13-08-2013, 08:47 AM
Im going to be writing a few little guides over the next few weeks on safely working on our cars. We all like to modify them and work on them our selves but rarely do we take safety into account partly due to laziness but also due to just not knowing the sort of risks we are subjecting our selves to! Ive written this guide since Puggy306 expressed a concern in the use of asbestos in brake linings. All the information below has been taken from my course notes from a recent asbestos course i was put on at work as its something i come across daily. The course was written as a joint venture by Safesite and HSE so its about as factual as it gets!
History of asbestos
Asbestos has been used for centuries dating back to the egyptians using it to wrap pharaohs! Since, it has been used for all sorts but the use of it that mainly affects us goes back to the early 80s where its use peaked despite the first health concerns being aired by the americans in the 1960s. In 1983, licensing regulations where issued by the government and in 1985, several bans were put in place on certain types of asbestos although there is still plenty of it out there!
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a very very versatile material. It is naturally occurring minerals that are contained within rock and mined in several countries including India, Russia, Canada and a few more. It is found even today in every day life as in its peak, it was used for all sorts including over 3000 building materials ranging from heating insulation to vinyl flooring to fire guarding. It comes in several forms. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Chrysotile (White asbestos) (note: Although it doesnt really apply to us with cars, the colour of asbestos is not a sure way to identify it!)
Why is it dangerous to me?
Asbestos is made up of loads of tiny fibres, microns in size. They are virtually indistrutable. They are resistant to heat, chemicals, do not evaporate and will not break down. Due to there size, when the matrial is broken up, you end up with loads of these tiny fibres floating in the air which you will inhale. Over the course of time, most of the fibres will be expelled from your body however due to there shape (sort of a hook shape), some will stick inside your lungs causing scarring and inflamation. This will eventually lead to some form of disease (generally asbestosis but it can also cause lung cancer and Mesothelioma). Generally the signs take between 15 and 60 years to show up but once they do, its far too late! If your a smoker, your also at a much higher risk of contracting one of these diseases.
Due to the properties of the fibres, there is no way to remove them from your lungs once they are stuck. You may be lucky and get a lung transplant but asbestosis is basically a terminal disease and is a very painful way to go!
So how does this affect me?
Well being a car forum, i am aiming this at cars but since doing the course, its certainly opened my eyes to how its still used today all around us. In cars, it was used for heat insulation and brake linings. I can tell you now that no 306 uses any sort of asbestos in any heat protected surfaces like manifold heat shields etc. Genuine brake linings do not use asbestos but asbestos is still used in brand new brake linings today!
How can i tell if my old brakes are part asbestos?
Simple answer. You can't! Not without a proper test done by a proper asbestos testing company which trust me, is bloody expensive and pointless! The biggest thing to remember is that it is completely safe when its in one piece! As soon as you start breaking up the lining, you could be disturbing and releasing fibres into the air.
What do i do then?
All the bigger friction material companies make a point of not using asbestos in their brake linings however a good rule of thumb is to assume its there. Remove old pads/shoes in one piece and place into a sealed bag (rubble bags from a builders merchant are ideal but i understand most will not have these). Old pads/linings should be sealed in a bag then taken to your local tip where they will have a proper place for asbestos disposal. (although will that really happen?
)
What do i do if i do break up my old pads/discs?
Well really when working on brakes, you should be wearing a dust mask and gloves. If not, get away and get a mask on asap! Any mask should help but officially, you want a FFP3 rated mask to ensure you are fully protected. The easiest way to "reseal' the brake linings is funnily enough to paint it in wall paper paste. Do this, stick it in a bag and go and have a shower!
The idea of this guide is not to try and scare you from working on your car but to help you. The chances of coming across asbestos in a car, even as old as ours is very slim but its always best to be safe with these things!
History of asbestos
Asbestos has been used for centuries dating back to the egyptians using it to wrap pharaohs! Since, it has been used for all sorts but the use of it that mainly affects us goes back to the early 80s where its use peaked despite the first health concerns being aired by the americans in the 1960s. In 1983, licensing regulations where issued by the government and in 1985, several bans were put in place on certain types of asbestos although there is still plenty of it out there!
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a very very versatile material. It is naturally occurring minerals that are contained within rock and mined in several countries including India, Russia, Canada and a few more. It is found even today in every day life as in its peak, it was used for all sorts including over 3000 building materials ranging from heating insulation to vinyl flooring to fire guarding. It comes in several forms. Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Chrysotile (White asbestos) (note: Although it doesnt really apply to us with cars, the colour of asbestos is not a sure way to identify it!)
Why is it dangerous to me?
Asbestos is made up of loads of tiny fibres, microns in size. They are virtually indistrutable. They are resistant to heat, chemicals, do not evaporate and will not break down. Due to there size, when the matrial is broken up, you end up with loads of these tiny fibres floating in the air which you will inhale. Over the course of time, most of the fibres will be expelled from your body however due to there shape (sort of a hook shape), some will stick inside your lungs causing scarring and inflamation. This will eventually lead to some form of disease (generally asbestosis but it can also cause lung cancer and Mesothelioma). Generally the signs take between 15 and 60 years to show up but once they do, its far too late! If your a smoker, your also at a much higher risk of contracting one of these diseases.
Due to the properties of the fibres, there is no way to remove them from your lungs once they are stuck. You may be lucky and get a lung transplant but asbestosis is basically a terminal disease and is a very painful way to go!
So how does this affect me?
Well being a car forum, i am aiming this at cars but since doing the course, its certainly opened my eyes to how its still used today all around us. In cars, it was used for heat insulation and brake linings. I can tell you now that no 306 uses any sort of asbestos in any heat protected surfaces like manifold heat shields etc. Genuine brake linings do not use asbestos but asbestos is still used in brand new brake linings today!
How can i tell if my old brakes are part asbestos?
Simple answer. You can't! Not without a proper test done by a proper asbestos testing company which trust me, is bloody expensive and pointless! The biggest thing to remember is that it is completely safe when its in one piece! As soon as you start breaking up the lining, you could be disturbing and releasing fibres into the air.
What do i do then?
All the bigger friction material companies make a point of not using asbestos in their brake linings however a good rule of thumb is to assume its there. Remove old pads/shoes in one piece and place into a sealed bag (rubble bags from a builders merchant are ideal but i understand most will not have these). Old pads/linings should be sealed in a bag then taken to your local tip where they will have a proper place for asbestos disposal. (although will that really happen?
)What do i do if i do break up my old pads/discs?
Well really when working on brakes, you should be wearing a dust mask and gloves. If not, get away and get a mask on asap! Any mask should help but officially, you want a FFP3 rated mask to ensure you are fully protected. The easiest way to "reseal' the brake linings is funnily enough to paint it in wall paper paste. Do this, stick it in a bag and go and have a shower!
The idea of this guide is not to try and scare you from working on your car but to help you. The chances of coming across asbestos in a car, even as old as ours is very slim but its always best to be safe with these things!
Team Eaton
1999 China Blue 306 GTi6 - Eaton Supercharged - 214.5bhp 181lbft
1999 China Blue 306 GTi6 - Eaton Supercharged - 214.5bhp 181lbft