Asbestos Floor Tiles Low Risk
Also from what i understand vatâs contain a comparatively low of asbestos anywayâespecially compared to other residential asbestos products.
Asbestos floor tiles low risk. Manufacturers often made this type of flooring with a friable asbestos backing which means asbestos fibres are easily released into the air if the sheet flooring. A piece in the sf gate even states that vinyl floor tiles that contain asbestos pose no risk even if they are disturbed because of the way they were manufactured. In many cases the best thing to do about vinyl asbestos flooring is put a new layer of flooring on top of it. Some of the causes that may increase the friability of asbestos containing materials are.
Resilient sheet flooring containing asbestos was also produced finding wide use as early as 1968. The answer is no they are not. Damaged and deteriorated tiles containing asbestos increase in friability as the exposed fibers break off into the surroundings. That means it is safe to walk on but not safe to scrape sand or use power tools on.
Are asbestos floor tiles dangerous. You could also seal it with a coat of epoxy floor paint. Armstrong produced the excelon tile series beginning with a plastic asbestos floor tile series in 1954 referring to the product as vinyl plastic asbestos floor tiles beginning in 1955 and vinyl asbestos tiles from 1957 to 1980. Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed.
Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. If your floor can be thicker without causing problems install a porcelain floor over the old asbestos. But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable. Intact asbestos tiles are not a major risk and can in fact be left in place and covered with other materials such as carpet vinyl linoleum or concrete.
Porcelain floors are extremely versatile and durable with tile sizes up to 24 inches available for a clean modern look with fewer grout lines. That is unless they re disturbed to release the fibers. If the asbestos floor tiles or sheet flooring have been painted coated with a sealant or floored over using carpet laminate or any other continuous flooring so that the original floor is not exposed the risk level provided by the original asbestos containing flooring is low to beneath the level of detection in the building. Examine the condition of the tiles.
Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste. Tiles that are disintegrating should be handled with extreme care. Therefore they generally pose a lower risk to health. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air.
Floor tiles can become friable if they are mishandled damaged or are in a badly worn or weathered condition. Mixing asbestos into vinyl floor tiles made them more insulating and resistant to damage. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring poses a significantly greater asbestos exposure risk than floor tiles or wallpaper.