Friable asbestos products are less commonplace, however, they are more hazardous as the fibres are not encased in a bonded form like non-friable products. This means that they are in a better position to be released into the air and inhaled. It presents as a material that can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure (not that we recommend you go around trying to crush suspected materials!). Friable asbestos products are more likely to give off dust, and it is this dust that contains the deadly asbestos fibres.
Examples of where friable asbestos has been used in homes include (but is not limited to):
- spray-on insulation or soundproofing
- asbestos-rope door gaskets in wood stoves
- insulation on hot water pipes, domestic heaters and stoves (lagging)
- backing material on floor tiles and vinyl flooring
- heat-resistant fabrics
- badly damaged/weathered non-friable asbestos cement products
- textured paints, decorative ceiling coatings.
Please note that non-friable products can become friable if they are sufficiently damaged, weathered or otherwise deteriorate.