Common use of ASBESTOS OVERVIEW Clause in Contracts

ASBESTOS OVERVIEW. Asbestos is a generic name given to a fibrous variety of naturally occurring minerals that have been used for many years in commercial products, based on specific properties of the minerals. Asbestos occurs in fiber bundles, which are composed of long and thin fibers that can be easily separated from one another. These mineral products possess high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and high electrical resistance. The minerals are easily woven into various types of textiles, fabrics, cloths, sheets, panels, or mixed into adhesives, coatings, surfacing materials and cement products. Typically asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) are segregated into three categories: Thermal System Insulation (TSI) usually found on pipes, boilers, and HVAC ducts; surfacing materials such as sprayed or troweled-on fireproofing and insulation, and plasters; and miscellaneous materials including vinyl composite floor tiles, floor sheeting, adhesives, roofing materials, window glazing and cement products.