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FILE NAME Insulation Contractors & Distributors ICD DATE 1970 Apr DOC ICD008 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Article from NICA Journal - Environmental Exposures in the Insulation Trade 2 2 664878 April 1970 VOL 15 NO 4 Published by National Insulation Contractors Association 8226 Fenton Street Silver Spring Maryland 20910 Published monthly by National Insulation Contractors Association formerly IDCNA 8226 Fenton St. Silver Spring Md 20910 telephone 801-585-8886 John C. Pollock Executive Director the NICA Publication Committee Officers 1969-1970 A. Marvin Gibbons President Theodore H. Brodie President Duane C. Luse Treasurer R. F. Yount Secretary J. Kenneth Dixon Immediate Past President Board of Directors Terms Ending 1970 Gulon Gulon W. Harrison CSICA Robert Bright CSICA Leon T. Choate Large James P. Ennis Large Terms Ending 1971 Palmer Covil AACSS Paul D. Gauer MICA N E. Munsey AICWS W. Murfin SWICA Terms Ending 1972 James R. Pfister MICA Wm A Bayer EAICA Homer C. Porter SWICA Richard Stapleton Large Ralph L. Sartori AICWS W'eVace E. Robbins AACSS Annual Subscription 10 which is in- cluded in the Membership dues Single copy 1.50 Statements of fact and opinion are made . of the author alone the responsibility and do not necessarily express the opin- ions of the Association Material may be reproduced without written con- not sc . Copyright National Insulation Contractors Association i APRIL 1970 TABLE OF Vol 15 PRESIDENT'S CORNER ....... oo Annual Labor Committee Meeting With The Another NICA Service That Helps YOU Your Executive Director's Report The program is well along for the San Antonio Convention Plans to Attend ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES IN THE INSULATION TRADE . . . Another Article On One of the Most Im- portant Problems Of The Industry CONVENTION Highlights 3 33 Last Of The Rogue's Gallery from Scottsdale SOME IDEAS About Human BEHAVIOR 15 Prof. Ben A Lindberg writes about the Human Element of Business THERMAL INSULATION ESSENTIAL ON NORTHWEST PASSAGE VOYAGE 7 18 An NICA Member insulates the S.S. Manhattan for its trip Over The TopTop Of The World A MIX OF FOUR PLANS ae A Word About The Chicago Pittsburgh Detroit and New Jersey Programs WORLD'S LArgest Single InsulatinG PROJECT . a ee 27 Six Years Of Planning Back of Mam- moth Construction Job 1 1970 LOCAL OUTLOOK FOR ConstructiON 38 A Look At The Boston Area That May Apply To Your Part Of The Country MAIL BOX . RUMOR . 22 CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS SECRETARY SHULTZ SPELLS OUT DEVELOP- MENTS IN LABOR 4 - o 28 WELCOME TO A NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER 28 How To HAVE FEWER STRIKES 28 WHAT'S NEW FROM MANUFACTURERS 30 ECONOMIC FACTS of Life Lo. 30 NEW EEO ORDER FOR U.S. SUPPLIERS 30 AFL HITS BACK . - . 31 AFL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING _ --WHAT'S Ahead in Labor Legislation ANNOUNCEMENTS LABOR NEWS an INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 31 37 37 373 41 373 31 ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES IN THE INSULATION TRADE J. LEROY BALZER Tacbershaw Associates J. LeRoy Balzer has written many papers dealing with hygiene and the asbestos worker His publications include The Work Environment of The Insulating Worker and Evaluation and Control of Asbestos Exposures in the Insulating Trade He is connected with the University of California in the field of Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Health Sciences Dr. Balzer has made field studies of major construction work sites and his main research interests are in oc- cupational health and safety in industry He is presently associated with Tabershaw Associates * * * Insulators a small but important segment of the con- struction industry are exposed to a number of special hazards above and beyond those which are ordinarily present in construction Exposure to asbestos is the major concern because the asbestos minerals are known to cause human disease primarily a disabling pneumoco- niosis asbestosis Evidence has also accumulated that individuals who work with asbestos are more prone to cancer of the lungs of the chest and of the abdominal cavity However reports on occupational disease in construction workers generally and this is true of insulators as well do not include quantitative data on types and degree of work exposures to environmental hazards This information is difficult to obtain because of the changing and mobile jobs which are characteristic of construction Nevertheless it is becoming important to obtain ex- posure data on all people in the construction trades and ~ _ especially asbestos workers The information is beginning to accumulate the in- sulating craft is a stable one because of the high rage rate and the rigid apprentice testing and training pro- gram Men who qualify and pass through the apprentice school tend