Urban Exploration - Urbex

It's up to the individual to make an informed choice about the level of risk he's willing to take. And that includes Andrew so don't feel bad Gareth. Personally I don't think a one-off visit to a building which may contain exposed asbestos is a critical risk... although I would feel safer wearing a mask - if you were working in the building it would be another matter!

We have probably all been exposed to a little bit of asbestos at some point in the past - we still inhabit buildings that contain it, and in the past, there was a lot less caution about asbestos. I distinctly remember playing with asbestos-concrete sheeting as a child...

HSE link

Many thanks for the HSE link, very useful information.

From my understanding of asbestos (gained from following a few threads about its removal from preserved railway stock):

As a solid it's relatively harmless providing you don't consume it. The danger comes when it breaks up into fibres which drift around (which is why removal crews wear a sealed suit).

Any exposure to the dust can cause cancer later on. I've heard a tale of someone who was in a contaminated room for less than a minute (before he realised what had happened and got out) and developed the associated cancer twenty or so years later. Two breaths, that's all it took.

I'd be inclined to wear a mask of some sort for urbexing as any protection is better than none at all, it will also protect you from getting a mouthful of dirt or dislodged rust if, say, looking up and attempting to open a hatch.

While I think you need to be careful, it is not the case that a low level exposure to asbestos will inevitably lead to cancer. There are asbestos fibres in the air all around us all the time. Your friend presumably entered a room which was full of asbestos dust in the air? Even so I bet it would be hard to pin his asbestos-related cancer on that single event.

link

No one's mentioned what would happen if a floor gave way, if you trod on a spike, or if a wall collapsed onto you...

There is an element of risk to exploring a derelict building... that's part of the enjoyment. Need to be sensible while accepting a bit of risk makes life a bit more... vivid.

From what I've read Weil's disease and salmonella, etc, pose a far greater danger than asbestos in Urbex. You could inhale asbestos dust from a place where there is asbestos, but there's a list of deadly bacterial infections that might be picked up anywhere that rats and pigeons wander.

Basic precautions should be enough to keep the average fit person safe, but the risks are there.

These things are rubbish

Not wishing to understate the risk of asbestos, but the stuff to avoid getting close to - spray applied (aka flock) and pipe lagging (ie 80-90% pure) went out of use by the mid 70's. If you know what to look out for and where it might have been used (fire protection of steelwork, high temp water/steam pipes and boiler rooms) then it's less of an issue. A PP3 mask isn't something you pick up in your local DIY store. The lesser evil - Asbestos Insulation Board - is easy to avoid - don't stand on, break or otherwise disturb any dull grey/white board. No fibre release, no hazard (same for flock and pipe lagging).

I have responsibility for the stuff, have the occasional close and personal encounter with it and so perhaps I'm a little more pragmatic than most here.

But as a surveyor, I think the real risk is unstable and weak structures - floors particularly.

Moving around any old and abandoned building needs to be done with a lot of care - slow and methodical, assessing the route in every space before moving.


Steve

Indeed. First rule is to NEVER go on your own.

28 Days Later is probably 'the' Urbex forum ... their FAQ here is good advice ...

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/faq.php

I was feeling quite healthy till I read this thread, now I realise that as I worked for a couple of year making both white and red lead paint and also worked a couple of years for Mintex selling and distributing Asbestos brake and clutch linings, then spent years in the plumbing & electrical trade crawling around old houses..... I dont have much to look forward to

I went back to RAF Upwood today. Did some buildings I missed the last time. Found the huge boiler room which serviced the many dorms with hot water and heating.

ASBESTOS CITY!!!





Huge 2 foot diameter pipes lagged with the stuff, and some of it was crumbling off too. Looked positively evil. We were extremely careful not to get near it or disturb it and came away with some cool pics from that building. Trouble is that kids will be playing around in this stuff and disturbing it, which looks like what has happened as some of the pipes look like they been damaged.




Took my Canon shooting buddy who hadn't been there before. He loved the place

I'll post a photo set in a few days. I'm still editing a preious shoot at the moment

I've had a word with a friend who is in the business of asbestos removal.

His advice is to leave asbestos alone. "If left, the danger is not great, but if disturbed it's extremely hazardous. Although in theory a single fibre is enough to cause trouble...

He wears a mask marked P3 and this will protect. He uses a compete rubber mask, but a P3 mask should suffice."

His advice, as above, is offered as told to me.

Please take extreme care.

Back in the late 60's, pipe fitters at ICI used to "snowball" with asbestos. Instrument people used to use it a lot to re-seal thermocouple points etc. Most are now dead. Around the Middle East thousands have been exposed and hundreds died due to exposure at work. Their governments don't recognise the issue and there is no compensation.

Fine asbestos dust is airborne due to thermal activity or air currents and does not need you to physically disturb it. Old pipes expand and contract just as other metals, this causes fragmentation.

Dust can be on your clothing, then home to the wife & kids.

Disposable over suit and mask with wellington boots (washable) is a safer bet. Head covering etc etc. But what about your kit? WR is not asbestos immune.

Best regards