Burning Asbestos Siding

Wildfires pose a threat for asbestos exposure as they move into cities and residential neighborhoods with structures built before 1980 when asbestos was a commonly used in construction.

Burning asbestos siding.

Because asbestos is not flammable it cannot be disposed of through burning. Asbestos cement roof ing is described just below and cement wallboard and cement siding containing asbestos are described later in this document. Asbestos is resistant to heat and fire hence that is why it was used as an ideal fire proofing and insulation material. Can asbestos be burnt or buried.

Remove pieces of siding by pulling nails or cutting nail heads so as to minimize breakage. Fibres can be mixed with cement or woven into fabric or sheet boarding. Breakage releases asbestos fibers. When these structures catch fire asbestos products become damaged and release carcinogenic fibers that become airborne and transportable by smoke.

A brief history of asbestos cement siding. If siding should begin to crack or crumble immediately wet the cracked or broken areas with the pint size spray bottle or garden pump sprayer. The only time a building containing asbestos can be burned is when a fire department does it as a training exercise. If necessary carefully lift siding pieces with pry tool to expose nail heads.

Wrap asbestos siding in 6 mil thick plastic sheeting and secure the plastic with duct tape or place the debris in heavy duty plastic bags. Asbestos fibre is a natural occuring mineral rock see photo which was mined and crushed then the asbestos fibres were bound together to be used as fire retardent and insulation materials. The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause. Asbestos cement was first developed in 1905 by the johns manville company who became one of the premier manufacturers of cement asbestos materials.

This can release even more asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos cement is a mixture of portland cement reinforced with asbestos fibers. Asbestos tape used for oil burning apparatus oven pull strings insulating armatures. Burning asbestos tiles tiles or other materials made of asbestos can catch fire thus releasing fibers into the air and exposing people to asbestos related illness.

The portland cement binds asbestos fibers into a hard mass. If there is more than the regulated amount of acm 260 linear feet 160 square feet or 35 cubic feet of friable acm or acm that will become friable during burning then all asbestos materials both friable and nonfriable must. Building collapse often burning or fire damaged buildings collapse. Dispose of the asbestos properly at a landfill or contact your local waste collection service to find out if they will pick up asbestos material.

Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled. Complete details about asbestos cement history composition products and hazards are found.