The bathroom is one of the most common places for asbestos to turn up in old Finnish buildings. A bathroom renovation is also one of the riskiest jobs in terms of asbestos exposure, because stripping out a cramped, poorly ventilated room throws up a great deal of dust. This article goes through the bathroom materials that can contain asbestos.
Tile adhesives
The adhesives used behind bathroom wall and floor tiles are the most common source of asbestos in the room. The adhesive under tiles laid in the 1960s-1980s in particular often contains asbestos. Asbestos was added to tile adhesive to improve its strength, its grip and its resistance to heat.
It is worth noting that the tile itself does not usually contain asbestos - the risk lies specifically in the layer of adhesive behind it. When tiles are lifted, the adhesive breaks up and asbestos fibres can be released into the air. That is why the tile adhesive should always be tested before tiles are removed in an old bathroom.
Grouts
Old grouts can also contain asbestos. Grout is the material between the tiles, and raking it out can release asbestos fibres. Dark grey grouts in older bathrooms in particular are worth testing for asbestos before any removal work.
Wall fillers
Bathroom wall fillers are another significant source of asbestos. Filler was used to level the walls before tiling or painting. There may be several layers of it, and each layer may date from a different period. Sanding and chipping in particular release dust from filler extremely efficiently.
Testing bathroom wall filler matters all the more because dust spreads easily in a confined space, so exposure can be significant even over a short period.
Pipe insulation
The insulation on water and waste pipes running through the bathroom may contain asbestos. In older blocks of flats especially, the pipes often run inside the bathroom walls or are left exposed in the room. Before a plumbing or pipe-replacement project, this insulation must be tested before anyone touches it.
Why is a bathroom renovation especially risky?
A bathroom renovation brings several risk factors together: a cramped space, several potentially asbestos-containing materials being stripped out, a great deal of dust, and often limited ventilation. On top of that, bathroom jobs tend to involve angle grinders, drills and breakers, all of which produce fine dust particularly efficiently.
Without proper precautions, the person doing the work can be exposed to a significant quantity of asbestos fibres in a short time. Anyone else in the home can be exposed too, if dust travels from the bathroom into other rooms through doorways and ventilation.
How do you confirm asbestos in a bathroom?
The only reliable way to confirm asbestos in bathroom materials is laboratory analysis. Take a sample of the material you want tested - tile adhesive, filler or grout, for example - and send it to the laboratory. Take samples of different materials separately, because each material is analysed as a sample of its own.
Taking a bathroom sample is easy: lift one tile carefully and take a piece of the adhesive underneath. Wearing a respirator is recommended. Pack the sample in a Minigrip bag and post it to the laboratory.
Summary
A bathroom renovation in an older home always means allowing for the possibility of asbestos. Test the tile adhesives, grouts, fillers and any pipe insulation before removal work starts. That way you keep the job safe and meet the requirements of the legislation.