Do not identify by appearance
INFOCARQUIM lists certain refractory ceramic fibres as category 1B carcinogens. This classification must not automatically be applied to every glass or rock wool, or ruled out because of similar appearance.
Manufacturer documentation, a safety data sheet and information about the installed material are needed. Old insulation of unknown identity may require specialist characterisation, including checking for possible asbestos.
Assess the material after use
INSST’s NTP 642 notes that certain refractory insulation may contain crystalline silica after high-temperature use. Information about the original product may therefore not fully describe the material being removed.
Assessment must consider service history, degradation and planned operations. Measurements taken while installing new material should not be extrapolated to demolition or removal.
Locate fibre-releasing tasks
Cutting, fitting, handling and removal may release fibres or dust. Include cleaning, bagging, internal transport and maintenance of extraction systems, not only installation.
Planning must identify nearby workers and prevent contamination of other areas. Even a brief task may require controls if it generates significant emissions.
Choose coherent sampling
NTP 642 distinguishes fibre-count assessment from particle-mass measurement. The results are not interchangeable. The method must correspond to the material and current reference value, checked in the LEP database.
A count or weighing does not always identify the material’s nature. Characterisation and quantification answer different questions and must be planned with the laboratory.
Apply controls according to classification
In Spain, Royal Decree 374/2001 applies, and where appropriate Royal Decree 665/1997. Consider alternatives, supply forms and working methods that reduce release and handling.
Containment, extraction and appropriate cleaning take priority over reliance solely on personal protection. Clothing and waste must be managed to avoid spreading fibres to changing rooms, vehicles or shared areas.
Verify before closing the work
Completion must include review of cleaning, waste and conditions for returning the area to normal use. Protective equipment is selected according to exposure and task, with instructions for removal without spreading contamination.
Results and material identification must be retained for future interventions. Recording the insulation installed avoids repeating uncertainty at the next maintenance activity.
Hypothetical example: furnace repair
Before removing insulation, a company retrieves its documentation and reviews service conditions. It establishes that assessment must consider aged material, not just the new replacement’s data sheet.
It plans characterisation, removal and cleaning with appropriate resources. The procedure clearly distinguishes removed insulation from the material to be installed afterwards.
