Asbestos At Alfreton

[MG11]

I visited Alfreton station and noticed on the ceiling that there are asbestos warnings! This was quite alarming, having heard the horror stories about asbestos. The station has been recently refurbished. Why would the asbestos be left? What would the dangers be if say vandals climbed in to the roof (wouldn't be difficult as it isn't that high and it is a flat surface) and disturbed the asbestos? How many more stations have asbestos?

 

[headshot119]

I visited Alfreton station and noticed on the ceiling that there are asbestos warnings! This was quite alarming, having heard the horror stories about asbestos. The station has been recently refurbished. Why would the asbestos be left? What would the dangers be if say vandals climbed in to the roof (wouldn't be difficult as it isn't that high and it is a flat surface) and disturbed the asbestos? How many more stations have asbestos?

Asbestos is extremely expensive to remove, it can also be very difficult to remove it depending on what it was used for. Sometimes it's best just to encase it, and leave it be.

There's asbestos in many buildings throughout the UK, I wouldn't let it bother you too much.

 

[ilkestonian]

The warnings are there for the benefit of anyone planning / needing to disturb the ceiling to carry out work. As the previous poster mentioned, encased and undisturbed asbestos is fine, and very prevalent in older buildings.

 

[edwin_m]

The fact the warnings are there is encouraging, because it means it is known about and someone will check its condition from time to time and do something about it if it is getting dangerous*. It's the unknown asbestos that's more of a worry.

*That will probably involve closing the station building though...

 

[yorksrob]

*That will probably involve closing the station building though...

Its not a particularly architecturally impressive station, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[thejuggler]

Property owners/operators have a duty to survey their properties for asbestos and record their findings. Asbestos is present in thousands of properties, removing it all is impossible so better to find and record its present.

Asbestos was used in at least 5,000 different products, including mad things like children’s clothes so they were safe in front of the open fire (they weren’t!) and for Christmas it was available in powder form to use as fake snow!

In reality it was only useful in 4-5 applications it was ever used for, alternatives were always available.

Thankfully we have moved on, but its presence will always be around us. Just don’t go demolishing the station and sniffing the fibres!

 

[LowLevel]

I visited Alfreton station and noticed on the ceiling that there are asbestos warnings! This was quite alarming, having heard the horror stories about asbestos. The station has been recently refurbished. Why would the asbestos be left? What would the dangers be if say vandals climbed in to the roof (wouldn't be difficult as it isn't that high and it is a flat surface) and disturbed the asbestos? How many more stations have asbestos?

There's asbestos all over the place. Just don't smash it up and you'll be fine. I suspect that if you removed the asbestos from Alfreton station building, being a truly nasty contrivance from the 1970s there would be very little building left and you may as well start again - which is exactly what is planned if and when funding ever becomes available.

 

[DarloRich]

It is perfectly safe unless disturbed or broken up as it is the fibres within it that are dangerous.

The stickers are a warning to contractors to take appropriate precautions when working in that area and to ensure waste is treated correctly.

We also dont know what type of asbestos it is. In the condition described iy is harmless so chill out.

Btw OP if your home is of an age before the mid 80's it is likely there is asbestos in your home in some form.

 

[edwin_m]

Its not a particularly architecturally impressive station, so I wouldn't worry too much.

True, but I think it could get a bit chilly in Alfreton at this time of year if the train is late again.

 

[yorksrob]

True, but I think it could get a bit chilly in Alfreton at this time of year if the train is late again.

Fair point. Maybe they'll do it in the summer !

 

[MG11]

Fair point. Maybe they'll do it in the summer !

There is the space to install a portakabin on the grounds and cordon the area off. The car park *seems* underused, so I wonder if a portakabin there to act as a ticket office/waiting room would suffice while demolition is taking place.

 

[yorksrob]

There is the space to install a portakabin on the grounds and cordon the area off. The car park *seems* underused, so I wonder if a portakabin there to act as a ticket office/waiting room would suffice while demolition is taking place.

