Foam Carpet Underlay Asbestos

It was recently discovered that at the height of the asbestos manufacturing period between 1950 to the 1970s hessian bags used to transport imported asbestos as well as raw asbestos from the mine at wittenoom to perth were recycled and used to make carpet underlay.

Foam carpet underlay asbestos.

Normally carpet padding is constructed of man made or natural fibers rubber or urethane foam products. Density rebound the contractor 8 5 16 in. The contractor 8 5 16 in. This product is superior for berber carpet and indoor commercial applications as it provides a comfortable feel at an affordable price.

Density rebound carpet pad with attached moisture barrier protects your floors and extends the life of your carpet while providing added comfort to your step. Unlike the backer on some resilient flooring products or sheet flooring carpet padding would not normally contain asbestos. Precautions should always be taken when disturbing or removing old carpet and underlay. Also asbestos was used in the adhesive to glue down the carpet underlay which is usually a black bitumous material.

Asbestos containing hessian bags were re used in some carpet underlay these may contain friable asbestos. Jo grgurich picked up the hessian bags for fremantle bag company in western australia in the late 1950s where four of his work colleagues have since died from the cancer mesothelioma. Made from asbestos wool jute and even materials such as goat hair these bags would be shredded and cleaned. Carpet underlay made and installed since the mid 1970s was generally made from synthetic or natural materials that would not contain or have been contaminated with asbestos.

Asbestos was also used in the adhesive to glue down the carpet underlay this is usually a black bitumous material with non friable asbestos. Many australian homes may still have carpet underlay which contains the deadly asbestos fibres. Carpet underlay was often made from old hessian bags in the 1960s and 1970s and these bags sometimes came from abroad having been used to ship goods. Asbestos carpet underlay the people most at risk from the asbestos fibres in hessian bags are those who worked in the recycling environment.