Reassurance Air Testing

[EstoyRobandoSuCasa]

Unfortunately, we have asbestos insulation board in our house which contains brown and white asbestos. We are now getting quotes to have it encapsulated as removal would be very tricky in this case.

We also had a reassurance air test as I was worried about it whether an area of board in the conservatory could currently be shedding fibres due to flaking paint and general damp.

The house passed the test, but did find about 45 breathable fibres in different parts of the house which are potentially asbestos. The company say this is a low concentration and well within the safe limit. But I thought that there was no safe amount, especially of the brown (and blue) asbestos. Are small amounts of it all around us?

No one? I know there were some posters around in the past who were knowledgeable about asbestos.

Try seeing what links to 'research' Google AI/ChatGPT throws up?

If you sample pretty much any room you will get that level of 'breathable fibres' from various materials. It is only because of your board that asbestos is being considered.

Even if they are all absestos the risk is miniscule and no different to what you might breath in visiting any old building. Or breathing in car fumes etc.

Yes there is asbestos in the environment thanks to its use in building materials for so long, and we do all breathe it in. No, one fibre won't kill you, you do need a prolonged exposure, especially if you are a non-smoker. Brown is worse than white granted, but you still need to be sawing that board up on the regular to (maybe) suffer ill effects.

I'd always try and get AIB out rather than encapsulate, but if you can't and it's in good condition then seal it in. Do be prepared to warn anyone you sell your house to that it is there.

Thanks, the replies so far are reassuring.

@geumsun , I’d be interested to know why you’d rather get AIB out, as we were quoted £8,000 for the work.

The AIB is in our facsias/soffits and due to a kitchen extension, some of the back ones are inside the house. It’s a semi-detached 1960s house and the whole street looks to be the same. Our next door neighbours (adjoining us) have covered their AIB with UPVC. So, to get all of ours off, they’d either have to remove theirs as well or we’d have to saw through the boards that cross the boundary line between the houses. So, I assumed we’d have to encapsulate it.

I'd want it gone due to the amosite (brown) and the risk of it being accidentally disturbed. In one of my houses it lined the understairs cupboard around the boiler, where I stored the hoover and a load of other stuff. It was always getting knocked. And in the ceilings around a steel beam, hidden by plasterboard. The latter I found only when the ceiling was damaged and the AIB landed at our feet.

Most of yours isn't actually in the house though, it's outside, so much less of a worry.

My only caveat is that you're worrying about fibres (I get it, I did too). If the AIB being there is going to affect your MH long term, it might be the best to get rid. Get more quotes first though.

Yeah, I'll try to get more quotes. It's a shame some local asbestos companies won't touch it as it's licensed work.