What distinguishes friable from non-friable Asbestos?

When Asbestos is disturbed or tampered with, Its fibres can be discharged into the air and then inhaled causing lung diseases, breathing issues and possibly Cancer. Due to these concerns, a complete ban was placed on the use of Asbestos in the UK for any use in 1999.

Due to its numerous qualities, Asbestos was frequently utilised as a building material, especially during the 20th century. Asbestos is robust, affordable, heat resistant and fireproof, making it an excellent material for construction and manufacturing. It wasn’t until the wake of the 21st century that the serious health risks associated to it were realised. Read more about the dangers of Asbestos here

One might think, how does such an enduring material cause such a dangerous risk to our health? The most important factor that contributes to its dangerous effects is its ‘friability’. This blog aims to inform you about what friability is and the distinction between friable and non-friable Asbestos.  

Friable Asbestos is a form of Asbestos that is considerably more vulnerable to damage and may be easily broken which would lead to it releasing inhalable Asbestos fibres into the air. Friable Asbestos material contains more than 1% Asbestos by weight and can be readily damaged by hand.

Non-friable also referred to as bonded Asbestos, in contrast, is less prone to release dangerous fibres into the air because it is more resistant to tearing and abrasion. Nevertheless, does not mean that the material is safe to handle. Over time, these materials may become crumbled or powdery mainly due to wear and tear, accidental and weather damage or just age.

Summary:

Friable VS Non-Friable

Difference: Friable Asbestos crumbles, frays, or breaks with little effort while Non-friable Asbestos can’t be easily damaged during standard use.

Similarity: Both are cancer-causing, Asbestos-containing material (ACM) made with at least 1% of the dangerous material.

If you're interested in learning more about Asbestos check out our blog posts here or if you're working somewhere where Asbestos exposure might be a concern, contact us for emergency response.

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