Why was asbestos used in building materials?
What is Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material with six known types. The most commonly used types in the UK are; blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white (chrysotile).
Asbestos became popular in the UK following the industrial revolution, and was hugely commercialised with large quantities being imported. Although asbestos was used so frequently across many building sites, it is highly toxic, and exposure can be fatal, which is why it's nicknamed the 'Hidden Killer'.
THE HIDDEN KILLER
Asbestos exposure is responsible for over 5000 deaths per year and is one of construction's most prominent causes of death. If asbestos remains intact, then it poses minimal risk. However, when ingested or inhaled the fibres of asbestos dust can become permanently trapped in your body. Inhalation of this toxin can cause several Asbestos-related diseases such as; lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening and other chronic conditions. crack office 2016
In most of these diseases, due to long latency periods, it could be decades after exposure to asbestos before symptoms start to present themselves. coreldraw 2021 crack As such, the health risks of this material took a long time to identify, and it was only in 1999 that asbestos was made illegal.
So, Why Was Asbestos Used?
Before the health risks were identified, asbestos was a popular material used in the construction, building, railway and shipping industry more a whole host of different reasons. Namely, asbestos was used due to its flexibility and strength, but additional reasons include:
- Cost effectiveness
- Sound insulating
- Heat insulating
- Resistance to chemicals
- Resistance to water
- Resistance to electricity
- Resistance to fire
Although asbestos is dangerous, these properties made it perfect for construction during its heyday, and construction companies were quick to start using the innovative new material, only to find people dying from Asbestos-related diseases decades later and still to this day.
Where Was Asbestos Used?
The most well-known use of asbestos is for buildings, but what is perhaps less known is the extent of building materials asbestos can be found in driver booster crack — and by extension, the vast amount of potential risk for those living in properties built before the millennium.
Some examples of building products that contained asbestos include:
- Ceiling Tiles
- Roof Tiles
- Fire Doors
- Insulating Boards
- Textured Coatings
- Cladding
- Electrical panels
- Window Cills
- Toilet Seats
- Sink Pads
- Partitions
The list goes on. To this day, these Asbestos-containing products can be found, not just in residential buildings but in hospitals, offices and schools.
Can You Identify Asbestos?
With all the risk that asbestos carries, the question on everyone’s lips is how can we identify asbestos? The short answer is - not easily. Especially if you are trying to identify the substance just looking.
If you are moving into an older property, we would strongly advise that you consider getting a professional asbestos survey to eliminate any risks, especially if you are considering reconstruction or demolition.
If you suspect that there is asbestos in your property, do not attempt to deal with this yourself.