Safe way to cut asbestos

[Bsmith]

What would be the safest way for me to cut a hole through a corrugated asbestos roof for a chimney pipe please? I imagine a jigsaw and good quality dust mask.

 

[skotl]

My concern would be where all the fibres are going to go, How are you going to contain the fibres that fall down from the roof? You need to consider the immediate danger but also what happens in ten years time when someone else is working in the loft?
I also wonder about your clothing and what you do with fibres that cling to what you're wearing - it's not just the material that you may immediately breath in that will cause you harm.

I hate to be all H&S but this doesn't sound like a DIY job.

 

[clift_d]

No. No. No. Don't do it.

The only truly safe way is to take the flue out through the wall and not to touch the roof.

Seriously, don't mess with this stuff - asbestos is one of those substances which is hazardous at any concentration.

If you try cutting it with a jigsaw you'll only end up spreading asbestos fibres all over your clothes, which then means they'll get carried into your home. The room below where you're cutting will get a nice dose of asbestos fibres and everything inside will get covered with a thin layer of them. Just don't do it. That's without even considering the whole business about climbing on an asbestos roof and the risk of falling through.

Loads of information on asbestos on the HSE website:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

More on the British Lung Foundation website:
https://www.blf.org.uk/Page/Asbestos-awareness

 

[Parm]

WHAT EVER YOU DO DO NOT DO THIS !!!!!

find an alternative exit point for the chimney or better instead replace the cement sheet

 

[Bsmith]

Could come out through the wall, roof woulda been easier. It's an old garage with a flat asbestos? corrugated roof. was planning putting a forge in there, maybe even a wood burner. Some time back there was another materiel that looked like asbestos but was quite safe came on the market, is there any way to identify?

 

[clift_d]

As far as I am aware it's not possible to conclusively determine which is which without lab tests. Best bet is to treat it as if asbestos, not to touch it, and to take the flue out through the wall. Long term, get the old roof removed by someone who knows how to deal with this stuff, and put new sheeting on.

 

[Parm]

Could come out through the wall, roof woulda been easier. It's an old garage with a flat asbestos? corrugated roof. was planning putting a forge in there, maybe even a wood burner. Some time back there was another materiel that looked like asbestos but was quite safe came on the market, is there any way to identify?

Yep, it's called Supalux and is still available. It looks very similar to asbestos insulation board (AIB) which is even more hazardous than cement sheet as the fibres are not tightly bound and become highly friable at the slightest knock.

Supalux has tiny flakes of mica which scintilate which you shine a torch light over them. Unfortunately it's not weatherproof so cannot be used out doors, it's also very very expensive

 

[ms08]

What would be the safest way for me to cut a hole through a corrugated asbestos roof for a chimney pipe please? I imagine a jigsaw and good quality dust mask.

As stated there is no safe way to do this. Even the best quality mask can't guarantee fibres wont get through. Are you certain this is asbestos? Only way would be to get a specialist to test a sample.

 

[MattF]

If you did decide to go ahead and cut it, (I'm not advocating doing so, before anyone gripes, but merely mentioning precautionary measures), keeping it wet would limit dust movement. You'd have a slurry instead of airborne fibres that way. A lot easier to catch and clear slurry than dust.

 

[Kayos]

Cutting asbestos cement board has been in the unlicensed removal category for many years

If you need to ask them you really shouldn't be doing it, Ive seen the results of asbestos related diseases first hand. It's not pleasant

 

[Kayos]

If you did decide to go ahead and cut it, (I'm not advocating doing so, before anyone gripes, but merely mentioning precautionary measures), keeping it wet would limit dust movement. You'd have a slurry instead of airborne fibres that way. A lot easier to catch and clear slurry than dust.

Even that's not good enough, it would need pva and shadow vacuuming as a minimum, plus all the safety gear

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

At work, if we need to run cable or pipe through asbestos we get specialist contractors in to remove the sheet and replace it with a fibreglass one, they are all suited and booted and just for removing the bolts they use an H class vacume (I'm sure it's H class) to catch any fibres that may escape, surfactant to keep the dust down
My advice would be either get someone in who is competent and has the right gear or (check the gov.hse website) if I remember right your allowed to remove the full sheet under (Non Licencable Work) provided it is in good condition and in doing so you aren't going to cause more damage, paper suit p3 respirator is a must !

 

[piman]

Hello B,

have a look at this website which has a lot of information and links to articles that show how a multi million pound industry was built up on poor science and scaremongering. A lot (most?) of what is 'common knowledge ' is wrong.
Look at it and make up your own mind.

Alec

 

[gerrymoore]

My father died of asbestosis at age 59....not a pleasant way to go........

 

[stormin]

Remove the full roof sheet local to the proposed opening and replace with a suitable alternative.
You would even be able to do necessary hole cutting on the ground so much safer all round.

 

[Kent]

Thing is people have survived expose for very long periods (ww2 gas masks being but one example) others like one builder I know died after only ten years of working with it on one roof repair job

 

[piman]

Hello all,

more reading:- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11847034/Asbestos-judgment-fuels-bogus-claims.html

Alec

 

[Pete.]

Are you sure it's actually asbestos? I have a pile of corrugated cement sheets on site that look for all the world like asbestos. I had it tested twice because none of us would believe the first report and it came back both times with zero content. We won't even send it away in skips because of the hassle it will cause but it is actually perfectly safe. We've made a small pile of it and it's going through the crusher on site.

Of course I don't advocate cutting into an unknown-content sheet but it's just possible it might not be asbestos at all.

 

[dobbslc]

My garage roof looks exactly like asbestos but it's actually the concrete type.
It needs replacing soon and I can see it being a real pain in the **** getting rid of it.

If I can find the receipt for the garage maybe that will help, it's 15 years old though!

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My garage roof looks exactly like asbestos but it's actually the concrete type.
It needs replacing soon and I can see it being a real pain in the **** getting rid of it.

If I can find the receipt for the garage maybe that will help, it's 15 years old though!

Same with my garage roof. It was treated as asbestos when I came to dump it at council tip (they had a special, enclosed, skip)