to stay in the trade for their working life ^' While considerable shifting from contractor to con- tractor occurs the union remains a stable base around which information can be gathered Furthermore most of the insulators have at some time or other worked for one or more of the major contractors and a complete work history can be obtained which includes the variety of material which a worker used on a job Some insulators prefer to work in heavy construction or on the waterfront but all learn to do the major jobs of their craft and can work at any job assigned by their union dispatcher The major types of work in which men are engaged can be classified as 1 commercial building involving the insulation of pipe and duct sys- tems in office buildings apartments shopping centers etc 2 heavy industrial buildings which involves the insulation of turbines boilers pipes duct systems and processing equipment in power plants and factories and 3 marine construction and repair which involves insulating turbines boilers pipes and duct systems in ships both naval and private The volume and nature of the fibrous materials and the approximate time spent in applying them are of paramount importance in reconstructing the work environment of insulators The types of material with which they come in contact are quite varied and may be broken down as follows 1. Materials containing asbestos100 Amosite blankets 95 Amosite filler 10-15 Mixed amosite and chrysotile magnesia 10-15 Amosite calcium silicates 10-15 Mixed amosite and chrysotile Calccined diatomaceous silica 100 Chrysotile asbestos shorts for finishing mud 50 Asbestos shorts and 50 cement for fin- ishing mud NICA OUTLOOK 2. Mate Mo Rc Pr Mi Hi Fu Mi Sp 3. Plasti Po Po 4. Cork 10 5. Glass Fo 6. Adhe Ef W Sil M Pc The fol the use of terials by t Percentage Materials Types of Constructi Commerci Heavy ind building Marine co and rep It can terials acc greatest p Asbestos Asbesto of fibrou amphibok phyllite t -magnesium asbestos ; of the wi serpentin formation chrysotile APRIL 197 , Materials containing fibrous glasscompressed glass and resin binder Rolls and blankets Prefabricates - pipe and duct covering air , duct systems Hightemperature Mineral Mineral wool insulation Finishing materials muds Mineral wool and cement Specialty materials 3. Plastics prefabri~prcefaabrticeatded dered product pow- Polyurethanes in places prefabricated products 4. Cork- 100 cork blocks 5. Glass flakes- Foam glass 6. Adhesives Epoxy and solvent asphalt base and solvent Wheat paste Silicones Magnesia Portland cement The following table estimates the percentage of the use of fibrous glass and containing materials by the major types of construction nee for tying insulation IDEALIDEALIDEALIDEAL WIRE REEL REEL thriftier thriftier is is faster thriftier way to apply tie wire when economyeconomy efficiency efficiency speed VITAL . meme : . f ; ' TABLE I Percentage of Fibrous Glass and Containing Materials Used in the Major Types of Construction Fibrous Insulation Materials Types of Construction Total Fibrous Glass Asbestos Commercial building Heavy industrial 100 70 '30 Low world leader speeds 34.4 wire tying by actual much as cuts Added bene fits worker safety storage components Exacting design lasting performance Your precoiled wire Marine construction and repair 100 20 80 It can be seen that fibrous asbestos and glass materials account for 90 of the materials applied The greatest potential hazard is from these two materials Asbestos Asbestos is a commercial term applied to a group of fibrous silicates They include chrysotile and the amphibole minerals amosite crocidolite antho- phyllite tremolite and actinolite Chrysotile hydrous asbestos mineral presently accounting for about 90 of the world's asbestos production It occurs only in serpentine hydrous magnesium silicate minerals rock mations In the United States insulation industry chrysotile Canadian and amosite South African APRIL 1970 Your order for coiled wire filled same day in kinds below 14 to 20 gauge monel soft galvanized copper covered 10 and 15 coating solid copper stainless steel black annealed AF Write or Phone COLLECT 502-442-1659 IDEAL REEL COMPANY 23 HARRISON STREET P.O. BOX 359 PADUCAN KENTUCKY 42001 are most often used in manufacturing insulation ma- Other terials that The manufacturers of asbestos insulating materials use varying amounts and types of asbestos fibers and This group contains the remaining materials the insulator uses Foam glass materials are a mixture of glass chips greater than 10 microns in diameter may rename their product for distribution by another expanded by hydrogen sulfide gas into block form manufacturer or wholesaler Contractors will also This product along with cork and rubber materials order specific types of asbestos insulation because of is mainly used for refrigeration insulation increasing Polysteyrsepneecs their thermal properties and not because of the