I have recommended all asbestos branch circuits be replaced on my lsat inspection on a 1950’s built home. The electrician who owns the home says he will put a GFCI on each circuit so he does not have to replace wiring and he will put all open taped splices in a junction box. Any frayed wire exposing white asbestos fraying he will tape.
Any thoughts on this argument.
Where are you seeing asbestos wrapped conductors? Any photos?
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Afternoon, Dennis.
Hope to find you well and in good spirits today. Well everyday actually:-)
You have touched on a subject that was dear to me over 10-12 years ago now, likely longer. Asbestos. A dear friend and Colleague to many home inspectors here at InterNACHI, and very close personal friend with Marcel Cyr, Roy Cooke Senior, use call or email me and talk about asbestos and all things electrical. Thank you, Dennis. It brings back warm memories.
Diseases Asbestos in Electrical Panels and Wiring Can Cause
Companies like General Electric and [Westinghouse Electric made popular asbestos-containing electrical panel and wire insulation products.
| Manufacturer | Brand |
|---|---|
| General Electric | Deltabeston wires |
| Johns Manville | Ebony electric board, Electrobestos, Trancell, Vulcabestos |
| Siemens Energy & Automation | Bulldog, Murray |
| Turner & Newall | Sindanyo asbestos board |
| Union Carbide Corporation | Bakelite Panels |
Other manufacturers of these products include Allen Bradley, Cutler Hammer and Power Magnetics. Quin-T Corporation and Square D also made electrical products with asbestos.
How does any of that change the insulation properties of the wiring or cables?
If you’re referring to old cloth wiring, you still have old cloth wiring.
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Robert, you linked to this very thread in your response, not any help there for the OP.
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Thank you. I honestly do not know how that happened.
Thank you for pointing that out Dominic. Kind of you.
Will change the link shortly.
Please stick to facts please, I did no such thing.
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Marcel, I think you have maybe read the post wrong. I am so very sorry if I said something that disturbed you, Marcel.
A dear friend and Colleague to many home inspectors here at InterNACHI, and very close personal friend with Marcel Cyr, Roy Cooke Senior
I mentioned your name to honor and someway memorialize how you and Roy Cooke Senior where great true friends and how you helped InterNACHI.
Kindest of regards.
Robert
Yes, asbestos was used for wire insulation, but how can you be sure it’s asbestos without a test.
You are just guessing. Unless you did the lick test!
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Morning, Joseph. Hope to find you well and in good spirits today.
Visually, if you can see what materials the jacket is comprised of, although not conclusive or definitive like laboratory analyses, is one way of forming a suspect condition.
If/when asbestos is present in residential & commercial low voltage circuit cables, the conductor may be wrapped in a black cloth, that has a thin layer of white fibers or fibrinous material underneath the insulating jacket.
Asbestos is friable material, meaning that it crumbles easily. When closely examining the end of an electrical circuit conductor’s insulating jacket, the would be white fibrous material that looks crumbly or fragile, and could very well be asbestos.
I also read, asbestos insulation may look like lumpy dried cement.
In conclusion, I concur Joseph. How can you be sure it’s asbestos without proper testing.
I don’t take a stand on whether a client repairs something or not…Just report what you see. Let the client decide how he wants to proceed…
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What are we arguing about?
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Hey, @dbuck3
The electrician’s plan of installing GFCIs and boxing/taping splices is a band-aid, not a solution.
GFCIs don’t address the asbestos problem — they simply prevent shock. The asbestos insulation remains brittle, friable, and dangerous.
Taping over frayed sections might hide the issue temporarily, but as the wire continues to deteriorate, more segments can deteriorate.
Open splice junction boxes are a good practice, but they do not eliminate the long-term danger of asbestos exposure or electrical failure.
The majority of inspectors and safety professionals will continue to advise replacement of asbestos-wrapped wiring. It’s the only true method for getting rid of both the health risk and the fire hazard.
At Heritage Cabling Commercial Low Voltage, we always emphasize that although upgrades such as GFCIs enhance safety, full replacement alone fully remedies the asbestos danger.
ar·gu·ment
/ˈärɡyəmənt/
noun
-
an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one.
“I’ve had an argument with my father”
2.
a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong.
“there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal”
See the second definition of argument.