Municipality wants to change district heating meter

[Jonatan79]

That's exactly how it is. I don't dare take any chances, so I will contact a cleaning company that will hopefully encapsulate the two pipes in question. There is a checklist that the cleaning company must fill out. Then we'll see what happens when the heat exchanger is completely replaced. Now it only concerns the meter. The strange thing is that I have had a service agreement with the municipality regarding the heat exchanger, and the meter was replaced just a few years ago WITHOUT anyone reacting to the pipes that now need to be addressed🤔😳

Bad luck with a paranoid craftsman. Can't you talk to the person in charge about how you should proceed, cover, or remove the insulation yourself?

 

[Plupp 405730]

That's exactly the case. I don't dare to take a chance without contacting a remediation company that will hopefully encapsulate the two pipes in question. There is a checklist that the remediation company needs to fill in. Then we'll see what happens when the heat exchanger is to be completely replaced. Right now, it only concerns the meter. The strange thing is that I've had a service agreement with the municipality regarding the heat exchanger and that the meter was replaced just a few years ago WITHOUT anyone reacting to the pipes that now need attention🤔😳

It is unfortunately the case that far too few have knowledge about asbestos..
Personally, I never recommend a novice to handle asbestos indoors since there's a risk of spreading it inside the house..

 

[Eija Johansson]

Bad luck with a paranoid craftsman. Can't you talk to the person in charge about how you should cover or remove the insulation yourself?

I have spoken to several people at the Municipal company that procured the company that is supposed to do the meter replacement. Getting nowhere. The question is being bounced around... I'm thinking of asking the sanitation company for a quote on encapsulation, etc...

 

[Eija Johansson]

Here are photos of the two pipes in question.

 

[Dilato]

Can someone really make such demands that you must hire a company to perform the action?

Is it even known for sure that there is asbestos to clean up?

As a property owner, you can decide how and who should carry out the action, there are no legal requirements forcing you to hire a company, but if a company is to do it, then there are a ton of regulations on how it should be done, and it becomes expensive.
If you do it yourself, there are no regulations on how.

Personally, I would just repaint the pipes with something like black paint, then any potential asbestos is contained and 100% harmless, and it's clear that this is the case.

 

[Eija Johansson]

Can anyone really impose such demands that you must hire a company to perform the action?

Do we even know for sure that there is asbestos to remediate?

As a property owner, you can decide how and who will carry out the action; there are no legal requirements forcing you to hire a company. But if a company is to perform it, then there are a whole lot of rules on how it should be done, and it becomes expensive.
If you do it yourself, there are no rules on how.

Personally, I would just repaint the pipes with something like black paint; then any potential asbestos is bound and 100% harmless, and it's clear that this is the case.

Regardless of the action, I must have a remediation company do an asbestos test after the pipes are addressed. It needs to be sent to the municipality before the subcontractor can come and replace the heat meter🙄. Feels like I'm caught in a catch-22.

 

[Plupp 405730]

Can someone really impose such demands that you have to hire a company to perform the action?

Is it even certain that there is asbestos to remediate?

As a property owner, you can decide how and by whom the action should be performed; there are no legal requirements forcing you to hire a company, but if a company is to perform it, there are a whole lot of regulations on how it should be done, and then it gets expensive.
If you do it yourself, there are no regulations on how.

Personally, I would just repaint the pipes with something like black paint, then any potential asbestos is bound and 100% harmless, and it is clear that this is the case.

There are regulations on the disposal of waste that also apply to private individuals, but none regarding the actual remediation...

You can take samples...

 

[Dilato]

Regardless of the action, I need a cleanup company to do an asbestos test after the pipes have been dealt with. It should be sent to the municipality before the subcontractor can come and replace the heat meter🙄. Feels like I'm caught in a trap.

It's simple.

Remove the insulation yourself, use a disposable coverall and mask, do it gently so it doesn't dust (it's the dust that can be dangerous), spray water mist on beforehand, pack it in a sealed plastic bag, then ventilate thoroughly and wipe the space.

Now the company comes in and takes a sample, no asbestos is present.

Asbestos is not particularly dangerous if you're only exposed to it occasionally in a limited scope; those who got injuries from it were the ones who worked with it.

 

[lordi]

Can someone really impose such requirements that you must hire a company to carry out the measure?

Do you even know for sure that there is asbestos to be removed?

As a property owner, you can decide how and by whom the measure should be carried out, there are no legal requirements that force you to hire a company, but if a company is to perform it, then there are a whole lot of rules about how it should be done and then it becomes expensive.
If you do it yourself, there are no rules about how.

Personally, I would just paint the pipes with something like black paint, then any possible asbestos is bound and 100% harmless and it is clear that this is the case.

Yes, because the person who is going there to perform work is not working as a private person but as an employee, so the regulations and requirements of the Swedish Work Environment Authority apply. If there is suspicion of asbestos spreading, they cannot work there.

 

[Dilato]

Yes, because the person going there to perform the work is not working as a private individual but as an employee, the Work Environment Authority's rules and requirements apply. If there is a suspicion of asbestos spreading, one is not allowed to work there.

So, just a suspicion from a random guy means you have to perform an asbestos removal? What's with the meter change that could release asbestos, isn't it just a matter of loosening and retightening two union nuts? Asbestos bound in the insulation can hardly get stirred up unless you start tearing into it, right?

Isn't it simpler and more sensible for the worker to have protective equipment on than to force everyone to decontaminate their homes unnecessarily?

 

[Plupp 405730]

So it's enough with suspicion from a random guy that you have to perform an asbestos cleanup? What is it about replacing a meter that could release asbestos, isn't it just two union nuts that need to be loosened and screwed back on? Asbestos bound in insulation can hardly be stirred up unless you start tearing at it?

Isn't it easier and more sensible for the installer to wear protective equipment than to force everyone to decontaminate their homes completely unnecessarily?

No, but a professional, like a plumber for example.

 

[Dilato]

Seems to be so-so with "authorized asbestos remover"
https://alltomarbetsmiljo.se/nyheter/kursintyg-for-asbestutbildning-oroar

 

[Jonatan79]

Yes, since the person going there to perform work is not working as a private individual but as an employee, the Work Environment Authority's rules and requirements apply. If there is a suspicion of asbestos dispersion, one is not allowed to work there.

This means that craftsmen in all residences older than 1970 or so should demand a test since dust might have been spread at some point by someone... not likely!

 

[Claes Sörmland]

Or purchase plaster bandages. Cut to size, dip in water, and seal the open ends. Once it has dried after a day or two, the tubes can be painted with regular white wall paint.

Then clean the room by wet wiping everything three times. Discard cloths and mops.

Now asbestos samples can be taken.

 

[Plupp 405730]

Or buy plaster bandages. Cut to size, dip in water, and seal the open ends. When it has dried after a day or two, the tubes can be painted with regular white wall paint.

Then clean the room by wiping everything three times with a wet cloth. Throw away the cloths and mops.

Now asbestos sampling can be done.

Hmm. Is it appropriate to cover asbestos?

When the original poster sells the house one day, or if the children take over and are unaware of this measure, they might be exposed to this material...

One should probably think twice before taking any measures involving these hazardous materials...