Identify Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles

Asbestos tiles can be difficult to identify because you can t see the asbestos in the tile.

Identify vinyl asbestos floor tiles.

Whether your tiles are 12 12 9 9 or any other size they are all equally likely to contain asbestos. 2 find out if any of the tiles were installed before 1980. The asbestos containing tiles could be thick stone like tiles or they could be thin vinyl tiles. Possible signs of asbestos mastic include discoloration and an oily texture.

If the material is in good condition it normally does not pose a threat because the asbestos is enclosed in vinyl preventing the fibres from escaping. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. Unfortunately vinyl tiles and sheet flooring that contain asbestos pose a potential exposure risk. For about 35 years flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles.

What are asbestos floor tiles. Check for any discoloration check for areas that are grayish brown dark gray dark brown or black. Intact asbestos tiles are not a major risk and can in fact be left in place and covered with other materials such as carpet vinyl linoleum or concrete. Mixing asbestos into vinyl floor tiles made them more insulating and resistant to damage.

Asbestos floor tiles were manufactured in three sizes. For all these reasons it is very difficult to determine for sure whether or not ceiling or floor tiles contain asbestos. One of the main ingredients used in old asbestos tiles was asphalt so they were primarily made in dark colors only. 9 x9 12 x12 and 18 x18.

The vinyl acts as a binder that holds the asbestos fibres within a solid matrix. But the flooring companies aim wasn t so much to make the floor tiles fireproof as it was to make the tiles more durable. Vinyl or asphalt tiles that have these colors in it have a high likelihood of asbestos fibers. Examine the condition of the tiles.

Wallpaper was one of the earliest vinyl products to include asbestos. However here are a few ways you can identify asbestos in your tiles. 9 9 vinyl tile and mastic. If your building was built before 1980 mastic mixed with asbestos may have been used to seal your tiles to the floor.

It is possible to make a tentative identification of floor tiles based on the individual tile pattern color and thickness. Vinyl floor tiles are resilient and cheap making them a logical choice for floors that must withstand constant wear and tear such as in businesses schools and hospitals. Step 2 check for discoloration when inspecting the tiles look for parts that are grayish brown dark gray dark brown or black. Vinyl asbestos floor tiles were produced by a number of manufacturers and the decorative tile patterns were varied often annually as styles and tastes changed.