Boiler Wall Coat & Expansion Joint
Boiler wall coat and expansion joints are materials applied to industrial equipment to insulate the products. Boiler wall coat is a type of paint that is placed on the exterior of boilers to prevent heat from escaping the machine.
Expansion joints are available as a variety of products including a type of caulk or metal piece and are used to hold separate parts of buildings or other structures together. Asbestos fibers were often added to these products as the material is resistant to caustic substances and extreme temperatures.
Boiler Wall Coat
Boiler wall coat is a base coating that may be applied to the interior or exterior of industrial equipment and can withstand temperatures as high as 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Asbestos-containing boiler wall coat may be applied to the following:
- Engine parts
- Furnaces
- Boilers
- Exhaust stacks
- Grills
- Hoods
- Stoves
This insulation material was commonly applied to oil, coal, gas or wood furnaces in homes, buildings, engine rooms, shipyards and power plants. Although boiler wall coat that is currently manufactured does not contain asbestos, buildings that were constructed between the 1930s and 1970s may have asbestos insulation materials.
Boiler wall coat that is intact and whole is not considered to pose a health risk. The material is considered to be dangerous if it has begun to disintegrate or has become friable, or able to crumble into a dust with light pressure. Asbestos may become friable through sanding, grinding or sawing the material.
Expansion Joint
Expansion joints are metal pieces that help hold parts of construction together and aid in reducing the damaging effects of vibration. This product connects parts of the following construction materials:
- Sidewalks
- Bridges
- Railway tracks
- Piping systems
- Ships
- Ductwork
Extreme temperatures may cause buildings or other structures to expand or contract, resulting in structural stresses and cracks. Expansion joints work to relieve stress by allowing the movement of parts, especially in the event of an earthquake.
Expansion joints may also be available as a caulk, which is used to create a division between solid materials such as veneer walls, concrete or concrete block. Rubber and fabric may be used to reinforce the expansion joint.
Asbestos fibers encapsulated within the expansion joint may be released from the material during the process of installing, repairing or removing the asbestos material. Renovation or demolition of a structure may also disturb the expansion joint, emitting fibers into the air.
Boiler Wall Coat, Expansion Joints and Mesothelioma
Asbestos fibers that have become airborne may be breathed in or inhaled by those nearby the material. Inside the body, the microscopic fibers may become caught in the thin membrane that surrounds the lungs, heart and abdomen.
The prolonged presence of the fibers in the membrane can cause swelling and inflammation. Over time, this may cause life-threatening health conditions such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
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Last Modified Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
