Aspestos

[Mr Pig]

Any of you chimps know much about it?

Someone wants me to help them move an old, home-made potters kiln. Basically he just wants it out of a house he needs to sell.

The kiln is poorly made and looks like it is lined with asbestos panels. The door is lined with what looks like asbestos foam of some kind which is very flaky and crumbly and is still exposed when the door is closed. The side panels are too.

The kiln is heavy, perched on some kind of tall turntable and stuck in a cupboard. He knows someone who wants it. I think it should be disposed of by professionals and don't want to go near it!

So what's the skinny on the nasty white stuff?

 

[vernon]

Get professionals to deal with it.

 

[TheDoctor]

+1.
Far too dodgy to risk it yourself.

 

[jeltz]

Sounds like a job I wouldn't want to do!!! Asbestos is basically "safe" unless the fibres get into the air you're breathing. The idea is to keep it wet to stop that happening but the condition seems very poor to I'd say the risks appear greater. I too would recommend pros to do the job but If you do tackle it make sure you wear a good quality mask and some disposable overalls, you don't want any of your clothes harbouring fibres.

 

[Crankarm]

The local council may be able to advise or point you in the direction of accredited disposal agents.

 

[TheDoctor]

Good point well made, that man. Or look in the Yellow Pages under 'Asbestos'

 

[Mr Pig]

I assume you have to pay to get it removed? The council don't offer services to do it?

I agree, I don't like the look of it at all, but the guy who wants it moved is far more cavalier.

 

[TheDoctor]

You won't get it removed for free, if that's what you're hoping.
Honestly, it sounds far too dangerous to rip it out yourself, and even if you do, then what? The local tip won't take it, and you can't just leave it lying around...

 

[Globalti]

It's not asbestos, FFS. You sound like a bunch of jobsworths in flouro jackets ranting hysterically about 'elf and safety.

It's an insulating refractory gypsum moulded into blocks but it's not asbestos. My wife has a kiln and it's exactly the same.

Here: http://www.warmtips.com/20050803.htm

If the kiln is in working order you'll get good money from a potter so don't damage it. Don't worry if it looks ropey, they always do.

 

[Mr Pig]

I know for a fact that they 'did' use asbestos in kilns, so how can you be so sure that it's not? Especially as it's home made?

 

[dellzeqq]

get it tested. If it's got no asbestos content you can do what you want with it.

 

[Globalti]

It was outlawed in the USA in the 1970s and completely banned in the UK in 1999 so unless the builder was an idiot it's extremely unlikely he used it, assuming he could even obtain it.

 

[Gromit]

Its possibly going to cost at the up most £500 for the council to remove it. That's why allotment sites have a collection area for it, because its not worth coming out just for one piece.

I wouldn't risk taking anything out that you don't understand. Get someone qualified to deal with it.

 

[rich p]

How old are you? If your best years are behind you I'd say saving your mate a couple of hundred quid was a risk worth taking.

 

[vernon]

It's not asbestos, FFS. You sound like a bunch of jobsworths in flouro jackets ranting hysterically about 'elf and safety.

It's an insulating refractory gypsum moulded into blocks but it's not asbestos. My wife has a kiln and it's exactly the same.

Here: http://www.warmtips.com/20050803.htm

If the kiln is in working order you'll get good money from a potter so don't damage it. Don't worry if it looks ropey, they always do.

I'd not be so hasty in your judgement. I've worked in two schools where the art rooms were quarantined until the kilns were removed by asbestos removal specialists and replaced with new ones..

I'm not a Health and Safety fanatic but there are some things that need expert advice. Who knows how old the kiln is? Who can tell by inspection if the materials are asbestos based or not? I bet the average layman can not offer safe advice.