Asbestos Floor Tiles Low Risk

In most cases vinyl tiles are considered non friable.

Asbestos floor tiles low risk.

Manufacturers often made this type of flooring with a friable asbestos backing which means asbestos fibres are easily released into the air if the sheet flooring. Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed. Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste. Both these options will keep the asbestos trapped in the floor.

Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed. Therefore they generally pose a lower risk to health. Floor tiles can become friable if they are mishandled damaged or are in a badly worn or weathered condition. That means it is safe to walk on but not safe to scrape sand or use power tools on.

Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring poses a significantly greater asbestos exposure risk than floor tiles or wallpaper. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air. If the asbestos floor tiles or sheet flooring have been painted coated with a sealant or floored over using carpet laminate or any other continuous flooring so that the original floor is not exposed the risk level provided by the original asbestos containing flooring is low to beneath the level of detection in the building. You could also seal it with a coat of epoxy floor paint.

But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable. Older vinyl or rubber floors that are damaged are a different story because the tiles can release asbestos so they need to be removed.