Asbestos in conductors

[mphillipps]

How do I identify asbestos used in conductors and what safety preconditions do I need to follow while stripping back the old insulation?

 

[drbond24]

First, you pay someone else to identify asbestos.

Second, there is only one safety precaution with asbestos. LEAVE IT COMPLETELY ALONE. That stuff will kill you.

Seriously.

 

[mphillipps]

Was there asbestos used as conductor insulation in circa 1960 homes?
I'm a small business. Sure I'd like to have a inspection of each older home or business building but in my real world working operation that's not going to happen.

 

[Fulthrotl]

Was there asbestos used as conductor insulation in circa 1960 homes?
I'm a small business. Sure I'd like to have a inspection of each older home or business building but in my real world working operation that's not going to happen.

i think most everything at that point was thermoplastic. had been for a while.

 

[mphillipps]

"thermoplastic" does this mean no asbestos?
When was asbestos used?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I believe that the only asbestos that would ever be found in house wiring would be the leads on old light fixtures. Old fixture wire had asbestos.

 

[drbond24]

"thermoplastic" does this mean no asbestos?

Thermoplastic is like THHN/THWN. No asbestos.

Messing with asbestos when you don't know what you're doing is serious. If you make the stuff friable then you're killing yourself and the people in the home you are working on. If you suspect you might be dealing with asbestos, refuse the work. Tell the homeowner they need to pay someone to survey their home for asbestos and remove it if it is present. Once they have taken care of the asbestos, they can call you back.

Also, get some training on asbestos so you understand how serious it is. They don't make a big deal over this stuff for no reason.