Asbestos spray coatings and problems with its removal

_WP_6556.jpg

In this blog, we’ll examine asbestos spray coatings and some of the problems you can face when it is being removed.

Asbestos spray coatings were phased out in the mid-1970s, so it’s old now and deteriorating.

They have a very high asbestos content. It was mixed with Portland cement binder, to stick asbestos fibres together. It was up to 85% pure asbestos and you can clearly see the fibres.

In our industry it’s one of the worst materials to come across because it has a low density and is soft and will release asbestos fibres very easily for minimal disturbance in its raw state.

Where were asbestos spray coatings used?

Predominately, it was used in fire protection to beams and on ceilings and it was even sprayed onto asbestos in factories and warehouses. It was used a lot in factories as it provided fire protection and sound proofing. Theatres also used it on their ceilings and structural elements. You may also find the ceiling and beams of car parks are sprayed with asbestos when they have apartments or hotels above them.

How were asbestos spray coatings applied?

The application was a horrible process. At the time the workers did not wear PPE and used a larger sprayer. It was a very messy job as the spray would not just be hitting the elements it was aimed at – it would contaminate the surrounding walls, floors, windows and cavities.

Is it difficult to remove?

Spray coating is one of the worst products to remove and manage because it gets into everything and has a high asbestos content and can be easily damaged.

How are asbestos spray coatings removed?

This work always needs to be done by a licensed contractor. The contractor uses an injection suppression method to remove it. The injection needle saturates the spray coating all the way down to the surface level.

Once the removal takes place, the whole material will be removed wet. If you come across a section that is dry, the asbestos fibre count will be high.

At the same time, you have to be careful this process doesn’t create an asbestos slurry. You really do need an experienced removal team who have done spray coating before to manage this properly as it can go wrong very quickly and very badly. Even the enclosure construction needs to be much more rigorous.

The removal team need to consider the structure of the building, the structure of the surface that the asbestos has been applied to and the end goal of the client. By this we mean what is the client going to be able to do in the area following the asbestos removal because we cannot guarantee it will be 100% clean. Sometimes, there will be areas of the building you cannot guarantee are 100% clean without demolition work.

There is a difference between scraping a flat smooth concrete surface where the sprayed insulation comes off like a dream versus a pitted concrete with loads of gaps in it and the spray has gone everywhere. These things need to be considered because the difference between the time frames of these projects and their costs are huge.

If you spray the coating with encapsulant paint this can bring the spray coating down because of the extra weight on it. Imagine employing a contractor to encapsulate a ceiling for you, they do that for you, walk away and then a couple of weeks later it falls down. What would that do to your business? You need to have these considerations.

In summary

It is only when you are completely demolishing a building, and you can remove every element of the building, that you can guarantee you have removed it all. If you are refurbing a building you are not going to want to go as far as this.

You need to remember the key discussion points:

  • What is the end goal?
  • What does the client want?
  • The cost of removal versus the cost of refurbishment and a lifetime of managing the material
  • Does the removal project meet their requirements for their building use at the time?
  • How long are they planning to use that building for?

If your asbestos spray coating is deteriorating, you need to get it under control and managed.

The key thing is to get people on board who know exactly what they are doing with spray coating.We’re a professional asbestos consultancy helping businesses deal with asbestos compliance using asbestos surveysasbestos air testing, and asbestos removal management. Please call one of the team, or use the online form to obtain your free quotation. If you would like further information or advice on asbestos and asbestos training, contact the team on 0844 818 0895 or Contact Us

Neil Munro

I work in a dual role at Acorn Analytical Services focused primarily on growing and leading the business from our Northampton office base. My focus is on overseeing all sales, marketing and financial activities from Northampton. I assist clients with high-level asbestos management strategies and training. Together with Ian Stone I host our weekly podcast – Asbestos Knowledge Empire and I'm Co-author of Asbestos The Dark Arts and Fear and Loathing of Health and Safety.

Need Help? Request a Call Back

Request a call back from one of our expert Asbestos Consultants who will help you identify what you need

More Asbestos Articles

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

Raac and ruin? How concrete crisis also raises the question of asbestos

A LOT has been said recently about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and asbestos. While fears about the safety of RAAC continue to dominate the headlines both nationally and locally, it is the additional threat from asbestos which we believe should be discussed now as a matter of urgency. Just as RAAC is crumbling in … Read more

Asbestos consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services, will be raising money for Mesothelioma UK

Asbestos consultancy gears up for 24-hour fundraising challenge

FOR many years the team at Acorn Analytical Services has been an avid supporter of Mesothelioma UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people affected by this deadly disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and shockingly still kills around 5,000 people each year in the UK – … Read more

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

The Ultimate Guide to Asbestos Surveyors: Why Your Safety Depends on It

Asbestos, once a ‘miracle material’, now poses severe health risks. Uncover the significance of asbestos surveys in the UK and why your safety depends on it.

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Having the right consultancy to help you manage asbestos has never been more important’

A REPORT written by asbestos expert and director of Acorn Analytical Services, Ian Stone, has highlighted the worrying state of asbestos in the UK. The Annual Asbestos Industry Review provides a unique insight into the industry and a snapshot of the work being done by Acorn Analytical Services – one of the largest independent consultancies … Read more

Management of asbestos in schools

Management of Asbestos in Schools: A Comprehensive Analysis

In this blog post, we delve into the critical issue of asbestos management in UK schools, the recent HSE report, and the role of Acorn Analytical Services in ensuring safe learning environments.

Asbestos: Dispelling 3 common myths

Is your business fully compliant with the latest asbestos regulations?

HOW much do you really know about asbestos? If your building was built before 1999, have you ever had it checked? If you know it’s there, do you know for sure that you’re compliant with the latest rules and regulations around asbestos management? If the answer to either of these questions is ‘no’ it’s time … Read more

Asbestos in fire

Act Now: Uncover the Silent Perils of Asbestos in Fire-Damaged Buildings – A Deep Dive into the Brighton Hotel Incident

Asbestos in fire situations poses significant health risks. Understand the dangers, especially in textured coatings, and the need for expert remediation.

Acorn Analytical Services director Ian Stone has worked in the asbestos industry for 20 years.

#ActNowOnAsbestos: How our FREE training sessions will help raise awareness

ASBESTOS is firmly in the headlines once again and we’re delighted to see an open and very frank discussion finally taking place about the material itself, the risks around mesothelioma and the steps we should all be taking to protect ourselves. At Acorn Analytical Services it’s something we’ve been talking about for years and as … Read more

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Supporting #ActNowOnAsbestos is the right thing for us to do’

Last weekend The Sunday Times launched #ActNowOnAsbestos, a hard-hitting campaign which urges the Government to take urgent action to protect people from the UK’s asbestos epidemic. The campaign makes important recommendations to help protect members of the public from the hidden dangers of asbestos, which poses a serious threat to our health and wellbeing more … Read more

Ian Stone, director of asbestos management consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services

‘We finally have hope – hope that those in authority will take notice, take action and save lives’

Media statement in response to the launch of the Sunday Times Campaign, Act Now on Asbestos: Ian Stone, Director of Acorn Analytical Services, said: “For ten years Acorn Analytical Services has been on the front line of the UK’s battle with asbestos, banging the drum for change and fighting to raise awareness of the sheer … Read more