I need to cut a ventilation hole (125 mm) in a fiber cement facade.
This part of the facade is inside a glass-enclosed patio (which also has an old "grass-like" carpet on the floor).
How should I go about it?
Protecting myself is not a problem. I have a mask with a particle filter and an overall.
However, I want to avoid having a lot of asbestos flying around in the patio.
Anyone have any good tips?
This part of the facade is inside a glass-enclosed patio (which also has an old "grass-like" carpet on the floor).
How should I go about it?
Protecting myself is not a problem. I have a mask with a particle filter and an overall.
However, I want to avoid having a lot of asbestos flying around in the patio.
Anyone have any good tips?
Personally, I'm not hysterical when it comes to eternit, but I would still consider removing an entire sheet carefully and patching the oversized hole with something else. Otherwise, it's probably best to water and water again to prevent dust when sawing it.
to limit dusting, you can ask someone to stand next to you with a vacuum cleaner while you drill. Cover the "lawn" closest to the work area so the dust doesn't fall on it - with damp newspapers that are thrown away afterward:-/. I don't think more is needed for a hole in the wall 
. Asbestos isn't toxic like, for example, arsenic, and only prolonged inhalation of the dust (many hours every day) can harm the lungs.
I'm not an asbestos expert but just someone with common sense (I hope)
Hope others can add more info and advice that are better
Good luck!
gaia
. Asbestos isn't toxic like, for example, arsenic, and only prolonged inhalation of the dust (many hours every day) can harm the lungs. I'm not an asbestos expert but just someone with common sense (I hope
)Hope others can add more info and advice that are better
Good luck!
gaia
Thank you for the tips.
I forgot to mention that the tiles are 1200x2400, so replacing a whole tile becomes quite complicated.
Regarding vacuuming; do loose flying asbestos fibers get trapped in the vacuum cleaner bag, or is there a risk that they blow straight through?
I forgot to mention that the tiles are 1200x2400, so replacing a whole tile becomes quite complicated.
Regarding vacuuming; do loose flying asbestos fibers get trapped in the vacuum cleaner bag, or is there a risk that they blow straight through?
Since asbestos fibers are so small and thin that they can reach all the way down into the alveoli, I don't think a regular vacuum cleaner can keep the fibers in the bag. And that vacuum cleaner should probably not be used anymore afterward.
Can't you catch the dust in something sticky, like thick wallpaper paste? Spread it on, and then drill through it. And then wipe off with damp cloths, which are immediately discarded.
Otherwise, water spraying is good, but it might not be suitable.
Can't you catch the dust in something sticky, like thick wallpaper paste? Spread it on, and then drill through it. And then wipe off with damp cloths, which are immediately discarded.
Otherwise, water spraying is good, but it might not be suitable.
No, that's not a good tip. Using a vacuum cleaner is the worst option if you don't have a special one with the right filter (such can be rented). A regular vacuum cleaner just blows the fibers around a thousand times worse.gaia said:to limit dust, you can ask someone to stand nearby with a vacuum cleaner while you drill. Cover the "grass" closest to the work area so the dust doesn't fall into it - with damp newspapers that are thrown away afterward:-/. I don't think more is needed for a hole in the wall
I'm not an asbestos expert but just someone with common sense (I hope
Hope others can add more info and better advice
Good luck!
gaia
Some suggestions:
1. Remove the panel and cut it outside.
2. Drill a fine hole seam with a slow drill, break off the pieces.
3. Saw as usual but use plenty of water mist.
Maybe you can wrap the whole thing in plastic and tape, letting the hole saw shaft go through a small hole in the plastic. The whole thing would become like an incubator-like thing.
You can use two hoses on the vacuum cleaner. Blow the fibers out outdoors and change the bag. Let the vacuum cleaner run for a while before changing. Rinse the hoses.
The risk with asbestos from occasional exposures is not particularly high, and the correlation asbestos/lung cancer/smoking is 80%. So, you rarely get lung cancer from asbestos if you don't smoke.
It's more dangerous to cross the street.
The risk with asbestos from occasional exposures is not particularly high, and the correlation asbestos/lung cancer/smoking is 80%. So, you rarely get lung cancer from asbestos if you don't smoke.
It's more dangerous to cross the street.
nothing to overreact about, this with occasional work in asbestos. the vacuum cleaner tip is good, as well as wet newspapers. from what I understand of the plate size it should be 6-8 mm thick and no problem to cut the hole with the jigsaw. I assume it is also painted, which is a plus for the work.