ᐅ Setting Up a Workshop in the Basement: Health Concerns?
Created on: 4 Apr 2021 19:10
K
kellerdwellerK
kellerdweller4 Apr 2021 19:10Hello everyone.
I am planning to set up a workshop in a basement room. Since the building is old, I have some health-related questions. The house with the basement is about 150 years old and located in Switzerland, so there is a possibility that asbestos was used during construction. Additionally, the basement walls are masonry, and the house is in an area where radon gas may be present.
What I have already noticed is that the heating pipes are covered with exposed insulation. The heating system was replaced in 2016, but I am not sure about the materials used:
[IMG alt="IsolierungCol-01(1).png"]https://www.hausbau-forum.de/data/attachments/59/59062-1a3397cac8af18def274fe1d43738b70.jpg[/IMG]
I assume one of the materials is fiberglass; I am not sure about the grey material.
If more pictures are needed, I can gladly post additional ones.
Thank you in advance!
I am planning to set up a workshop in a basement room. Since the building is old, I have some health-related questions. The house with the basement is about 150 years old and located in Switzerland, so there is a possibility that asbestos was used during construction. Additionally, the basement walls are masonry, and the house is in an area where radon gas may be present.
- Therefore, my first question is: what should be considered for such a renovation? I am thinking about installing a radon detector and possibly having an asbestos dust sample taken.
What I have already noticed is that the heating pipes are covered with exposed insulation. The heating system was replaced in 2016, but I am not sure about the materials used:
[IMG alt="IsolierungCol-01(1).png"]https://www.hausbau-forum.de/data/attachments/59/59062-1a3397cac8af18def274fe1d43738b70.jpg[/IMG]
I assume one of the materials is fiberglass; I am not sure about the grey material.
- My second question is what these materials might be (and whether they are hazardous), and how to deal with them? I would probably just cover them with wood paneling.
If more pictures are needed, I can gladly post additional ones.
Thank you in advance!
K
knalltüte5 Apr 2021 18:27The insulation on the heating pipes looks like it dates from around 1970–1980. We had something similar. Most likely, beneath the gray, fairly thick plastic covering, there is unpleasantly itchy glass wool. In my opinion, the other types of insulation are probably not harmful to health either. However, you can only be sure if a professional examines it or tests a sample.
But you don’t suspect asbestos installed 150 years ago, right? Rather, as part of a renovation? As far as I know, asbestos is largely harmless as long as it is not cut or disturbed because no dust is released. You can finish the workshop nicely with drywall (seal everything dust-tight) — and that’s it.
Unfortunately, I can’t answer the radon aspect, but I seem to remember that every long-distance flight exposes people to quite high levels of radiation. Yet, flying hasn’t decreased. Besides, hopefully, you won’t be living in the future workshop. Measure the radon levels once, check the limit values, and calculate how long you can stay there without risk. Then the issue is settled. 😎
But you don’t suspect asbestos installed 150 years ago, right? Rather, as part of a renovation? As far as I know, asbestos is largely harmless as long as it is not cut or disturbed because no dust is released. You can finish the workshop nicely with drywall (seal everything dust-tight) — and that’s it.
Unfortunately, I can’t answer the radon aspect, but I seem to remember that every long-distance flight exposes people to quite high levels of radiation. Yet, flying hasn’t decreased. Besides, hopefully, you won’t be living in the future workshop. Measure the radon levels once, check the limit values, and calculate how long you can stay there without risk. Then the issue is settled. 😎
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