Asbestos Vinyl Flooring Nz

Asbestos has been used in vinyl wallpaper since the 1920s and vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring rose to prominence in the 1950s.

Asbestos vinyl flooring nz.

Asbestos containing products have a lifetime of 25 to 50 years and when repairs renovation or demolition takes place the asbestos is then exposed beneath cladding ceiling tiles or vinyl flooring. That means it is safe to walk on but not safe to scrape sand or use power tools on. Most houses in new zealand built before 1975 are likely to have asbestos products somewhere. But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable.

Protect nearby surfaces from contamination. Put on the mask and overalls and make sure they fit properly. The wondrous new no wax flooring sold by companies such as congoleum put a glossy sheen on post war american prosperity. Most houses in new zealand built before 1975 are likely to have asbestos products somewhere.

For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. When vinyl asbestos flooring is crumbling or damaged it is considered friable. Asbestos containing products have a lifetime of 25 to 50 years and when repairs renovation or demolition takes place the asbestos is then exposed beneath cladding ceiling tiles or vinyl flooring.

Stain proof fireproof stylish and affordable vinyl products strengthened through the inclusion asbestos in their manufacture were a very popular choice in many new zealand houses. Our photo left shows armstrong excelon 12x12 vinyl asbestos flooring made in 1972 identified in our floor tile photo guide asbestos floor tile identification photos 1949 1959 detailed photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles and resilient flooring produced in 1900 1980. In this case it needs to be removed very carefully to avoid asbestos exposure. Oil and coal furnaces wood burners and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.

But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable. Don t sand the floor under asbestos containing flooring. Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape. Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and linoleum and as backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.