I have got around 50+ old bricks from a home in Pakenham, after seeing their free pickup advertisement in Gumtree. Looks they destroyed there garden wall and were about to throw them away. I picked up those and kept in my backyard. Since then I kept them outside, did not use them till now.
I have recently came across about asbestos. Now I’m worried, did I pick something not safe for myself and my family?
Can you give pointers what should I do now to avoid this confusion?
Thanks in advance
as fire retardant
asbestos also in mortar for bricks back then
So old houses have asbestos, but new ones use cheap and unsafe materials, wtf
The two aren't actually linked, but there's some irony here.
Asbestos was used partly because of its really great fire retardant properties.
And the issues now? Materials being too flammable.
@HighAndDry: I guess flammability is preferable to carcinogenicity, but I can't believe with all the material tech advancements we can't simply use something safe
@[Deactivated]: That's fine as long as we are informed, like "this is cheaper, but more flammable", so people can choose to go cheap or play safe. But now there is no transparency.
@nfr: I agree, though there's a whole bunch of buildings built in the last 15 years found to contain asbestos because it was undeclared in the cheap building materials imported from China.
Coz back in the day they thought it was a good idea.
Asbestos in bricks: Asbestos in bricks were used to strengthen and provide resistance to heat.
Good news is, the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show a median latency of 44.6 years, so if you're 30 or older, you're laughing. Worst case scenario, you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.
Asbestos was cheap and added to everything as a filler.. It wouldn't surprise me if bricks were made with Asbestos, but I haven't heard of it.
I think maybe in a pottery kiln or other specialised application.
Asbestos has never been cheaper than clay, so it wouldn’t be added to normal bricks.
There are people online confidently asserting asbestos was added to mortar, but I think that would have only been in specialist applications too. It’s not like we routinely add fibreglass to mortar these days, which is just a cheap as asbestos ever was.
I think maybe in a pottery kiln or other specialised application.
Yup. Like for heat-shielding for the nuclear reactors of the newly refurbished Indian aircraft carrier they bought from the Russians… except they didn't want to use asbestos-laced bricks and went with ceramics, and now the power plant for the ship can't perform at 100% because it'll overheat.
But uh, going back to your point - yes, very specialized applications, certainly not for a garden wall.
They used mortar in between bricks. Mortar may have asbestos.
1) what makes you think the bricks might contain asbestos? Asbestos is fibrous.
2) I'm not even aware of asbestos being added into bricks, are they concrete bricks or Clay?
3) don't worry too much. The major problem stuff is the loose asbestos, embedded asbestos is not nearly as much of an issue, dont drill them or crush them up and you'll be fine.
3) don't worry too much. The major problem stuff is the loose asbestos, embedded asbestos is not nearly as much of an issue, dont drill them or crush them up and you'll be fine.
they destroyed there garden wall and were about to throw them away.
And where is it mentioned that the bricks were smashed to dust?
you don't need to smash it into dust for asbestos to be airborne
how do you demolish a garden wall ?
@dcep: OP didn't demolish the wall, he/she picked up bricks from a demolished wall.
The airborne risk (already incredibly low) from the demolition would well and truly have diminished to background levels by this stage.
@ESEMCE: I think the risk is that in demolishing the wall, some of the bricks OP picked up may have also been partly smashed and/or at least broken to the point of exposing asbestos fibers.
2) They are made with Clay
I think you're in the clear then.
This is not a solution but just for your peace of mind, you can get it tested for $80 if that makes you sleep well.
https://www.enviroscience.com.au/Asbestos-testing-diy-test-k…
Turns out, the powdery substance tested positive as cocaine.
(Need a few more bricks to confirm. 49 should do it.)
Op got a bargain!
There may have been asbestos in bricks, this would appear most likely in some other countries but not in Australia. (and more in areas needing fire protection like chimneys)
Check the areas or products that are most likely found in Australian homes or buildings
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.…
same here
http://www.asbestoswise.com.au/information-and-resources/asb…
No mention of household bricks
Gidgee Bricks were full of asbestos but not normal housebricks AFAIK.
Gidgee bricks were a fake, decorative brick face that was used as an architectural feature around (mainly) fireplaces. it was a 70s/80s thing.
With asbestos, as long as you aren't doing anything to release fibres it is safe. No drilling, sanding, cutting, breaking, heating (turns it from friable to non-friable) etc. Ideally you don't want it but it can be fenced off, encapsulated or painted with a glue-like substance as part of a management plan.
It was used for full houses too, some had fibro backing stuck to the fake brick some had ply board.
I think that had a different trade name. It was in bigger sheets.
You've just reminded me my Nan's house in Blacktown was done in that material. It looked shocking as the mortar lines didn't line up. LOL
Yeah, if it was done properly it survived ok, some of it peeled or come apart where it joins. I have seen it spray painted which makes it look half descent if in ok condition. I have a business that involves replacing it sometimes.
Cockroaches liked it as there is a gap behind it where it went over battons.
OP do you plan on crushing them and snorting it, then waiting 40 years to find out LOL.
The only bricks I know of that had asbestos was the fake brick cladding. which was a panel that clad houses to make it look like brick. This was also used as a feature wall inside sometimes.
It looked like this:
https://aware1.com.au/commercial/wall-imitation-asbestos-bri…
Yep, not all had fibro backing some had ply.
Don’t lick the bricks and you fine.
Undisturbed bonded or non-friable ACM is harmless.
Why would there be asbestos in bricks?