johnmcginty]

Any photos mate?

 

[SparkRick]

It's all dumped now. It was dark and rubbery, almost like paper mixed with rubber. It must have came on a 4" hessian backed roll which was then wrapped around the pipe. You could see fibres in it but they looked too large to be Asbestos, at least not like the white, powdery stuff I've seen before. I can't find anything about it online.

 

[REDSAW]

just a guess, but it could be bitumen?.
bernie could remember this stuff, especially if its as old as you say, but could be mere recent 50/60's.

 

[SparkRick]

I was hoping an old hand might remember.

 

[Bernie2]

Hi! SparkRick

Doesn't sound like asbestos lagging. It sounds more like old cable insulation. You could also get hair felt lagging but that wasn't rubbery.

I must admit though, I can't say as I have come across exactly what you describe. Perhaps Plouasne would know?

 

[andrewcplatt]

I doubt it as being asbestos even though you metion fine fibres.Asbstos doesnt tend to have a rubbery characteristic.

Ive sanded down flowwerpots many years ago made of asbestos/they still glow!

 

[SparkRick]

Many thanks for the replies. Had a look at a bit that was in my garden (that's where I unwrapped it), it almost looks like compressed paper and hair felt mixed together?? I think it was a bit damp and that may have made it seem a bit like rubber. I have a 2 year old and just wanted to make sure I hadn't exposed him to Asbestos. I've read up about it and it seems it was used in a lot more products than I ever imagined. Hair felt lagging is probably what it is though Bernie2. Thanks, you have put my mind at ease.

 

[johnsco]

It doesn't sound like asbestos, which usually tends to disintegrate when you disturb it.
Unfortunately, I've worked in an environment where there was a lot of asbestos and I've seen it in a number of different forms.
This sounds like something else.

I just hope it doesn't catch up with me.
Quite a number of my old mates (one of them a foreman plumber) have contracted asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Frightening !!

 

[migoplumber]

the asbestos course is about 70 quid, worth doing, very boring but an eye opener, if you work for a company that does site work you need to do the course by law before your allowed on site.
all sites now have an asbestos register and they by law have to ask you to read it and sign it. this is probably the one signing in book you should read before you start work.
many times i havnt even got my tools out of van because of seeing the asbestos register.

my current problem is a leak under the floor in ductwork at a school, all asbestos lagged, just had the asbestos crew in to clean the area as i didnt want to go in suited up under their supervision, when i told them i was going outside for a ***, they assured me i would be dead before them. i am now truly reassured !!

 

[Bernie2]

Did you know that its not only asbestos that is dangerous, virtually anything which has small filaments that can't be dissolved by the body are?

That includes glass fibres?

Its well worth checking it out.