Anyone have an idea what this could be?

[storsmurfen]

Hi! I've just bought an apartment in a 1940s building and as our first project, we started to tear down a wall that is going to be moved. On the pipes for the radiator, there's some type of insulation where the pipe goes through the wall. I was planning to have it analyzed for asbestos, but it's the weekend so I'll have to wait until tomorrow. But I was wondering if anyone has any idea what it could be?

 

[BirgitS]

Regardless of the material, it must not be tampered with without the board's permission since the heating system, including radiators and pipes and their insulation, falls under the association's responsibility. The only thing usually allowed concerning radiators and their pipes is painting them. Check the bylaws.

But it does not look like the asbestos-containing materials that have been used on pipes.

 

[storsmurfen]

Hi! I've just bought an apartment in a 40s house and as the first project, we started tearing down a wall that is meant to be moved. On the pipes to the radiator, there is some type of insulation where the pipe went through the wall. I'm thinking of sending it in for asbestos analysis, but it's the weekend so I'll have to wait until tomorrow. But I was wondering if anyone has any idea what it might be?

Ok, so removing the insulation is not okay regardless of asbestos or not (unless specified otherwise in the

Regardless of the material, it should not be touched without the board's permission since the heating system including the radiators and the pipes including their insulation is within the association's responsibility. The only thing you usually get to do regarding radiators and their pipes is to paint them. Check the statutes.

But it doesn't look like the asbestos-containing materials that have been used on pipes.

Thanks for the reply! So removing it is not an option, in other words. I've wrapped it in plastic just to be safe and there was nothing about it in the statutes so I will talk to the chairman tomorrow.

 

[Intet]

I would say the exact opposite of BirgitS, for once 😀. The reason is that the usual insulation material is glass wool of an older, very prickly kind. Here it looks like it might be some very fine particulate material which I can easily imagine is asbestos. Anyway, asbestos is neither radioactive, toxic, nor contagious. So take it easy.

 

[O]

nothing was mentioned in the bylaws so I'll talk to the chairman tomorrow

A little question. Does it state in the bylaws that you can move walls without informing the board?
Alternatively, if the board approved the wall relocation, did you receive any information about these pipes?

I think that if it was asbestos, you should reasonably have been warned by the association. But it's probably best to ask the property manager and/or the board.

 

[BirgitS]

Ok, so removing the insulation is not ok regardless of asbestos or not (unless specified otherwise in

Thanks for the answer! So removing it is not an option, in other words. Have wrapped it in plastic just to be safe, and there was nothing in the regulations about it, so I'll have to talk to the chairman tomorrow.

If insulation is removed, more heat will leak out on the way to the radiator, which is obviously undesirable.

 

[ullet]

If you've been approved to move the wall, I wouldn't bother talking to the chairman about those few centimeters of insulation. It's probably about a maximum of 10 cm where the pipe passed through the old wall?

 

[storsmurfen]

A small question. Does it say in the articles of association that you can move walls without informing the board?
Alternatively, if the board approved the wall move, didn't you get any information about these pipes?

I assume that if it was asbestos, you would reasonably have been warned by the association. But it's probably best to ask the property manager and/or the board.

It doesn't say anything in the articles (now that I check). But when I started investigating which walls were load-bearing, I informed the board that I was planning to move a wall and received information about which type of wall was not okay to modify (since they were load-bearing) without proper reinforcement. I took this as implicit approval to move "my" non-load-bearing wall.

 

[storsmurfen]

If you have been approved to move the wall, I wouldn't bother talking to the chairman about those few centimeters of insulation. It's probably about a maximum of 10 cm where the pipe passed through the old wall?

Yes, exactly, it's about 10 cm where it passed through the wall, so it's not a question of a large amount. But with that said, I might still talk to someone on the board. I realize now that there is a lot I probably haven't thought of, and it might be good to check so I don't do something stupid out of pure ignorance. I'm so used to living in my own house with the freedom to just go ahead with whatever I want to do.

 

[Intet]

If you remove insulation, more heat will leak out on the way to the radiator, which of course is undesirable.

No. It's not the least bit "undesirable," rather desirable, as the pipes can be seen as an extension/part of the radiator. Better heat distribution in the room, quite simply. Especially in older houses with poorly insulated walls.

 

[tergo]

some type of insulation

white gullfiber