Fireproofing
While spray-applied asbestos-containing fireproofing and girder insulation is still widely found in old construction, in some parts of the world it is still being used. Recent improvements of these sprays replace asbestos with aggregates of MMMF (man-made-mineral-fibres) including rockwool and ceramic fibres. The cementitious versions of these fireproofing sprays contain Portland cement and lightweight aggregates of the plaster vermiculite. Vermiculite ore, particularly that ore extracted from the Libby Mine in Libby, Montana, U.S.A. may contain asbestos. The U.S. EPA advises that vermiculite from the Libby Mine should be considered to be contaminated with asbestos. Since the Libby mine has been closed since 1990, currently produced ores are considered safer because they have lower asbestos content. Danger of exposure to asbestos in these spray-applied materials is greatly increased by not following proper industrial hygiene procedures and by not following abatement regulations.
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