Asbestos in pipe renovation: what does it break open?

In a pipe renovation, asbestos can be in any of the materials the work breaks open: tile adhesives and fillers in bathrooms and toilets, boards in pipe boxing, old pipe insulation, seals at pipe joints, compounds around pipe penetrations and asbestos cement drain pipes. If the building was built or renovated before 1994, asbestos in the materials to be demolished is investigated before demolition starts. In a housing company's pipe renovation (in Finnish, linjasaneeraus or putkiremontti), the housing company takes care of this, usually with an asbestos survey. A shareholder's own earlier renovations and any extra work ordered alongside the pipe renovation are worth checking separately.

This article covers what a pipe renovation demolishes, at which stage asbestos is investigated, what the housing company's survey does not necessarily cover and how a shareholder can test the materials in their own flat.

Why is a pipe renovation a special case for asbestos?

An ordinary renovation concerns one room. A pipe renovation runs through the whole building: the same project opens up bathrooms, toilets, kitchen pipe walls, basement pipe corridors and the penetrations through floor slabs. On top of that, flats on the same staircase may have had surface renovations in different decades. Because of its scope, a pipe renovation is a typical project that needs an asbestos survey. The difference between a survey and a single analysis is explained in the article asbestos survey or asbestos analysis.

Which materials are broken open in a pipe renovation?

Not every building has all of the places below. Relining and coating methods usually demolish less than traditional pipe replacement, but they still involve openings and drilling, and those spots belong in the investigation.

• Wet-room surfaces: tiles, tile adhesive, grout, fillers and floor screeds. See the articles asbestos in the bathroom and asbestos in tile adhesive.
• Pipe boxing and pipe walls: the boards, fillers and paints of the boxing can date from different periods. A hard, grey board is worth testing before it is sawn or broken.
• Pipe insulation: old insulation in basements and pipe corridors can be brittle and dusty, and crumbling insulation should not be touched yourself. See asbestos in pipe insulation.
• Drain pipes: some old drain and underground drain pipes are asbestos cement, and cutting them or breaking them out of the concrete damages the material. See asbestos in drain pipes.
• Seals and penetrations: old seals at pipe joints and sealing compounds around penetrations are small spots, but there are some on every floor. See also asbestos in fire protection.
• Kitchen, hallway and ceiling surfaces: when pipes take a new route, the kitchen splashback wall, the hallway ceiling or a wall and its filler are often opened.

At which stage of a pipe renovation is asbestos investigated?

The amount and location of asbestos affect demolition methods, costs and the schedule, so the information is needed before the contract is put out to tender.

1. Project planning: the housing company works out what the renovation will demolish and orders an asbestos survey.
2. Tendering: the survey results are attached to the contract documents so that bids include the asbestos removal.
3. Before demolition: asbestos-containing materials are removed as asbestos work by a company authorised for asbestos removal work. See asbestos removal permits.
4. During demolition: if a material the survey did not cover is uncovered, it is tested before work continues at that spot.

What does the housing company's survey not necessarily cover?

When flats are alike, the surveyor usually does not sample every one, but tests representative flats and assesses similar structures on that basis. As a shareholder, it is worth checking three things:

• Your own earlier renovations. If the bathroom or kitchen was renewed in, say, the 1970s or 1980s, its adhesives and fillers may be different products from the neighbours'. Tell the property manager about the renovation history.
• Extra and alteration work. Your own work, such as a kitchen renovation or removing a partition wall, is not necessarily covered by the housing company's survey. For that work, the investigation is usually the responsibility of the client, meaning the shareholder.
• The content of the survey report. Ask to see which flats and materials were tested. If the material in your flat is not mentioned, ask how it was assessed.

How does a shareholder take a sample before a pipe renovation?

A shareholder can test the surface materials in their own flat when the material is intact and the sampling spot is small. If you are not sure whether a spot is part of the housing company's structures, ask the property manager. Samples are not taken from shared spaces on your own initiative, and crumbling pipe insulation is not something to sample yourself.

1. Choose spots that will be demolished and take one sample of each different material build-up.
2. Do not break the waterproofing in the shower area of a wet room that is in use. Take the sample from the upper part of the wall or next to the door instead.
3. Wear disposable gloves and a respirator of at least class FFP3.
4. Lightly mist the sampling spot with a spray bottle.
5. With a knife or chisel, remove a piece of about 2–5 centimetres so that every layer from the tile down to the substrate comes with it.
6. Drop the piece into a zip-lock bag, seal it and put the bag inside a second bag.
7. Label the bag with the flat and the spot, for example "A 12, bathroom, pipe wall".
8. Cover the sampling spot with tape and wipe the area with a damp cloth.

More guidance is in the articles how to take an asbestos sample and how many asbestos samples are needed.

What does the result mean for the pipe renovation?

Onelab analyses the sample with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope in accordance with ISO 22262-1, and the result is sent by email, typically on the day the sample arrives.

• No asbestos detected: the result applies to the sampling spot and similar material. Send the result to the property manager.
• Asbestos detected: the material is removed as asbestos work in an enclosed area under negative pressure, by a company authorised for asbestos removal work. Tell the property manager and the contractor before work starts. See positive asbestos result.

If you are worried about exposure, talk to a doctor or occupational health services. The housing company's asbestos survey is carried out on site by a qualified surveyor. Onelab is a laboratory, and on-site surveys are handled by our sister brand AsbestiPro.

How much does analysing asbestos samples for a pipe renovation cost?

The analysis costs €39.90 + VAT per sample, and the price is the same for 1–100 samples. Orders of more than 100 samples can be priced separately. Postage is not included. You can order the analysis online and send the samples to the laboratory by post.