Dealing with Low level asbestos

[gmaz]

We are looking at having an Octopus heat pump fitted and after a check for asbestos, the surveyor found low levels in our soffits and airing cupboard where the pipes are expected to run. Octopus say it can be handled by "controlled drilling" which according to google means covering the drilled area with shaving foam(!) while drilling and then sealing exposed cuts with PVA. Surely the installers could do this as it is hardly high-tech waste disposal techniques?

If not, does anyone know approximate price to remove approx 2m UPVC soffit, remove asbestos soffit underneath and replace UPVC soffit. It is a bungalow so is easy access.

[Rough101]

Need to be licensed for most asbestos work, it’s normal to get a specialist to clear the way, make and seal holes etc., they have the paperwork and the equipment.

[SteBrown91]

It depends on the type of asbestos. If it is clay board or similar it’s not too expensive to remove however for some unknown reason my house was littered in Asbestos insulation board in the garage, downstairs toilet and soffits/fascias. This cost about 12 grand to get removed as part of our extension work it was a nightmare.

[silvagod]

It all depends on the type of the soffit board. If it's asbestos insulation board you absolutely cannot use 'controlled drilling'. If it's asbestos cement then you have a less dangerous scenario.

Drilling asbestos should only be carried on highly bonded material (cement is classed as highly bonded) if the costs of removal far outweigh the cost for the drilling. It's what the HSE like to call 'reasonably practicable'

Have a look at their publication regarding this https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/ (see document A9). It's not quite as simple as just using shaving foam.

I would check on what type the material is before making any more decisions.

FYI Asbestos Cement is 'usually' just Chrysotile (White) Asbestos and Insulation Board is 'usually' Amosite (Brown) and Chrysotile (White) Asbestos. Your survey report should tell you what type it is.

[drmike37]

I’d be thinking long and hard about doing it myself.

[gmaz]

silvagod said:

It all depends on the type of the soffit board. If it's asbestos insulation board you absolutely cannot use 'controlled drilling'. If it's asbestos cement then you have a less dangerous scenario.

Drilling asbestos should only be carried on highly bonded material (cement is classed as highly bonded) if the costs of removal far outweigh the cost for the drilling. It's what the HSE like to call 'reasonably practicable'

Have a look at their publication regarding this https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/ (see document A9). It's not quite as simple as just using shaving foam.

I would check on what type the material is before making any more decisions.

FYI Asbestos Cement is 'usually' just Chrysotile (White) Asbestos and Insulation Board is 'usually' Amosite (Brown) and Chrysotile (White) Asbestos. Your survey report should tell you what type it is.

I have a disposal company coming to take a look tomorrow.

[Pedro25]

OP, regardless of cost get a licensed Asbestos company to review the issue and recommend next steps, disposal company also need to be licensed for getting rid. It’s not something to leave to chance, licensed drilling? A firm no! I’ve worked on numerous commercial jobs where it’s been found and cost against removal always seems to be the balance against shutting down the job for the duration.

[silvagod]

gmaz said:

silvagod said:

It all depends on the type of the soffit board. If it's asbestos insulation board you absolutely cannot use 'controlled drilling'. If it's asbestos cement then you have a less dangerous scenario.

Drilling asbestos should only be carried on highly bonded material (cement is classed as highly bonded) if the costs of removal far outweigh the cost for the drilling. It's what the HSE like to call 'reasonably practicable'

Have a look at their publication regarding this https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/ (see document A9). It's not quite as simple as just using shaving foam.

I would check on what type the material is before making any more decisions.

FYI Asbestos Cement is 'usually' just Chrysotile (White) Asbestos and Insulation Board is 'usually' Amosite (Brown) and Chrysotile (White) Asbestos. Your survey report should tell you what type it is.

I have a disposal company coming to take a look tomorrow.

Good the hear OP. Make sure they are licensed to remove asbestos. This is mandatory for that type of boarding. Please do NOT under any circuimstances allow anyone to start drilling that board unless they want to risk prosecution by the HSE. It should either be removed or an alternative route found for your cabling, you can't start making holes in it.

[gmaz]

I've had 2 quotes for dealing with the asbestos. One for £960 and another for £2850. Ridiculous isn't it! How can one cost 3 times the other??

Considering the heat pump installation is £3900, I need to add 25% to 75% just to put a few pipes through the soffit.

