Asbestos millboard is a sheet-like insulating material pressed from almost pure asbestos fibre. It was used as thermal insulation and fire protection from the 1920s to the 1970s. Because its asbestos content is extremely high (in some products close to 100 percent), asbestos millboard is one of the most dangerous asbestos materials of all - it releases dust readily even when handled gently.
Where was asbestos millboard used?
- Around fireplaces and flues - fire protection for stoves, sauna heaters and boilers
- As insulation on heating pipes and boilers - especially at bends and penetrations
- In electrical equipment and distribution boards - the backing of old fuse boards and the insulation in cookers
- At ventilation duct penetrations
- In fire protection for doors - old fire doors and boiler room doors
How do you recognise asbestos millboard?
- Greyish or dirty-white in colour, sometimes painted
- Cardboard-like, layered structure - it bends slightly before it breaks
- Fine fibres come loose from the surface when it is scratched
- Located close to a heat source in an old building (built before roughly 1980)
Confirmation is only possible in a laboratory - a small piece is enough for a sample. Dampen the material before sampling and wear at least a P3 respirator, because asbestos millboard produces a great deal of dust. The analysis costs 39,90 € + VAT.
What should you do if you find asbestos millboard?
- Do not remove or break the material - while it is intact it releases very few fibres
- Take a sample carefully, or order a survey if you would rather not handle the material yourself
- After a positive result, order the removal from an authorised asbestos removal company - see the price of asbestos removal
And what about chipboard - does it contain asbestos?
A common question: chipboard does not normally contain asbestos. Chipboard is a panel pressed from wood chips and glue. The confusion arises because the coatings, fillers and joint tapes on chipboard walls and ceilings may contain asbestos, and there may be asbestos millboard behind the panels as fire protection, for example near flues. If you are taking apart old chipboard structures around heat sources, check what is revealed behind the panel.