type are being used in an ever amount of asbestos fibers they contain These practices on the ially in the area of cryogenics The use of poly and it - adequately part of manufacturers contractors impos- - urethanesis increasing and the lackof sible to find a working population that has had a trained personnel is a concern of many locals Pro- pure exposure to one type of asbestos fiber grams are being implemented to meet this need Of interest in terms of human effect is the unique physical characteristic of asbestos to subdivide longitudinally into fibrils of molecular diameter The fibrils are too small to be counted with ordinary light microscopic techniques making it difficult to assess the true fiber exposure however this future is the Environmental Survey To obtain a classical weighted exposure for this trade for every one of these conditions is impossible however it is possible to present data that will indicate the variability of the insulator's exposures In most important measure of the potential biological effect since only fibrils of certain sizes can be in- above 4-5 microns in diameter they are nonrespirable and hence essentially harmless Unfortu- contrast to other occupational groups who generally stay in the same working environment the insulator is in a continually changing environment the work locations materials used positions at work humidity nately many asbestos fibers are below that diameter and find their way deep into the lung temperature ventilation noise levels and other vari- ables are in a state of flux Environmental exposures to the insulator also result from the work of others Fibrous Glass around him such as welders painters and fireproofers Fibrous glass consists of a mixture of silicon di- In order to better describe the work environment the oxide oxides of aluminum boron and other additives In general the fibers of most commercial insulating products have diameters between 3 and 15 microns The range of diameters of the fibers in microns of various samples of fibrous glass insulating ma- terials were acoustical materials to 14 microns building insulation to 15 microns duct insulation -4 to 11 microns pipe covering to 8 microns The importance here is that the fibers above 5 microns jobs performed by the insulating worker have been divided into six areas 1. Prefabrication- of his -Materials are precut and shaped using hand or power saws 2. Application - 40 of his time - Materials are fitted hammered or carved and attached to the surface by wiring or gluing 3. Finishing 30 of his time - Materials are coated with containing cements resins asbestos or cotton cloth or petroleum based in diameter are not considered respirable The majority sealers of the fibrous material is above that diameter Adhesives and Coatings Nineteen products accounting for 90 of the adhesives applied were found to contain the following solvents aliphatic hydrocarbons naphtha hexane and other petroleum distillates ketones aromatic hydrocarbons xylol and toluol chlorinated hydrocarbons - 4. Tearing out 10 of his time - Removal of [ old or unusable materials is done in the process of insulating or reinsulating 5. Mixing - % of his time - Mineral wool asbestos fibrous glass and cements are mixed separately or in combination in buckets or troughs 6. General % of his time Old insulation methylene chloride trichloroethylene and perchloro- is cleaned up materials are transported ethylene and isopropyl alcohol The solvents are in combination with a number of plastics organic and rubber resins and paraffins Concentrations of these active ingredients in the products used by insulators ranged from % to 95 by weight The alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons are generally present in concentrations of less than 10 while the chlorinated and aliphatic hydrocarbons represent the bulk of solvents used This is significant because the chlorinated and Asbestos Dust Exposures The environmental sampling for dust exposures has been limited to areas in which containing materials were being applied Results of sampling by - impinger are summarized I. The data represents both breathing zone and general air samples The standard method of counting was used and both fibers and grains were pooled in the total aliphatic hydrocarbons are the group with the greatest count potential for human injury Continued On Page 13 8 NICA OUTLOOK TABLE TABLE Asbestos Impinger Counts Counts Classification Classification ne get ._get Mean Classification Prefabrication Application Finishing Tearing Tearing __.. Mixing General 8.0 3.5 3.0 5.5 9 90 1.2 0.9-40 0,9-9 1.2-7 2.2-10 3 0.5-3.5 posed see from the above table that the We with the highest concentrations concentrations exceeding with the prepsrenetsent Threshold Limit Value 5 mppcf mppcf the posceendtimeter Threshold Value 12 fibers per prefabrication tearing out mixing However prefabrication for less than However the these three areas