Can anyone help identify this dust stuff in my garage??
Discussion
I rent a garage for my car. It s an older building (I d guess built at least in the 80s or before) and is quite draughty. Brick walls, concrete floor, wooden doors and corrugated sheeting on the roof.
I went to take my car out the other day and the front of it (facing out) is covered in this stuff.
It looks a bit like big snow flakes.
It might have blown in from outside with the recent wind (fits with it being where it is) or been kicked up within the garage.
Any ideas?
I went to take my car out the other day and the front of it (facing out) is covered in this stuff.
It looks a bit like big snow flakes.
It might have blown in from outside with the recent wind (fits with it being where it is) or been kicked up within the garage.
Any ideas?
Edited by blueovercream on Friday 20th March 05:57
Lotobear said:
Then, potentially, asbestos fibres and cement particles dropping off the roof sheets - do the sheets appear 'friable'.
If concerned then have a sample of the roof sheet tested
Possibly pollen if it's been windy and there are trees in blossom around. Does the detritus feel gritty?If concerned then have a sample of the roof sheet tested
Lotobear said:
Then, potentially, asbestos fibres and cement particles dropping off the roof sheets - do the sheets appear 'friable'.
If concerned then have a sample of the roof sheet tested
Thinking about it Lotobear is probably on the money, particularly if there’s been some heavy frost in recent past then the roof sheet could fragment after.If concerned then have a sample of the roof sheet tested
Lotobear said:
blueovercream said:
My worry is asbestos. It s too grey and the particles are too big for pollen.
It s an S1 Elise!
..you could spray the underside of the roof with dilute PVA if you are concerned about asbestos. In most cases it can be sealed and made safe unless it's very unstable.It s an S1 Elise!
Only other issue is cleaning up the mess that already dropped, hosing it out is an option maybe? Not everyone has the right class of vacuum to hand.
To answer an earlier question - no the walls are not insulated.
One issue is that it’s not my garage; I’m only renting it. I’ve obviously contacted the landlord but haven’t heard anything back yet.
A home test kit for asbestos is about £60 so I think I’ll get one of those in the first instance and send some of the particles rather than the roofing material itself.
I don’t intend to go back into the garage without PPE on.
If it does turn out to be asbestos then yes, cleaning the car and the other contents of the garage will become a bit of a headache. There isn’t a tap or water supply on the garage site.
One issue is that it’s not my garage; I’m only renting it. I’ve obviously contacted the landlord but haven’t heard anything back yet.
A home test kit for asbestos is about £60 so I think I’ll get one of those in the first instance and send some of the particles rather than the roofing material itself.
I don’t intend to go back into the garage without PPE on.
If it does turn out to be asbestos then yes, cleaning the car and the other contents of the garage will become a bit of a headache. There isn’t a tap or water supply on the garage site.
The good news is that asbestos fibres need to be less than 5 micron to cause disease in the lungs.
Eating them instead can cause problems at larger sizes, but this isn't a common problem unless you work with the stuff.
You may have a claim from the owner if that's asbestos, plus his roof is probably not in good shape and may fall onto you car.
What does the rental agreement say about damage / risks (assuming you have one)?
Eating them instead can cause problems at larger sizes, but this isn't a common problem unless you work with the stuff.
You may have a claim from the owner if that's asbestos, plus his roof is probably not in good shape and may fall onto you car.
What does the rental agreement say about damage / risks (assuming you have one)?
blueovercream said:
To answer an earlier question - no the walls are not insulated.
One issue is that it s not my garage; I m only renting it. I ve obviously contacted the landlord but haven t heard anything back yet.
A home test kit for asbestos is about £60 so I think I ll get one of those in the first instance and send some of the particles rather than the roofing material itself.
I don t intend to go back into the garage without PPE on.
If it does turn out to be asbestos then yes, cleaning the car and the other contents of the garage will become a bit of a headache. There isn t a tap or water supply on the garage site.
err.. if it's asbestos run a mile and never return.One issue is that it s not my garage; I m only renting it. I ve obviously contacted the landlord but haven t heard anything back yet.
A home test kit for asbestos is about £60 so I think I ll get one of those in the first instance and send some of the particles rather than the roofing material itself.
I don t intend to go back into the garage without PPE on.
If it does turn out to be asbestos then yes, cleaning the car and the other contents of the garage will become a bit of a headache. There isn t a tap or water supply on the garage site.
"Asbestos causes serious, often fatal diseases—including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis—by releasing toxic fibers when disturbed in older buildings or industrial settings, causing irreversible lung damage and cancer 20–30 years post-exposure. It remains a top cause of work-related deaths, particularly in construction, and is present in materials used before 2000"
Yes, asbestos is a real risk and should be taken seriously, but it’s also present in a large percentage of the buildings we use everyday and with sensible precautions (see HSE advice) the risk can be significantly reduced - so some context is required.
It absolutely could be a failing asbestos cement roof as others have said, and you should check the condition of the roof and get it tested if it’s poor (then comes an interesting discussion with the landlord…), but if it’s a recent thing that has suddenly happened then I’d also say that pollen or other stuff being blown in is a similarly likely cause.
It absolutely could be a failing asbestos cement roof as others have said, and you should check the condition of the roof and get it tested if it’s poor (then comes an interesting discussion with the landlord…), but if it’s a recent thing that has suddenly happened then I’d also say that pollen or other stuff being blown in is a similarly likely cause.
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