Within the last year I’ve been the Project Monitor on numerous asbestos abatement projects. I collect air samples, and perform the visual inspections to determine the thouroughness of the work. When removing floor tile typically a low odor mastic remover is used, basically a moderate solvent. Unfortunatelly there are often some undesired odors associated with normal low odeor mastic remover (ironic), the remover may actually penetrate the underlying substrate and leave some residue.
Recently in several of the projects I was involved in, the asbestos abatement contractors have used a soy bean-derived mastic remover. I immediately noticed it has a much milder odor, and less offensive volatile components. Off the cuff I would say it is 85-95% as effective as regular mastic remover, so a little more elbow grease is required. The tradeoff in efficiency is well worth the reduced complaints from clients and adjacent tenants, particularly where ventilation is reduced or limmitted.
There are many soy-bean derived products but I am most familliar with “Bean E Doo” from Franmar:
If you have an upcomming asbestos floor tile abatement please consider asking your abatement contractor if a soy-bean mastic remover is a good fit for your project. Your tenants or neighbours will thank you!
Tags: · Asbestos · Asbestos Abatement · Bean E Doo · Floor Tile · Mastic Remover1 Comment
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here is a picture of the difference between floor before bean-e-doo and floor after bean-e-doo. left is before. right is after.
http://paants.com/users/denni/pictures/beanedoo.jpg