How To Identify Asbestos In Vinyl Sheet Flooring

In north america if asphalt or vinyl floor tiles or sheet flooring were made or installed before 1986 treat the floor as presumed to contain asbestos.

How to identify asbestos in vinyl sheet flooring.

Asbestos was used in vinyl wallpaper from the 1920s and in the vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring that rose to prominence in the 1950s. Historical information about the dates of flooring installation may also be sufficient to rule in or out the possibility that flooring in a building contains asbestos. As with any asbestos containing material acm the first step to finding asbestos in linoleum sheet flooring and vinyl tiles is. Stain proof fireproof stylish and affordable vinyl products strengthened through the inclusion asbestos in their manufacture were a very popular choice in many new zealand houses.

See vinyl asbestos floor tile packaging. To identify a particular asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tile pattern color start in the image group most likely to be the same age as your building. Always test for asbestos fibers before removing any older vinyl sheeting. If black tar is adhering to the vinyl it is almost a 100 asbestos containing fiber product.

Product photos both branded and un known sheet flooring brands. Mastic is a type of glue used to adhere tiles and vinyl flooring to the subfloor. Asbestos mastic will also always be black in color. Possible signs of asbestos mastic include discoloration and an oily texture.

A vinyl sheet flooring that looks like the above has a high chance of asbestos. If your building was built before 1980 mastic mixed with asbestos may have been used to seal your tiles to the floor.