Friable Asbestos vs. Non-Friable Asbestos Containing Material

If there is a likelihood of the presence of any asbestos-containing material at your home, it has to be removed by hiring professional asbestos removal contractors. It is because if you or any of your family members inhale its particles, it can pose serious health hazards like lung cancer and more. Asbestos can occur in the material in two forms namely; friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos.

The following brief explains the difference between the two:

• Friable Asbestos Containing Material Structure/Composition of the Material

Material containing friable asbestos can be pulverized into dust with a mere pressure of your hand. Asbestos fibres are held loosely in the material (which can sometimes be up to 100%), and they can get dispersed in the air very easily. The material is in a dry form.

• Risk to Health

This form of asbestos-containing material is a health hazard as any form of disturbance can easily release the asbestos fibres into the air causing grave harm to people who inhale them.

• Examples

Examples of material containing friable asbestos can be anything ranging from boiler insulation, sprayed insulation, pipe lagging, or steelwork with a covering of fire retardant substance.  

 

• Non-friable Asbestos Containing Material 

• Structure/Composition of the Material

Non-friable asbestos or bonded asbestos-containing material is a mixture of cement and a small proportion of asbestos, generally lower than 15%. These substances cannot be pulverized by mere hand pressure as the asbestos fibres form a strong bond in the material and do not get easily released into the atmosphere.

• Risk to Health

The risk to health from this product is minimal as long as it remains undisturbed. However, in case of severe damage or heavy beating from hail, this material becomes friable and consequently a health hazard.

• Examples

Examples of material containing non-friable asbestos comprise products moulded from asbestos cement, asbestos cement sheet, vinyl floor coverings, and water-proofing containing bitumen as the main element.

Material containing non-friable asbestos turns friable due to some work processes. Examples include crushed sheeting of asbestos cement or sheeting of asbestos cement degraded due to remaining exposed to chemical mist for long periods.

Thus, asbestos in any form can pose health risks and therefore should be handled only by licensed contractors.