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Since the house was already gutted back to the bare studs, it was the perfect opportunity to re-insulate with modern insulation.
bats of insulation sit patiently waiting to be installed in newly built walls... -- East Lansing, MI
Panels are cut to size.
2 long walls = 14" X 36.5"
2 short walls = 11.5" X 13.5"
bottom: 11.5" X 32"
top: 17" X 36"
Any use of this photo should attribute credit to Ryan McFarland and point a link to www.zieak.com or www.zieak.com/2008/12/28/beefing-up-the-insulation/. Thank you!
I decided to insulate my vermiculite-ridden attic myself. So on went the party clothes and respirator.
The men came crawling out of the woodwork.
I'm so hot.
Image from a vintage asbestos abatement industry publication showing an asbestos abatement worker removing spray-applied fireproofing, a particularly problematic material due to its inherent friability.
Tens of millions of tons of asbestos still remain in our nations' buildings, infrastructure, and existing consumer products; which sooner or later, threatens the health of people around it, requiring proper handling and disposal by trained personnel.
Example of layered asbestos insulation on a large, elevated water tank, approx. 20ft-length x 6ft-diameter. The tank has been abandoned and out-of-service for many years resulting in improper maintenance and subsequent deterioration of the friable asbestos insulation materials.
The inset image shows a visible area of the corroded tank surface and components of the outer asbestos insulation which is comprised of two layers of thick-gauge corrugated paper sheets with a layer of troweled-on asbestos "mud" and a canvas covering.
Specialty Insulation Manufacturing operated in a couple locations in Hoosick Falls from 1909 until 1987. They made plastic parts for the automotive industry. At least one other company operated in the building after that but the building has been abandoned since 2008.
Another version of H.W. Johns' antique illustration of asbestos insulation being applied onto boiler and pipe. This version shows additional illustration toward the right portion of the frame (rolled aircell, etc.), but less detail on the left side (missing ladder worker, etc.). This illustration is from a different H.W. Johns asbestos catalog and is undated, but the cover indicates references to awards won by H.W. Johns from 1876 and 1884.
Early advertisements for asbestos insulations usually described the benefits of using asbestos materials in terms of protecting operators and workers from very hot surfaces around boilers and associated mechanical piping. Later, it was discovered that less fuel consumption was being realized where the insulated machinery was in service, subsequently asbestos was found to be a very economical and efficient insulation at that time.
Close-up of Mono-Kote spray-applied fireproofing material coated on structural steel I-beam from a vintage W.R. Grace Zonolite advertisement. Reportedly, such fireproofing material like this was applied inside portions of the the former World Trade Center towers in New York City. Monokote and many of its subsequent formulations have been found to contain varying amounts of asbestos and "Zonolite" (contaminated with Libby-amphiboles).
Example of significantly damaged asbestos insulation on two large, abandoned elevated tanks with debris. This insulation material is magnesia block which contains amphibole asbestos.
Got some expired film from the car boot sale, in Edinburgh, a few weeks ago, tried out the Kodak Ultra 400 ISO today.
Zenit B with Helios 44-2 58mm f2.
Was going to go for a walk to take photos, but ended up shooting two rolls just in the garden. There was a butterfly "trapped" in the shed - it could easily have gone out the gap in the doorway but, but of course, it fluttered by the window for ages instead. Eventually managed to usher it out the door, but unfortunately it was already way too late for its buddy :(
Communication of hazard?
Facility owner attempting to communicate possible asbestos hazard by labeling insulated pipe material as, "Insulation MAY Contain Asbestos"; apparently indicating a possible choice in the matter. It MAY, or it MAY not. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There is practically an endless list of materials that "MAY" contain asbestos, we already know that. However, there are specific regulations already in place for many circumstances in buildings that either require materials to be inspected or assumed/presumed and treated as asbestos-containing.
In this older building, the labeling as shown "MAY" not necessarily comply with certain existing U.S. standards, especially when dealing with thermal system insulation (TSI) and applying the definition of a "Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material" or PACM. For example, OSHA's Asbestos Standard for the Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926.1101) indicates,
"...building and facility owners shall determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and/or PACM..."
In basic terms, if the pipe TSI has not been properly inspected and asbestos content is unknown and older than a specified age threshold, then it must be automatically treated as PACM. This is essentially a "guilty until proven innocent" approach when dealing with such an issue, for the safety of workers and building occupants /employees; not to mention, in an indirect manner, this is also for the safety of those beyond the workplace to help prevent asbestos exposures to the general public and contamination brought home to families or others on work clothes.
Further, building and facility owners are required to notify others of the presence, location, and quantity of ACM/PACM at the workplace, including:
-- prospective employers applying for or bidding for work;
-- employees of the owner who will work in or adjacent to areas containing such materials;
-- all employers on multi-employer worksites whose employees will be performing work within or adjacent to areas containing such materials (i.e.- "sub-contractors", etc.);
-- tenants who will occupy areas containing such materials.
OSHA also requires asbestos awareness training for certain building personnel, such as operations and maintenance, service and housekeeping staff, etc.; essentially, many of those that work around, potentially disturb, or may come in contact with such ACMs.
In addition to OSHA, the US-EPA also has certain asbestos inspection requirements for building owners and operators. For example, under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), all K-12 schools are required to have comprehensive asbestos inspections and periodic surveillance/re-inspections. The asbestos management plan (inspection report) and all documentation of asbestos-related activities in each school building are considered public documents and must available for review at the respective school (usually in the main office area).
Under Clean Air Act (CAA) provisions, the EPA also regulates asbestos inspections in the majority of all remaining public, commercial, and most "private" facilities and buildings, primarily through the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), particularly with respect to renovations and demolitions.
Prior to beginning renovation or demolition activities of a facility, a properly trained, certified, accredited, and licensed asbestos building inspector must thoroughly inspect the facility or part of the structure where the renovation or demolition operation will occur for the presence of asbestos, including friable and non-friable asbestos-containing materials.
For all demolitions (even when no asbestos is present) and renovations, activities involving certain threshold amounts of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM), the Asbestos NESHAP agency overseeing the project site (typically state-level governmental EPA) must be provided with a written NESHAP notification at least 10-working days prior to the demolition or renovation activity.
Tens of millions of tons of legacy asbestos still exist in our nation's homes, buildings, & infrastructure. Asbestos inspections are essential in finding out how to avoid exposures by learning where ACMs are present or absent. Know where asbestos could be in your everyday places.