I'm sure they'd make some arrangements for the passengers whilst they're rebuilding it !

 

[E_Reeves]

Doesn't the footbrige at Peterborough have asbestos?

 

[D365]

Doesn't the footbrige at Peterborough have asbestos?

There’s definitely warning signs on the ramped access bridge at the north end - not sure about the main stairs/lift footbridge.

 

[furnessvale]

Doesn't the footbrige at Peterborough have asbestos?

The whole railway system, nay, the whole country, is covered in asbestos.

As others have said, it is perfectly safe unless it is disturbed, hence the notices to warn contractors.

Let's not blow this out of proportion lest some passing hack looks in and finds another cheap stick to beat the railways with!

 

[DarloRich]

Doesn't the footbrige at Peterborough have asbestos?

We dont need a list of everywhere we see asbestos warning stickers. In an umcompromised state asbestos is harmless and is close to you at any time.

The big danger is finding unknown asbestos during building works.

Clear simple information on asbestos and the risks is available on line.

 

[skyhigh]

There is the space to install a portakabin on the grounds and cordon the area off. The car park *seems* underused, so I wonder if a portakabin there to act as a ticket office/waiting room would suffice while demolition is taking place.

This seems to have escalated quickly from 'it's not a problem' to how to demolish the place!

 

[DarloRich]

This seems to have escalated quickly from 'it's not a problem' to how to demolish the place!

The point is that if such work is required the contractors will habe access to the information about the location of any asbestos to be removed. They can then oaln to handle and dispose of the waste correctly and protect thier workers while they do the work

 

[Bletchleyite]

This seems to have escalated quickly from 'it's not a problem' to how to demolish the place!

Which may be the worst thing you could do in terms of releasing it

Are the stickers on a fragile roof? If so, this is common and is to dissuade people (whether they are supposed to be up there or not) from climbing on it, as it is likely not to hold their weight and when damaged will release fibres.

 

[Pete_uk]

My nan and gramp lived in a wood and asbestos bungalow for decades. Like so many other things, as long as its respected its fine.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Encapsulation by a membrane type coating is imho the best way of containing asbestos.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Encapsulation by a membrane type coating is imho the best way of containing asbestos.

Or in a less technical description, "painting it".

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Or in a less technical description, "painting it".

Yes but what most people think of paint it is too thin film. So a coating (I prefer coating to paint) that forms a membrane - so at least 1 mm thick that is also flame retardant, is ideal. But it can be brush, roller or spray applied - or even on a horizontal surface poured on squeegeed and back rolled - so applied like paint.

 

[30907]

My 60s garage and utility has stickers on its flat roof (underside!) after the landlord did a check. I'm not the only one, I'm sure...

 

[edwin_m]

This seems to have escalated quickly from 'it's not a problem' to how to demolish the place!

I think that's more because it's a bit of a dump than because it contains asbestos.

 

[yorksrob]

My 60s garage and utility has stickers on its flat roof (underside!) after the landlord did a check. I'm not the only one, I'm sure...

My parents garage was built entirely of asbestos panels. They replaced it with a concrete one (albeit with what looked like an asbestos roof) in the 80's.

 

[syorksdeano]

I bet they are some old trains running around with asbestos somewhere

 

[Bromley boy]

I bet they are some old trains running around with asbestos somewhere

I’m sure I read on here once that HST brakes contain it. Quite possibly nonsense, of course.

Presumably many preserved steam locos still contain it in boiler linings.

 

[D365]

We dont need a list of everywhere we see asbestos warning stickers. In an umcompromised state asbestos is harmless and is close to you at any time.

Nobody has asked for such a list. The point was that Peterborough is a notable example of where this type of warning can be found.

 

[DarloRich]

It can be found almost anywhere! It is hardly notr worthy Peterborough or otherwise