Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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Treacodactyl
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Asbestos testing kitsI need to dispose of my old coal bunker and it'll need breaking up. I'm 99.9% certain it doesn't contain asbestos but I've seen companies online that'll test a sample for about £35 which, to me, seems worth it.
Has anyone used such a company, or does anyone know where I can get a recommendation for one?
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vegplot
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You're local authority should be able to provide the facilities to enable you to dispose of domestic asbestos. I had some sheets from an old out building which I was pretty sure contained asbestos.
I rang the waste facility and the advice they gave was to double bag and seal each bag then take them along to the nearest landfill/recycling facility. They provide you with gloves, a mask and a disposable overalls, you put the bags into one of their designated bins. When finished in go the gloves, mask and overalls as well.
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Treacodactyl
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I've disposed of small amounts of stuff that probably did contain asbestos, I think many councils charge now.
However, this is a very large and heavy item that I'm sure doesn't contain asbestos but I'd just like to check before I take a hammer to it.
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vegplot
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You can dissolve a sample in hydrochloric acid to remove the cement and see what's left but unless you know what it looks like it can be difficult to know whether the fibres are asbestos or not.
Ring the LA and see whether they charge, if they do. Ours didn't if you took the asbestos to them ready bagged. I got rid of several large corrugated sheets that way. I dare say they'll charge if they have to pick it up.
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Treacodactyl
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Transporting isn't an option, we're talking over 100kg a side at a rough guess.
There are places online that say they can analyse a sample and I would use them if I could get a recommendation.
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vegplot
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Transporting isn't an option, we're talking over 100kg a side at a rough guess.
There are places online that say they can analyse a sample and I would use them if I could get a recommendation. |
I spayed mine with water then broke it up. I was dealing with large sheets of the stuff.
Housing associations may be able to help or at point you in the right direction. Give your local one a call.
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onemanband
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Assuming your property is not a one-off build - Have you asked any of your neighbours if they have had theirs tested ?
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Treacodactyl
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I'll treat mine with care even if it's plain concrete, so I'll keep it wet and wear a good face mask. However, the only practical way of getting rid is a skip as there's so much.
Having a search it seems all the local public bodies get people in to give surveys and they're a few hundred pounds a go.
None of my neighbours have a coal bunker and, even if they did, sadly they wouldn't have a clue what it was made from.
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Nick
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Might be worth asking your home insurance people. Mine are testing my garage and are wishing they'd done so a couple of weeks earlier. May be some mileage in it.
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onemanband
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www.waverley.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/288/asbestos_in_the_home
This pdf suggests it is just lid and slider panel that are bestos.
If link doesn't work just google coal bunker asbestos.
Not my field of expertese but know what a pain it can be to deal with legally.
I used to tip rubbish direct to a landfill site. There was a special 'cell' just for asbestos waste. Stuff would arrive all sealed up in bags ........................ and then they'd bulldoze it into the ground pullverising the nicely sealed bags in the process !!
Buy a disposable suit aswell. I'm sure I've read about wives of workers getting asbestosis from doing the laundry.
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Treacodactyl
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I've read similar links and they've said the same thing. I've done a fair bit of searching and not found a single reference to asbestos being in thick reinforced concrete, and it seems to have been used in virtually everything, hence why I'm 99% certain it's asbestos free. I'd still like to be completely sure if it's only going to cost £35 though. The slider panels are steel and the lids did look like asbestos cement so were triple bagged and taken to an appropriate tip years ago.
As for insurance, I'd rather get the test done myself if it's not too expensive. Not too keen on loosing my NCD or getting too many people involved unless I have to. If it does turn out to be dodgy I'll give them a ring to see if they'd pay for removal.
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