On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 13:02:24 +0000, Jim wrote:

Paul wrote:
Hi Group,

Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere but I can't seem to find
anything specific - there's *plenty* of talk about the old corraguated
boards used for roofing sheds/garages etc.... but I'm looking for some
advise about the panels used on the INSIDE of the garage roof, I'm
guessing for fire retardant (its an attached garage). They look
similar to sheets of pasterboard - but I'm pretty sure they're not!

How evil is this asbestos? Can you even tell/guess? If I want to
remove it (the garage is coming down so I need to....), is it ok to
remove it as whole pannels, wetted, bagged etc....

All asbestos is evil. Chances are the panels are white asbestos though
(AIUI!) which is the least evil. The only way to be sure is to have
someone licensed to do solid material (rather than air-sample) testing
come and remove a piece for examination.

Without knowing exactly what type it is it's difficult to comment. But the
grey/white stuff is generally the least evil in solid form.

It only takes 1 fibre to start a lung problem. Then again, your flower
beds contain real live anthrax bugs. It's a question of probabilities and
the probabilities of solid asbestos panels causing you grief are quite
small. I've never been particularly worried about stable asbestos panels,
plenty of them around. At work, the professional opinion from the
specialists is:

Painted (eg windowsills, fine, leave it alone, just don't drill it)
Unpainted - (eg firebrake over doors, wall) not really a problem, but if
building work is commencing, take it out prior just to be done with it as
builders likely to break it anyway.

If you remove it yourself it will need to be disposed by a licensed
disposal company. Personally I'd rather pay someone else to get rid of it...

It is possible to remove it yourself. Your local dump should be able to
advise and many will take it double-bagged (they supply the bags). You
need to make prior arrangement with them.

Upto you - it's your lungs. If it were me, I'd be happy to remove solid
stable panels, but I'd douse in diluted PVA all over first, then let dry
and when taking down, douse in water and keep it wet. I'd consider bagging
up a couple of inches of top soil around the work area too.

Tim