Is it OK to use my CT22 with the paper bags for Asbestos.

[Kevin D.]

I have a wall cavity with the vermiculite type of brown insulation whereby I'd like to use my CT22 with the paper bags to suck out from cavities in the exterior wall.  I'm pretty certain this insulation from the late 60's when my house was built is made with asbestos.  How safe or unsafe is this to do?  I can actually situate the ct vac outside and run the hose inside if necessary.  I have a N95 NIOSH rating air mask that I would wear also.  This would be a one time event and once set up would probably take less than 5 minutes and fill up half a bag at best.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Our dust extractors are not designed for use with asbestos. You shouldn't use your CT 22 for that application under any circumstances, regardless of the bag being used.

From your CT manual:

Not suitable to vacuum hazardous or toxic substances or dusts e.g. asbestos. The filters will not be able to capture all particles and may exhaust them back into the environment.

 

[Kevin D.]

Wow!  That was quick.  Thanks Shane!

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Glad to help. Sorry it wasn't the answer you were hoping for. Be careful.

 

[tbellemare]

The CT 22 and CT 33 also have the ability to connect a hose to the exhaust and route it outside. Of course, this would only be a good thing to do if it were not...

hazardous or toxic substances or dusts e.g. asbestos

Tom

 

[Kevin D.]

The CT 22 and CT 33 also have the ability to connect a hose to the exhaust and route it outside. Of course, this would only be a good thing to do if it were not...

hazardous or toxic substances or dusts e.g. asbestos

Tom

As Johnny used to say in his own unique way......"I did not know that". [blink]

Thanks Tom!  Although of course, I would not do this for such a situation.  [wink]

EDIT:  Last week, they had a report on a Canadian television show called Marketplace, which is a quasi investigative news type show that deals with consumer info/awareness, about flame retardants in a whack load of household items, mostly furniture and how flame retardants have carcinogens in them, but prove to be entirely useless to actually really do anything to stop or lessen the dangers otherwise from the items that they are treated with insofar as catching, or being on fire.  Well worth watching, and kinda puts things in a context that we're constantly exposed to all sorts of noxious things, even in our homes.  Here's the link for the video......

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2012/11/burned.html

Enjoy our Canadian advertisements. [crying]

 

[andyman]

Be very careful u may disturb fibres & leave them in the air, u would never know until somebody ends up with asbestosis, up to 40 years down the line you have been warned [eek]

 

[Kevin D.]

Be very careful u may disturb fibres & leave them in the air, u would never know until somebody ends up with asbestosis, up to 40 years down the line you have been warned [eek]

And I hate to say this, but the reason I know that it has asbestos in it, is not only by the look, but also because I spent the better part of a day about 5 years ago in my MIL's attic installing a bathroom fan and pot lights with the stuff all over not knowing it was in fact asbestos wearing only a cheapo paper face filter.  I found out a couple of years later that it was asbestos insulation.  Had no idea asbestos insulation came in a granular form til then.

 

[andyman]

Asbestos is in so many products from insulation, toilet cisterns, artex, floor tiles, electric switches so many products. Insulation is 1 of the worst, if u do attempt it polythene the area seal it completely. Have the correct hoover etc, personally I wouldn't take a chance get an expert in who can do an air test once works r complete

 

[Deansocial]

Half this crap about asbestos is a load of money making crap

 

[AlexThePalex]

Half this crap about asbestos is a load of money making crap

Fact about asbestos is that one single particle is enough to cause lung cancer.

However, those people how actually develop this kind of lung cancer are most of the times those who have been in frequent contact with asbestos through their work, like people who work in an asbestos mine or an asbestos factory.

Nevertheless, sometimes people who have had only the briefest of contact can get it too. All people are constantly exposed to traces of asbestos, because small amounts of asbestos fibers are in the air and in other products, like your coffee. But only very rarely does this exposure lead to lung cancer.

So generally speaking, you're safe as long as you're not working with it on a daily basis. I mean, statistically speaking. But there's always the chance you end up the odd fellow out.

I'd take it on the safe side. If you suspect something contains asbestos, leave it be or have it removed professionally.

As for the money making crap, even though the general population is relatively safe, those who have to remove asbestos profesionally are not, for them asbestos is a very serious risk due to the frequent exposure. So tools geared to aid them in their line of work are the subject of very strict regulations and the highest of standards, so they inherently become expensive. A vacuum cleaner rated for asbestos is not meant for a general contractor who occasionally encounters asbestos, but for those people who work with it on a daily basis.

In that light it is only logical that a company like Festool advices people not to use their CT/CTL/CTM line of vacs for hazardous materials, even though somebody who rarely encounters asbestos, like in the case of the OP, could get away with it.

 

 

[peter halle]

Alex,

Well said!  [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

Peter

 

[Deansocial]

Half this crap about asbestos is a load of money making crap

Fact about asbestos is that one single particle is enough to cause lung cancer.

However, those people how actually develop this kind of lung cancer are most of the times those who have been in frequent contact with asbestos through their work, like people who work in an asbestos mine or an asbestos factory.

Nevertheless, sometimes people who have had only the briefest of contact can get it too. All people are constantly exposed to traces of asbestos, because small amounts of asbestos fibers are in the air and in other products, like your coffee. But only very rarely does this exposure lead to lung cancer.

So generally speaking, you're safe as long as you're not working with it on a daily basis. I mean, statistically speaking. But there's always the chance you end up the odd fellow out.

I'd take it on the safe side. If you suspect something contains asbestos, leave it be or have it removed professionally.

As for the money making crap, even though the general population is relatively safe, those who have to remove asbestos profesionally are not, for them asbestos is a very serious risk due to the frequent exposure. So tools geared to aid them in their line of work are the subject of very strict regulations and the highest of standards, so they inherently become expensive. A vacuum cleaner rated for asbestos is not meant for a general contractor who occasionally encounters asbestos, but for those people who work with it on a daily basis.

In that light it is only logical that a company like Festool advices people not to use their CT/CTL/CTM line of vacs for hazardous materials, even though somebody who rarely encounters asbestos, like in the case of the OP, could get away with it.

   

I know, but its still money making crap. Scaremongering etc etc. the one fiber kills campaign that ran in the uk was banned due to it being a load of bollox by the asbestos watchdog. Its a small percentage of the stuff thats the real danger.