Is Vinyl Composition Floor Tile Asbestos Free

Asbestos in vinyl products becomes dangerous when microscopic fibers of the mineral are released and become airborne.

Is vinyl composition floor tile asbestos free.

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. There are two types of vinyl composition tile vinyl asbestos tiles vat and vinyl composition tile or vct. 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. Unlike many asbestos containing materials vinyl asbestos flooring is generally safe to be around. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles. Most of the old stuff is a black tar based mastic which is a messy cleanup but can be done.

Vinyl is a type of plastic that has long been a popular material for floor tiles and sheets. Formulations using such a mineral filler have been found processible into floor tile using the same basic production equipment and. I spent 3 days on a 400 square foot room pulling tile bagging the stuff for proper disposal and removing the mastic. The manufacture of vinyl asbestos tile was discontinued in 1982 due to health concerns connected to asbestos.

New ceramic tile looks so much better. 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. Asbestos vinyl floor tiles. The binders and fillers include limestone clay and talc.

Vinylite contained asbestos as a filler. An asbestos free composition suitable for the manufacture of vinyl floor tile comprises a substantially uniform mixture of a minor portion of vinyl polymer resin and a major portion of mineral filler consisting essentially of calcium carbonate and kaolin clay. Our photo left shows armstrong excelon 12x12 vinyl asbestos flooring made in 1972 identified in our floor tile photo guide asbestos floor tile identification photos 1949 1959 detailed photo guide to asphalt asbestos and vinyl asbestos floor tiles and resilient flooring produced in 1900 1980. Vinyl made for a safer alternative to asbestos tile which was in common use through the first three quarters of the twentieth century.

Softer and more flexible than thermoplastic floor tiles the vinyl floor tiles are easy to confuse with the modern non asbestos floor tile types. Some vinyl floors were made with asbestos but i do not recall any adhesives.