ᐅ Does a ventilation system reliably filter asbestos particles from the air?

Good morning, dear forum,

On the neighboring properties, there are two garages with asbestos roofing. In addition, one of the neighbors stores firewood under some sheets. These are located 10 meters (33 feet) and 5 meters (16 feet) in a straight line from our ventilation system. The sheets are mostly intact and not significantly broken, and we have an ePM1 70% (F7) and ePM10 50% (M5) filter in the system, which should even filter fibers smaller than 0.1 µm. According to online sources, asbestos fibers are typically below 3 µm. Nevertheless, I wanted to ask whether there could still be a potential risk in this situation. Filters do not always capture 100%, and sometimes we notice a slight smell of smoke when heating is used extensively.

Thank you and best regards,
Christian

Asbestos is absolutely not a problem as long as you do not damage the asbestos boards. Even if your neighbor cuts the boards, the exposure outdoors should be diluted enough. A relaxed barbecue evening with an open fire is definitely more dangerous.

I am impressed at how easy it is to identify asbestos boards. I don’t see a problem here. If your information is correct, the filters should be able to handle it if necessary.

Your question is incorrectly phrased. It should be: Are those asbestos boards at my neighbor’s place? And if so, are they dangerous for me?

The answer would be: No idea what kind of boards those are. If they are asbestos boards, there is no danger. Bound asbestos is harmless. The number of fibers released naturally is about the same as the fibers released from metal or ceramic parts in your washbasin fixtures and sinks.

So the filter in the ventilation system does not matter. Even if you are sitting outside, it makes no difference.