#Asbestos drywall plaster how to

How to Test Plaster for Asbestos WARNING: Do not attempt this unless you are an experienced professional!īefore going near any plaster that potentially contains asbestos, ensure you are wearing OSHA-approved protective clothing, gloves, goggles, and a respirator. Asbestos can be found in the plaster mixes used to construct fire-rated walls in the mid 20th century.

You should assume that any older damaged plaster in fire-rated walls contains asbestos until a sample has been tested. Damaged asbestos plaster is known as “friable asbestos”, which means the material can easily break and crumble, releasing asbestos fibers into the atmosphere. Unless records were kept of a building’s construction and renovation work on a building, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to determine what brand of plaster is in any building without a laboratory test.Īsbestos plaster is most dangerous when it is damaged.

Keene plaster made from 1963 to 1971 contains asbestos.

Synkoloid plaster made between 19 contains asbestos.

United States Gypsum plaster produced between the years 1920 to 1975 contains asbestos.

Georgia-Pacific “Acoustical” and “Patching” plaster made from 1950 to 1976 contains asbestos.

National Gypsum produced various varieties of their “Gold Bond” brand of plaster between 19 which contains asbestos.

Grace produced asbestos plaster between 19 However, here is a list of some of the most common plaster brands and product names that have been proven to contain asbestos: There is no comprehensive list of brands of plaster that contain asbestos. Which Brands of Plaster Contain Asbestos? To ensure everyone’s safety, if you know a wall is fire rated and was built before 1990, you should assume that it contains asbestos and get a sample of the plaster tested immediately.

Most houses don’t have asbestos plaster in them. Usually asbestos was only added to walls that were fire rated, such as elevator shaft walls and the walls in commercial buildings. In most cases, just performing a visual inspection won’t be adequate to determine whether or not any plaster has asbestos in it. Older brands of cement may have asbestos fibers in the plaster mix. Plaster only has to be comprised of 1% asbestos to be considered an asbestos containing material (ACM) and therefore a health hazard. Up until the late 1980s, fire-rated walls were commonly produced with asbestos and plaster mixes. There are 3 common varieties of asbestos plaster: cement plaster, gypsum (AKA Plaster-of-Paris), and lime plaster (which is mostly used in artistic sculpture).Īsbestos is one of the best fire resistant materials in the world, and when asbestos is combined with plaster compounds it produces excellent fire resistant and heat resistant walls and ceilings.