Where is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos may be found in many different products and many different places. Examples of products that might contain asbestos are:

• Sprayed-on fire proofing and insulation in buildings
• Insulation for pipes and boilers
• Wall and ceiling insulation
• Ceiling tiles
• Floor tiles
• Putties, caulks, and cements (such as in chemical carrying cement pipes)
• Roofing shingles
• Siding shingles on old residential buildings
• Wall and ceiling texture in older buildings and homes
• Joint compound in older buildings and homes
• Brake linings and clutch pads

At OSU, asbestos is most likely to be found in:

• Sprayed-on insulation in locations such as various mechanical rooms, steel reinforcing beams, and some ceilings in older buildings
• Ceiling tiles in buildings built prior to 1981
• Most 9" floor tiles in buildings built prior to 1981
• A few 12" floor tiles in buildings built prior to 1981
• Insulation around pipes and boilers, and
• Interiors of fire doors

Buildings that have asbestos-containing materials in them will have notices posted near the main entrances, frequently near the fire alarm panel.

Pipe and boiler insulation that contains asbestos will be labeled with identifying stickers and placards.

Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles will not be labeled or marked. These tiles cannot be differentiated from other tile by visual means - they must be analyzed by a laboratory test.

Click here for a list of OSU buildings that are asbestos safe.

 What Is Asbestos?

 Where is it Found?

 When is it Dangerous?

 How To Avoid Exposure

 Quiz

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Reviewed December 2007