Summary of Buildings with Asbestos-Containing Materials
While many new building-material installations are asbestos-free, there is a legacy of asbestos-containing materials in many buildings, including those at the University, particularly those built before the early 1980s. Common uses of asbestos-containing materials include insulation, wall and ceiling tiles, roofing and flooring products, insulation against fire and sound, laboratory fume hood liners, drywall joint compound in drywall walls, stucco wall plaster, etc.
For this reason, U of G workers working in proximity to and involved in tasks that may disturb asbestos containing materials must consult the Hazardous Materials Inventory (asbestos inventory) System BEFORE beginning work.
U of G building occupants are advised to consult the below overview regarding asbestos containing materials. For further information contact the Asbestos Coordinator at asbestos@uoguelph.ca for questions related to the Asbestos Management Program.
The following asbestos-containing materials have been known to contain asbestos and may be present in University buildings:
- Sprayed fireproofing used to maintain the fire integrity of structural steelwork in buildings.
- Thermal insulation used as lagging for boilers, heaters, pipes, and hot water tanks.
- Acoustic or decorative finishes applied to ceilings and walls.
- Vermiculite insulation (e.g., Zonolite-brand) used as loose fill insulation inside masonry block walls of buildings.
- Asbestos-cement sheets used for roofing and cladding of buildings, decorative and acoustic panelling, laboratory table tops and internal sidings for fume hoods and ovens.
- Asbestos- cement pipe used for electric and telephone conduits, water supply, sewage, irrigation, and drainage applications.
- Asbestos floor coverings (vinyl tiles and vinyl sheet flooring).
- Acoustic ceiling tiles.
- Paper and felt products including roofing felts, gaskets, pipeline wrap, table pads, heat protective mats and appliance insulation applications.
- Asbestos textile products including gaskets, thermal and electric insulation, welding curtains and protective clothing.
- Coatings, sealants and adhesives including roofing, wall-treating compounds and “gap” and “hole” fillers.
A summary of buildings and materials that may contain asbestos are available at the following links. An explanation of abbreviations used in this table can be found at the bottom of the pages.