Exposed Asbestos Floor Tiles

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Exposed asbestos floor tiles. Asbestos is most dangerous in its friable state in which tiny light fibers float through the air and can easily be spread or ingested or aspirated by humans. You could also cover the tiles with new vinyl flooring linoleum or even ceramic tiles. However as a favor to future owners of your house make some note of the fact that asbestos tiles are under the new flooring. It s in the air water and soil.

Armstrong produced the excelon tile series beginning with a plastic asbestos floor tile series in 1954 referring to the product as vinyl plastic asbestos floor tiles beginning in 1955 and vinyl asbestos tiles from 1957 to 1980. Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed. Vinyl tiles with asbestos. Asbestos is so common that everyone has been around it at some point.

Resilient sheet flooring containing asbestos was also produced finding wide use as early as 1968. If the tiles or the floor beneath show oily discoloration the tiles very likely contain asbestos. Old vinyl products that contain asbestos remain in many buildings across the u s creating a hazard for contractors and do it yourself renovators. In addition to the tiles themselves a layer of mastic a type of adhesive below the tiles is also likely to contain asbestos.

If the material is in good condition it normally does not pose a threat because the asbestos is enclosed in vinyl preventing the fibers from escaping. But when you re exposed at such low levels it s unlikely to make you sick. Asphalt is a main ingredient in asbestos tiles and the oil from the asphalt can leach out. Working with asbestos flooring can release toxic dust.

That way no one will be endangered years from now when they start to rip up the new flooring and find asbestos tiles beneath. This article summarizes the probable risk of asbestos exposure from asbestos containing floor tiles or sheet flooring as depending on the condition covering and location of the floor. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air. Tiles that are disintegrating should be handled with extreme care.

Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Asbestos in floor tiles in floor tiles asbestos is used primarily for its insulation properties and its ability to resist fire.