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IG BAU warns of asbestos hazards during the renovation of older buildings, which may also affect PVC used in construction. Commercial and private building owners, tradespeople, and DIY enthusiasts must be informed, experts say, and they are calling for, among other things, a building hazardous substances certificate that indicates hazard levels and exposure levels.
There are millions of metric tons of asbestos in Germany’s older buildings. During renovation work, this carcinogenic substance can be released and become a serious problem. The Industrial Union of Construction, Agriculture, and Environment (IG BAU) is therefore warning of a new asbestos hazard: “We are at the beginning of two decades of renovation. Energy-efficient building renovation is set to gain tremendous momentum. At the same time, Germany is undergoing a transformation: existing buildings are being converted into new and additional living space. Residential buildings are being modernized, remodeled to meet the needs of seniors and families, or expanded upward. With this wave of renovation, an ‘asbestos wave’ now threatens the construction industry. “It is a danger—for construction workers just as much as for DIY enthusiasts,” says Gerhard Citrich, a member of the IG BAU Federal Executive Board responsible for the construction sector, the building materials industry, and occupational safety.
IG BAU warns of an “invisible danger” posed by asbestos: It all starts with construction dust and the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Construction workers and DIY enthusiasts have virtually no way of recognizing this danger. It can take up to 30 years before a diagnosis is made: asbestosis—along with lung, peritoneal, or laryngeal cancer.
IG BAU intends to counter the looming “asbestos wave” with a package of measures and has launched a “Asbestos Charter” setting out key demands for greater protection against asbestos. In it, the union calls for, among other things, a hazardous-substance building certificate with different hazard levels based on a building’s specific asbestos exposure. “Every construction worker and every do-it-yourselfer needs to know what they’re getting into when they remove tiles, tear down walls, or renovate facades,” said Gerhard Citrich.
This carcinogenic mineral fiber is found in many building materials—including the PVC used in flooring. This has actually been known for a long time. For decades, Stiftung Warentest has been advising that old subfloors should be inspected for contaminants such as toxic adhesives or asbestos panels before new flooring is installed.
This applies in particular to PVC floors installed before 1993, which may still contain asbestos. The health risk depends primarily on how firmly the asbestos is bound within the material and whether there is any damage that could lead to the release of asbestos fibers.
According to the Federal Office for Health, the following floor coverings contain weakly or firmly bound asbestos:
Cushioned vinyls (also known as cushion vinyl or cushion PVC flooring)—floor coverings with a PVC top layer and a thin layer of asbestos paper as the underlayment—pose a health risk due to the weakly bound asbestos.
If the floor was intact and fully adhered, it was not uncommon for a new floor to be installed over it. The risk of releasing large quantities of asbestos is therefore very high if plans are in place to remove the floor and the underlying backing board. Only specialized contractors are permitted to perform this work.
PVC floor panels/tiles (also known as Floor-Flex or Flex panels) contain asbestos. Although originally firmly bound, the fibers can become dislodged from old, porous panels. An intact floor can be overlaid; damaged floors must be disposed of by specialized contractors in accordance with appropriate safety measures.
Asbestos-containing PVC floor coverings (also known as vinyl floor coverings) were installed in all rooms of both public buildings and private residences until 1993. Large-area PVC flooring poses a health hazard if the material is damaged and asbestos fibers are released as a result. The health risk is greatest when the flooring is removed and asbestos-containing materials, such as tile or carpet adhesive, are sanded down. In addition, even modern PVC flooring can be harmful to health.
To identify the needs of private homeowners and DIY enthusiasts who are also tackling flooring as part of their renovation projects, we spoke with Gerhard Citrich, an occupational safety expert and co-initiator of the “Asbestos Charter” at IG BAU.
What do you hope to achieve with the Asbestos Charter and the Building Hazardous Substances Certificate?
Introducing the Asbestos Charter and a Building Hazardous Substances Certificate means greater planning certainty for companies and tradespeople. It can quite simply save lives by preventing diseases caused by asbestos.
Why is this also important for private homeowners and DIYers?
Private builders and DIY enthusiasts, in particular, need to be informed about the risks and the proper procedures, because this information is generally not provided at the home improvement stores where they purchase all the necessary materials.
How do you assess the health risk posed by asbestos-containing PVC flooring installed before 1993?
I consider this risk to be very high. This is especially true because people are often unaware that the adhesives used in older buildings contain asbestos.
In your opinion, would it be advisable to install new vinyl flooring containing PVC today?
The use of known harmful substances should always be avoided.
In this context, how do you view the use of PVC-free alternatives?
Of course, it would generally be a good thing to avoid harmful substances and use materials that are free of them.
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