I need help! I just discovered that I have a stiff fabric lining THE INSIDE of my heating supply ducts. I suspect it may contain asbestos. I’m thinking of taking a sample of the material to send to a lab for testing. Anybody have a source for asbestos testing?
House was built in the 1890’s and originally had a coal burning furnace. The supply ducts appear to be original as they use the old iron floor grates. The duct I’ve inspected appears to be a floor joist bay made into a duct and lined with this stiff fabric.
Thanks,
Mike K
Replies
Starty by reading the EPA information on this website page: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ashome.html
Call local regulators or industrial hygenists for the name of labs to consider.
_______________________
Tool Donations Sought
I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in (now it looks like) April and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.
Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and Mark and Jason and Shep and Jen and Mike and Joe and Bill and Ken for their offers!
Several donations have arrived! Thanks and God bless!
You've already broken the First Rule of Asbestos, which is: Don't Ask.
The Second Rule is: Don't Tell.
The Third and Most Important: Don't Disturb.
we do it, part of our lab does asbesto testing
"You've already broken the First Rule of Asbestos, which is: Don't Ask.
The Second Rule is: Don't Tell.
The Third and Most Important: Don't Disturb."
While I agree with this though 100% this might be an exception.
It sounds like friable material that in the furnace airstream. If so that it can slowly break down and be distributed around the house.
If it was on the outside of the ducts that I agree with you.
Mike,
My first rule is to protect the health of my family. I bet if you had this stuff in your ducts your rules would change. I realize if the test comes back positive I have a legal and moral obligation to remove it at great expense. With your bury you head in the sand mentality I'm glad your not working on my house.
Mike K
It was a Joke, dammit.
See Rule Three.
I had a (expletive deleted) homeowner decide to do some DIY asbestos removal last year.
Thank you, Home Depot for selling hepa filter vacs to anybody.
She's staying with some friends now while the pros clean up the whole townhouse.
She was specifically told not to touch.
Mike,
Sorry! I didn't catch your humor. Please accept my apologies for my mean post.
I understand your point now - this a job best left to pros. Do you think I should bring in a pro to test the material, or is a home test kit accurate?
Mike
Mike, I'm sorry for making light of your situation. I don't always think before I post.
Try a search on Google or whatever.
There may well be other environmental considerations in a house that old (or any house for that matter).
Mike,
I have used EMSL analytical, Inc. They have an office in Indianapolis and probably in other locations. They have a website where you can find the forms to have your own samples tested. The forms you should look at are chain of custody, and under the PLM-Bulk heading. This was used for roofing materials and should work for your samples. Also the chain of custody lets you track your samples so you can find the locations tested,
example, for a roof you have the membrane, insulation, vapor barrier, and then which core cut or testing area so I would put down - Core Cut #1, membrane and the notation of CC1-M. and do that for each separate material. And always double bag your samples.
Dan