Asbestos is the generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals. There are two major groups of asbestos:
• the serpentine group contains chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos
• the amphibole group contains amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos), as well as some other less common types, such as tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite.
Since 31 December 2000, using all forms of asbestos has been banned.
Serpentine Group
Chrysotile is the only form of asbestos that has been used commercially from the serpentine group.
In the past, chrysotile has been used in the manufacture of:
• asbestos cloth, tapes, ropes and gaskets for packing, and in thermal and chemical insulation
• asbestos cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services
• rubber, plastics, thermosetting resins, adhesives, paints, coatings, caulking compounds and sealants for thermal, electrical and insulation applications
• fire-rated doors, equipment and structural beams of buildings
• fillers and filters.
Until recently, chrysotile was used almost exclusively in the manufacture of packing and friction material, such as gaskets, and brake and clutch linings. Take care that imported products do not contain any chrysotile asbestos
Amphibole Group
Until the early 1980s, amosite and crocidolite were used in many products but, in the mid-1980s, the use of all types of asbestos in the amphibole group was banned. The products included:
• asbestos cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services
• thermal, acoustic and chemical insulation – eg fire-rated doors, limpet spray, lagging and gaskets.
Working With Asbestos Guide 2008
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