[silvagod]

gmaz said:

I've had 2 quotes for dealing with the asbestos. One for £960 and another for £2850. Ridiculous isn't it! How can one cost 3 times the other??

Considering the heat pump installation is £3900, I need to add 25% to 75% just to put a few pipes through the soffit.

Prices for removal, you would think, should be all about the same. A lot depends on the company doing the removal. Some will go by the book or over - as it should be - others may cut a few corners here and there (stay legal but close to the edge). The 2 prices you have been quoted shouldn't be THAT far apart though.

Have either of them told you how they intend to carry out the work, are they both quoting for the same type of removal?

It will need a full enclosure and decontamination unit on site.

The cheaper one may be incorrectly thinking it's non-licensable.

[SteBrown91]

As above as it’s AIB it will require the house to be turned into a giant murder tent.

Ours was a house not a bungalow but the scaffolding was already in situ as we were having an extension.

We had to have a decontamination trailer on the drive, filtered extraction systems the works. I would be very concerned at the cheaper quote. I’d even say the expensive one is cheap.

[gmaz]

silvagod said:

The cheaper one may be incorrectly thinking it's non-licensable.

The cheaper one used the survey to quote, which specifically says it is licensable.

[Mr Pointy]

Against "Extent" on the report it says "1 lin m" so maybe they are only going to remove a short section? No idea why, but that would be cheaper than removing the whole lot.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Would 100% be providing a pre-drilled hole for the installers. Big fan, water, mask, shaving foam, PVA glue etc

[Lotobear]

There is a useful suite of work sheets at the HSE site which I usually post a link to when these question come up:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

It is possible to drill holes in AIB without needing to be licenced so long as the work is of limited duration.

[silvagod]

gmaz said:

silvagod said:

The cheaper one may be incorrectly thinking it's non-licensable.

The cheaper one used the survey to quote, which specifically says it is licensable.

Well I can't explain the difference in that case!

[silvagod]

Lotobear said:

There is a useful suite of work sheets at the HSE site which I usually post a link to when these question come up:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

It is possible to drill holes in AIB without needing to be licenced so long as the work is of limited duration.

You are correct, the HSE do provide an information sheet on drilling Insulation Board, but in my experience, no-one EVER follows their methods to prevent fibre release correctly nor do they dispose of the coverall and clean other tools properly afterwards.

One of the replies above says it all really....part of the equipment suggested....Big Fan. For what exactly, blowing asbestos all over the neighbourhood?

[GiantEnemyCrab]

silvagod said:

Lotobear said:

There is a useful suite of work sheets at the HSE site which I usually post a link to when these question come up:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

It is possible to drill holes in AIB without needing to be licenced so long as the work is of limited duration.

You are correct, the HSE do provide an information sheet on drilling Insulation Board, but in my experience, no-one EVER follows their methods to prevent fibre release correctly nor do they dispose of the coverall and clean other tools properly afterwards.

One of the replies above says it all really....part of the equipment suggested....Big Fan. For what exactly, blowing asbestos all over the neighbourhood?

You might have taken me a trifle too literally

[Grumbler]

Careful removal of an Insulating Board soffit could be achieved without the polythene enclosure which would save significant time/money. As its outside the necessity is reduced. It would still need sealed internally, removed in one piece (no debris!),properly disposed of and a decontamination shower on-site. Maybe that’s what the cheaper quote involves?

[Grumbler]

silvagod said:

Lotobear said:

There is a useful suite of work sheets at the HSE site which I usually post a link to when these question come up:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

It is possible to drill holes in AIB without needing to be licenced so long as the work is of limited duration.

You are correct, the HSE do provide an information sheet on drilling Insulation Board, but in my experience, no-one EVER follows their methods to prevent fibre release correctly nor do they dispose of the coverall and clean other tools properly afterwards.

One of the replies above says it all really....part of the equipment suggested....Big Fan. For what exactly, blowing asbestos all over the neighbourhood?

In my experience they do follow the HSE guidelines as they’re assessed by an independent analyst who is responsible for the safe running of the site and signing off the work. Therefore incorrect decontamination/disposal is a massive no-no.
NB. The Big Fans are extractor units with HEPA filters used to provide negative pressure to the working enclosure. Are you thinking they use leaf blowers to disperse the asbestos?