account of working time applying asbestos of the materials man's The samples membrane filters taken taken personal personal samples periods ranging samplers and samples were taken taken periods ranging from minutes minutes to hours taken The fiber countcslassification centimeter centimeter given given The Table III classification Table JIL by job classification Fiber Concentration TABLE Samples by Classification Classification Samples by Job Classification Filter Solvent Exposures: hydrocarbons. Exposures : of aromatic Solvent the hydrocarbons At Measurements Measurements Measurements h maadevaeroapmproaacthedichydrocarbons hydrocarbons At present no readings Threshold Threshold Values the solvents solvents approached Limit Values However since the same working welders often hydrocarbons are concern because the chlorinated hydrocarbons concern because of a the possible generation generation of isbypprorduoceddupcrotduced phosgene highly toxic gas which composition composition Temperature arc Humidity: most of the workers Temperature Temperature Humidity Humidity workers condition condition affects most most the at Another Another life extreme tem- time their working working peratures In commercial heavy peratures and humidgitryoups humidity measurements measurements ranged industrial building tgroo ups 100 temperature temperature ranges of ranged from repair construction construction and most 110 marine gdirtoiuopns most extremes experience the most extreme extreme extreme con- 95 humidity extremes extremes measured Noise few level measurements show, in general, Sound show in general few areas with sustained measurements 90 However However caulkers readings above if chippers area welders and grind- grind- ers are working in the same readings above 100 db not uncommon High area readings are found found on- line refinery jobs These measurememeansutremsents of concern since permanent hearing loss can above 90 db exposures De e spe a Mean Discussion Application Finishing Tearing Mixing Mixing Mixing 10.0 8.0 2.0 9.9 2.4 2.4 0.1-30 0.1-60 0.1-20 0.1-30 0.5-30 0.5-30 Unlike Unlike application application the general two major during were taken taken is on various jobs environment environment Measurements products con- taining fibrous which types duct glass were used i.e. wall board on wrap fibrous data fiber con- centration centration cubic presents presentscentitmetherisair Some Some gravi- metric analyses analyses cubic performed but this method of sampling was discontinued performed the inability to find sampling device that ofsample sample only the fibrous glass construction would the construction dusts sample only find a sampling construction fibrous glass in TABLE IV personal in the insulating worker be be pre- Asbestosis worker can pre- instituting various engineering engineering air vented by total work enclosures exhaust changes respiratory air ventilation of dusty areas substitution substitution of tection changes in work habits cannot be All these these preventive measures materials applicable every every adopted immediately are all not applicable these changes changes job The industry must adopt of exposures exposures and thereby reduce reduce environmental environmeontfalthe insulator insulator and thereby extend working working should done in an an Prefabrication materials materialsand properly properly filtered exhaust booth exhaust exhaust This will sub- sub- stantially reduce the spray paint booth The reduce operator's operator's exposure exposure mixing enclosed enclosed booth booth booth mixing muds muds should be LAMPORT Concentration Concentration Fibrous Glass Centimete per r Crbic Mean . Range 0.02-8 0.02-8 1970 1970 Work Area 0.2 14 0.2 0.02-0.6 0.02-0.6 6.02-0.6 CANVAS CANVAS ~ STOCK HAND IN KEY CITIES CANVAS CANVAS ENGINEERED ENGINEERED TO SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION CANVAS CANVAS ENGINEERED TO SPECIFICATION >To Alexander Lamport Bro Bro. + * DEFROIT Los aNcEtEs mew yoRK = CHICAGO ' CLEVELAND 13 APRIL 1970 and an automatic mixer be utilized thereby controlling dust levels that occur when these materials are mixed in open areas This operation could also be done in central areas and trucked to the job since many of the materials do not dry out if they are kept tightly covered For those small jobs and where cements are used the material can be prepackaged in 5-15 lb. lots in plastic bags and mixed in the bags The use of local exhaust and forced air fans in the work area and on equipment will also reduce dust exposures It is impractical on some jobs because few men work in one area long enough to justify the setting up of an elaborate ventilation sys- air respirator which should supply enough air to cool the man as well as meet his physiological needs This requires elaborate hose and compressor systems and Me - is not economically feasible or desirable But it is 3 sug- gested that personal air supplied respirators with