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What
you should know about Asbestos Buildings
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BACKGROUND TO ASBESTOS ROOFING
 In
the early 1920’s a new product was introduced to the Building
Industry – asbestos cement sheeting. This product, which
was basically a mixture of Portland cement, asbestos fibre and
water, was compressed and autoclaved to form the asbestos cement
sheeting. Asbestos cement sheeting proved to be extremely popular
and as a result large quantities of this material is now found
not only in Australia but also in many other parts of the world.
Asbestos cement sheeting undergoes a weathering process
after many years of exposure and a loose surface layer
develops which, on roofs becomes colonised with dark coloured
lichen. The lichen, secreting oxalic acid, attack the
cement causing exposure of the asbestos fibre. The surface
becomes unstable, the asbestos cement sheeting is weakened
and the darkened colour causes a substantial increase
in roof cavity temperatures. The unstable nature of weathered
asbestos cement surfaces is a cause of some concern in
the community as white and blue asbestos fibres were used
in the composition of asbestos cement sheeting. In the
1980’s the use of asbestos was discontinued in the
production of fibre reinforced cement sheeting, but the
ageing existing roofs continue to deteriorate.
TREATMENT OF ASBESTOS ROOFING
The Problem
The traditional process for coating asbestos cement roofs was
to firstly clean the roof with high-pressure water to remove
all lichen and loose asbestos fibre. This procedure however
was banned on health grounds, creating a need for a system,
which could be applied straight to the degraded asbestos without
disturbing the surface.
The Solution
In 1990, Crommelin set out to address this problem and
developed THE FIBROSEAL SYSTEM to achieve the following:
- To bind and encapsulate the asbestos fibres.
- Avoids costly downtime associated with replacement of asbestos.
- A significant reduction in roof cavity temperatures resulting
in savings in building cooling costs.
- An extension of the service life of asbestos structures.
- A completely water-based and truly environmentally friendly
system.
- Provides a rejuvenated appearance in a range of decorative
colours.
Savings in Building Cooling Costs
On untreated weathered asbestos roofs, roof cavity temperatures
can rise to double the ambient shade temperature. When the
asbestos roof is treated with the white FIBROSEAL SYSTEM there
is an approximate 80% reduction in roof cavity temperatures
when compared to untreated weathered asbestos roofs. This
temperature reduction results in improved comfort for the
occupants and considerable savings in building cooling costs.
The System
The FIBROSEAL SYSTEM consists of two products:
- FIBROSEAL PRIMER
A clear one pack, water based, low viscosity, highly penetrating
solution that soaks through the lichen and degraded asbestos
cement, down to the sound base material binding these unstable
elements.
- FIBROSEAL TOPCOAT
A high solids elastomeric membrane providing a long-term
protection to the encapsulated layers, whilst providing
heat reflective and aesthetic properties. The system
has excellent resistance to dirt pick up and provides
resistance to the re-growth of moulds and lichens.
Fibroseal Applicators
NSW - Metro Asbestos Encapsulators
Phone: 02 4658 0812
Email: metro@pacific.net.au
QLD - Multitek Pty Ltd
Contact: Peter Saunders
Phone: 07 5443 7502
WA - ASCOM
Contact: Ken Cameron
Phone: 0403 269 733
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