Asbestos in Pipes? How To Tell

Spotting anything containing asbestos in your home or business is rarely easy. While you might expect a hazard warning label on something so dangerous, very few people ever thought it was hazardous when asbestos-containing products were being manufactured in their tens of thousands.  

Pipes are no different. While it would be much easier if pipes did say they contained asbestos, they don’t. Fortunately, you might have some luck identifying asbestos-containing pipes with some of the following information.

Knowing How the Pipes Were Made

Asbestos was used in pipe manufacturing in two ways: pipe production and pipe wrapping. It was a preferred addition to steel pipes because it boasted low electrical conductivity and didn’t react badly with most other materials. It was also easy to mix into other materials. Some steel pipes even had asbestos insulation, further increasing the percentage of asbestos used.

Asbestos was also used in cement pipes, many of which are now being replaced throughout New Zealand after reaching the end of their safe, usable life.

Looking for Whitish-Grey Coloring

If you’re undertaking extensive home renovations, including the plumbing, take a peek under your house and look for whitish-grey pipes. While it’s unlikely for the average residential house to contain asbestos pipes, it never hurts to check.

What’s more, asbestos cement was used for water pipes worldwide in the 20th century and up until the 1980s in New Zealand. It’s believed that about 9,000 kilometres of asbestos pipes in New Zealand are due for replacement.

Most homes in New Zealand won’t contain asbestos pipes, but if they were built before 2000, they might have stormwater and sewage piping, stormwater traps, gutters, and downpipes that contain asbestos.

Identifying Asbestos Pipe Insulation

Up until the 1980s, asbestos was used as a form of pipe insulation to retain heat in hot water and heating systems. Chrysotile asbestos was the most popular type for this job, which has a white, grey, and blue-ish hue.

Typically, this pipe insulation can be found on boilers and pipe elbows and looks like a plaster-like compound or coating. Blue, brown, and white asbestos were also used as a form of spray-on insulation coating and can be so hazardous to remove that a Class A removal license is required.

Mottled Gutters, Drain Traps, and Downpipes

Gutters, drain traps, and downpipes are now made from a number of different safe materials, such as PVC plastic and metal. However, before 2000 and especially before 1980, asbestos was the material of choice.

While it can be challenging to determine whether these building products contain asbestos, a mottled appearance can generally indicate the presence of asbestos since mould can sometimes thrive on old asbestos products.

What to Do When You Find Asbestos in Pipes

Identifying asbestos on your property can be frustrating, especially when a house renovation might have seemed straightforward, and now a spanner has been thrown in the works. However, you have a few different options at your disposal to take care of the problem.

Reline the Pipes

Relining is perhaps one of the most cost-effective options, even if it’s not the most preferred option or suitable for most people. This involves relining your existing asbestos pipes with a product like cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP) to make them safer. However, this option is only suitable for pipes that are already in reasonably good condition.

Leave Them Alone

Just because you have asbestos pipes doesn’t mean you have to do anything with them. Leaving them in place can sometimes be a safer option than disturbing them in the ground. You can then install new pipes next to them, making them redundant.

Remove Them

If you’d prefer not to worry about asbestos in the future, consider removing your asbestos pipes. This might be your only option if they are exposed, damaged, and in the way. Fortunately, an asbestos removal team can assist with their removal and keep your loved ones safe.

Are My Asbestos Pipes Truly Dangerous?

When you identify asbestos pipes on your property, you might think you’re in immediate danger. While it’s true that asbestos is a hazardous material, many factors can determine how dangerous your pipes are and their implications for your health.

The Age

The older the asbestos pipes, the more damaged and brittle they might be. Broken asbestos is friable, and this is when it’s the most hazardous to health. Most asbestos pipes have a 50-year lifespan, and after this time, the pipes might start releasing fibres.

Their Condition

If your asbestos pipes appear in excellent condition, they might not be hazardous at this point in time. However, if they are damaged, broken, fraying, or crumbling, now might be the right time to consider your removal options.

Where They Are

Asbestos pipes buried under the ground pose less of a risk than those in high-traffic parts of your property. You might get away with leaving your pipes alone if they’re underground, but removal might be the best option if you have damaged asbestos pipes in plain sight.

Put a Plan in Place for Your Pipes

Many New Zealanders have to contend with asbestos materials every day, but that doesn’t mean you have to. If you’ve identified asbestos pipes, insulation, or lagging, now might be the right time to act. Contact expert asbestos removalists today and learn about the most appropriate solutions for your asbestos woes.