The simple answer to that is that you can’t tell. Well, not easily. You could take a sample of the suspect material and have it analysed. You could try to find the original plans and specifications for the building. There may be notes that indicate what materials were used. This is of course almost wishful thinking.
I gather calculating the material’s density can determine what substance is used in the building. There are probably other tests. However, no house owner is going to let you take samples, and would you want to do this anyway? Drilling or cutting asbestos is the last thing you should do. Have a look at this guy in the picture taking a sample. I’m not prepared to do this, are you? And this guy in the photo is protecting himself. There is no accounting for the dust that goes floating around the room for other people to breathe.
Asbestos sheets, as well as any other structural
sheets, will have identification of some kind stamped on the sides. If you can read the label you should be able to determine what you’ve got. Though, the term Villaboard doesn’t really scream danger to anyone. The trouble is that the eaves will probably be painted, obscuring any labelling. You could climb onto the roof, remove a few tiles and look for the label on the unpainted in-roof side of the eaves. Once again, the owner is unlikely to allow this. And if the roof has been constructed from sheet metal your only option might be an in roof inspection, but if you climb into the attic you will find that the roof line intersects with the external walls, allowing only a gap of a few inches clearance. The clearance is essentially the dimensions of the roof trusses; a gap not nearly wide enough to squeeze your head and shoulders through to have a look. The only way of inspecting the eaves would be with some sort of remote video camera, possibly along the lines of what surgeons use in key-hole surgery. The chances of being able to read any labelling would be made difficult due to the build up of dirt and dust that’s in the roof space.
It’s all very depressing.
I gather calculating the material’s density can determine what substance is used in the building. There are probably other tests. However, no house owner is going to let you take samples, and would you want to do this anyway? Drilling or cutting asbestos is the last thing you should do. Have a look at this guy in the picture taking a sample. I’m not prepared to do this, are you? And this guy in the photo is protecting himself. There is no accounting for the dust that goes floating around the room for other people to breathe.
Asbestos sheets, as well as any other structural
sheets, will have identification of some kind stamped on the sides. If you can read the label you should be able to determine what you’ve got. Though, the term Villaboard doesn’t really scream danger to anyone. The trouble is that the eaves will probably be painted, obscuring any labelling. You could climb onto the roof, remove a few tiles and look for the label on the unpainted in-roof side of the eaves. Once again, the owner is unlikely to allow this. And if the roof has been constructed from sheet metal your only option might be an in roof inspection, but if you climb into the attic you will find that the roof line intersects with the external walls, allowing only a gap of a few inches clearance. The clearance is essentially the dimensions of the roof trusses; a gap not nearly wide enough to squeeze your head and shoulders through to have a look. The only way of inspecting the eaves would be with some sort of remote video camera, possibly along the lines of what surgeons use in key-hole surgery. The chances of being able to read any labelling would be made difficult due to the build up of dirt and dust that’s in the roof space.It’s all very depressing.
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