Is Vinyl Composition Floor Tile Asbestos Free

Formulations using such a mineral filler have been found processible into floor tile using the same basic production equipment and.

Is vinyl composition floor tile asbestos free.

But that changes as soon as you decide to remove it. Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Vinyl composition tile was invented in the 1930 s and was first presented in the vinylite house at chicago s 1933 century of progress exhibition. The major substitute for vinyl asbestos floor tile is asbestos free vinyl composition tile.

Vinyl composition tile is a flooring material used primarily in commercial applications. The binders and fillers include limestone clay and talc. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles. Vinylite contained asbestos as a filler.

Vinyl made for a safer alternative to asbestos tile which was in common use through the first three quarters of the twentieth century. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Asbestos free vinyl floor tile in accordance with the invention is manufactured from a composition comprising a minor proportion of vinyl polymer and a major proportion of a mineral filler consisting essentially of selected bulking agents and kaoline clay as a reinforcing agent.

If the material is in good condition it normally does not pose a threat because the asbestos is enclosed in vinyl preventing the fibers from escaping. Most of the old stuff is a black tar based mastic which is a messy cleanup but can be done. Some vinyl floors were made with asbestos but i do not recall any adhesives. New ceramic tile looks so much better.

There are two types of vinyl composition tile vinyl asbestos tiles vat and vinyl composition tile or vct. Asbestos in vinyl products becomes dangerous when microscopic fibers of the mineral are released and become airborne. Softer and more flexible than thermoplastic floor tiles the vinyl floor tiles are easy to confuse with the modern non asbestos floor tile types. Manufacturers have reformulated their mixtures using a combination of synthetic fibers fillers binders resins and glass.

The only way to be certain about the asbestos content of any floor tile is to have them sampled and analysed by a ukas accredited asbestos laboratory. The manufacture of vinyl asbestos tile was discontinued in 1982 due to health concerns connected to asbestos.