4 ms·

Yes. People are often shocked when asbestos is found and the recommended response is to do nothing. Messing with it is likely to cause more issues than just let

by JCM9 4y ago

Yes. People are often shocked when asbestos is found and the recommended response is to do nothing. Messing with it is likely to cause more issues than just letting it be. If it’s intact and unlikely to be disturbed it’s not going to hurt anyone. The public has been trained to think this stuff is so bad that any mention of it has people doing full blown evacuations running for the hills. Nuclear power has, unfortunately, suffered a similar fate.

speed_spread 4y ago
Nuclear power has the particular disadvantage of having to be actively managed. You can't just "leave it alone".
rcme 4y ago
Leaving asbestos "alone" or encapsulating it is the common advice. It can also terrible advice, especially if the material is non-friable. Take something like vinyl asbestos tile as an example. When exposed, it's pretty easy to get rid of. You can cut through the tile, into the sub-floor, and take out huge chunks of tile at a time. You do release some fibers via cutting, but overall a very manageable amount. Now let's say you decide to tile over instead, what happens? Well for starters, you've now hidden the danger. You might know what's underneath your new tiles, but what happens when you sell the home? Also, it's no longer easy or simple to remove the VAT now. For example, this guy dosed himself and his whole family with a large asbestos dose unknowingly: https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/dyvj3u/so_i_messed_up_bad_real_bad_one_more_warning_to/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/dyvj3u/so_... If you have a hazard in your home, just deal with it appropriately. "Cover it up until it's someone else's problem" is selfish and irresponsible.
- giantg2 4y ago
  It's not difficult to safely remediate most of it. A P100 respirator, Tyvek suit, water to spray down the areas to work on, and a garden hose to hose off yourself/suit. If inside, it gets more tricky, but not too different from mold remediation. The toughest or most expensive part is usually finding a site that will take the waste bags. Also, the guy in your link complains about a lack of warning. If he read the warnings that cam with that grinding wheel, he would have been fine. Even if it doesn't say stuff about specifically about asbestos, the warning about silicosis has practically the same precautions.
  - CorrectHorseBat 4y ago
    That really depends on what kind of asbestos it is. In a hard, easily removable plate, sure you can do it yourself. Loosely-bound asbestos is a whole different game.

by JCM9 4y ago

speed_spread 4y ago

Nuclear power has the particular disadvantage of having to be actively managed. You can't just "leave it alone".

rcme 4y ago

Leaving asbestos "alone" or encapsulating it is the common advice. It can also terrible advice, especially if the material is non-friable. Take something like vinyl asbestos tile as an example. When exposed, it's pretty easy to get rid of. You can cut through the tile, into the sub-floor, and take out huge chunks of tile at a time. You do release some fibers via cutting, but overall a very manageable amount. Now let's say you decide to tile over instead, what happens? Well for starters, you've now hidden the danger. You might know what's underneath your new tiles, but what happens when you sell the home? Also, it's no longer easy or simple to remove the VAT now. For example, this guy dosed himself and his whole family with a large asbestos dose unknowingly: https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/dyvj3u/so_i_messed_up_bad_real_bad_one_more_warning_to/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/dyvj3u/so_... If you have a hazard in your home, just deal with it appropriately. "Cover it up until it's someone else's problem" is selfish and irresponsible.

giantg2 4y ago
It's not difficult to safely remediate most of it. A P100 respirator, Tyvek suit, water to spray down the areas to work on, and a garden hose to hose off yourself/suit. If inside, it gets more tricky, but not too different from mold remediation. The toughest or most expensive part is usually finding a site that will take the waste bags. Also, the guy in your link complains about a lack of warning. If he read the warnings that cam with that grinding wheel, he would have been fine. Even if it doesn't say stuff about specifically about asbestos, the warning about silicosis has practically the same precautions.
- CorrectHorseBat 4y ago
  That really depends on what kind of asbestos it is. In a hard, easily removable plate, sure you can do it yourself. Loosely-bound asbestos is a whole different game.