Asbestos header tank?

[colshaws]

Hi All,
I've popped over from the electricians forum for some advice. I was at a house today to install the wiring for a shower pump that the customer was installing, customer asks me if I had a hole cutter he could borrow to drill a hole in the header tank for his cold feed. When I looked at the tank it looked like it was made of asbestos about 12mm thick, at this point I said I think we need some expert advise regarding the tank. This tank is feeding the hot water cylinder and will feed the cold for the shower from this new hole, all other cold is direct from the mains. Is this tank safe, (ie asbestos) or are ther any regulations stating it need to be replaced with a new plastic one.
Thanks in advance.

 

[jase158]

hard to say without seeing it, but I dont believe it is, they are made of something else, they are white and look similar to asbestos but they aint. May be someone else on here who knows better but they are pretty small anyway and would be better to replace as they are rubbish and good on you, if in doubt dont do it. most people would just cut the hole!!

 

[lame plumber]

theres nought wrong with asbestos if you dont touch it, however the last thing you do is create dust with it and drilling a hole in it will do exactly that, so if it is asbestos (havent seen one myself) then just put in a plastic one and disconnect the current one ( by cutting the pipes)

 

[SimonJohns]

If you suspect asbestos. Have it removed and have a plastic one installed

It's very inexpensive
And for what it will cost to see if it is asbestos, it will be far cheaper to replace

 

[Guest123]

Any asbestos is supposed to be removed and disposed of by a specialist asbestos removal company and it's expensive.

The tank is harmless, so long as it isn't drilled or dust is created from it. I'd leave well alone and advise the customer of the risks and let him/her decide.

 

[AlexGas]

Here's one:

 

[Guest123]

They break up easily with a hammer.

 

[colshaws]

Here's one:
View attachment 9570

Thats it, does it need replacing or am I being paranoid

 

[AlexGas]

Some Council Tips will take a small amount of asbestos, has to be double wrapped in plastic.

 

[AlexGas]

Thats it, does it need replacing or am I being paranoid

Have a read here:
HSE: Asbestos - health and safety in the workplace

 

[colshaws]

Have a read here:
HSE: Asbestos - health and safety in the workplace

What I am asking is do you guys know if this style of tank is actually asbestos, I know how to deal with asbestos, I know the health and safety issues, I just want to know if any of you have come across this style of tank and can confirm that it is made of asbestos.
Many thanks
Col

 

[AlexGas]

It would be an Asbestos Cement Water Tank and not 100% asbestos.

 

[AlexGas]

..........

 

[colshaws]

It would be an Asbestos Cement Water Tank and not 100% asbestos.

So in your opinion should it be replaced

 

[BLOD]

The tank in the photo is asbestos cement, as others have said harmless if left alone ie don't cut or drill it creating dust.

 

[lame plumber]

made my first rabbit hutch from asbestos sheet when I was at school, then popped my rats in there and they chewed their way out! Still still going strong as the asbestos content and type in sheets isnt the reallly evil gear found in lagging (blue asbestos), that was the stuff that fell all over my bunk when I was at sea with the RN on my first ship when ever I banged my head on it!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AWheating]

yes it will contain asbestos and yes it is dangerous to your health to drill,cut or break up in any way. its totally find left in and working as a tank, but you can not work on it. two options are to cut the pipework to it and leave it up the loft in the corner out of harms way or remove it from the loft without breaking it and take it to your local authoritys desposal point or get a asbestos removal company to pick it up. If its left outside it needs to be double bagged up and labled. (best to use asbestos specific bags)


you could argue that alittle exposure is not very harmful, but if you take it home on your clothes and expose the rest of your family to it your a complete idiot. Killing yourself is fine, killing others is not.

 

[Mike Jackson]

I've seen enough people with asbestos related illnesses to know that, unless you know what you are doing, you don't mess with it. Asbestos accumulates in the lungs so a little here and there can be as bad as a large exposure. Other factors, such as smoking, increase the risk of contracting one of the asbestos related diseases and some people appear to be more susceptible to this sort of illness as well. We've all been exposed to asbestos in the past but is it really worth the risk that this last bit might be the bit that does for you? I know it all seems a bit namby pamby when we were cutting and fitting asbestos sheets with a saw with no dust masks on but why take the risk?

With regard to the cistern. It will be fine if left but will need changing if more outlets are needed. The safest thing to do if it needs changing is to just disconnect it and leave it where it is. I'd also give a coat of PVA to stop it dusting up as it dries out.

 

[secret squirrel]

stop messing about and put in a plastic tank,

is it ok to drill it blah blah, just get rid! simple.

cover the tank in plastic and leave it in the corner of the loft.

 

[Simon F]

just a side point, but the existing cold tank is probably 25 gallon,
if you are fitting an additional cold supply for a shower then the tank needs to be 50 gallon anyway!

 

[colshaws]

Many thanks for all the replies, it was advice I was after for the home owner, as i said in the original post I am only wiring in the pump and the homeowner is doing the rest of the job. I will tell him tu change the tank for a 50 gallon plastic.

 

[Belly]

Can't take chances with asbestos I'm afraid, if it's already drained down might aswell swap it for a more modern plastic one