What is asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring? Asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring is where the ‘backing’ (the side attached to the floor— see Figure 1) contains friable (easily broken) asbestos material.
Figure 1 – Asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring The vinyl sheeting itself does not contain asbestos, however, manufacturers sometimes incorporated a felt-like 'backing' for cushioning purposes. It is this backing which contains asbestos (typically 80–100 per cent). Usually applied in sheet form, a lot of asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring had a ‘terrazzo’ type (colourful marble or stone chip) pattern on the surface. It is most commonly found in buildings constructed before the mid–1980s.
Figure 2 – Asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring. What is the risk of exposure from asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring? As the asbestos backing is sealed from the atmosphere by the overlaying vinyl, the risk of exposure to airborne fibres from asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring is low unless the vinyl material is damaged or disturbed. Minor defects such as cracks, peeling or small worn patches in the surface vinyl will generally not cause asbestos to become airborne. However, asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring with defects must not be subject to mechanical abrasion as these kind of activities may cause further deterioration. In cases where vinyl sheet flooring has been damaged to the extent where the asbestos containing material on the underside is disturbed, a hazard assessment must be undertaken by a competent person to assess what control measures must be implemented to control any risk. Where asbestos backed vinyl sheet flooring is to be removed, it must only be removed by an A Class asbestos removal licence holder in accordance with the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2011. What are asbestos containing vinyl tiles? Asbestos vinyl tiles contain 8–30 per cent asbestos in a tightly bonded matrix (see Figure 3).
They do not have a 'backing' and are usually glued directly to the floor. It should be noted that glue used to adhere the asbestos vinyl tiles to the floor may also contain asbestos.