their @% 3B own power units be used in areas of high dust ex- posure such as prefabrication and tearing out Appro- iB priate respiratory protection should also be made avail-:% high able for use in areas where tions exist - solvent concentra: Changes in work practices such as the use of a | water spray to wet down some materials before they * are cut would substantially reduce the dust exposure 7 : tem However when large boiler and generator jobs are in process local exhaust or forced air fan systems should be used This type of system could also be Industrial vacuum sweepers should be used for clean- & up instead of brooms thus reducing the dust level to the men and other crafts in the area In addition used to cool the men in areas of extreme temperature and humidity such as in marine construction and re- tearing out of old insulation could be done with local exhaust hoses connected to a vacuum sweeper All & pair these steps would reduce the present high levels of . The use of personal respiratory equipment is very important but what is more important is the develop ment of a mask that has a filter with a low resistance to air flow and a face piece that is easily fitted to the man Most of the present masks do not fit properly and the filters besides having a high resistance to flow clog very quickly This makes it necessary to change the filter frequently or as is most often the case the men simply remove the mask and continue to work Another form of respiratory equipment is the supplied dust exposure at these various jobs Mixing of muds in closed plastic bags has also been suggested and tried but data on acceptability is presently not avail- able < Substitution of new materials is possible under cer- tain conditions but at present we do not know enough about the physiological effects of fibrous glass and ceramics to suggest the total change to these kinds of products When proposing the substitution of new ma- terials to replace asbestos the engineers often have Continued On Page 39 spectrum ai engine ment has 1 There are n son is the and facilitie . power static ASBESTOSPRAY High Temperature Sprayed mi" || in the hund the power power tinue unaba Fiber Insulation information competitive That mean In every important category ASBESTOSPRAY fiber insulation has demonstrated job superiority Applied Costs Low Thermal Conductivity Low Environmental Dust - Low Independent Health Consultants Flame Spread Index Low Radiant Panel Test Mechanical Support Requirement - Minimum the same c methods e there can t ner in whic utilized Sir rates of c Resistance to Weather - Excellent * Resistance to Contraction Excellent Resistance to Expansion - Excellent Resistance to Thermal Shock Excellent ASBESTOSPRAY available in 100 African Asbestos Fiber - good up to 1350F Ceramic Fibers - good for 1350 to 2000F ASBESTOSPRAY ideal for Power Stations Refineries Plants efficient insulation Marine Boilers Chemical Process and wherever efficient Metallurgical Plants* : -Industrial insulation Heating Units Manufactured and Distributed by ASBESTOSPRAY CORPORATION 605 Broad Street Newark New Jersey 07102 changes an ings we ar expressed out all my But let m we'll be ba indication for the fut man elem Hence the behavior every exec group lead * Copyrig 11701 NICA OUTLOOK APRIL 1970 on tie gamut 1 raeni Vorld's Largest Single Insulating Project etme apm shape In the midst of the acre site steel work for the first tower has reached 50 stories while the second stands at approximately 15 floors There also will be two multi plaza buildings for trade ex- a hibits banks and other activities of international com- merce as well as a new U.S. Customs House and a hotel and conference facilities surrounding five- acre plaza The twin towers will be 100 feet taller than the Empire State Building The entire complex will have 230 acres of rentable space nine acres more than the Pentagon's total The center's demand for electricity will equal that of a city the size of Schenectady N.Y. The labor and materials contract for heating ven- tilating and air conditioning is valued at approximately 37 million Facilities will include about 100,000 supply and return air conditioning outlets integrated architecturally with interior lighting fixtures Some 24,000 window induction units will air condition peripheral zones of the buildings The air conditioning will circulate about eight million cubic feet of system air per minute throughout the towers Another example that insulation continues to pay for itself Work is under way on one of the world's largest single insulating projects . . . protection for the heat- single ventilating and air conditioning systems in the > twin story towers of the New York World Trade Center buildings Initial work is in a mammoth chilled water system The project is expected to continue through most of 1971 when the entire 1600 million building com- ~ plex including four low buildings is scheduled _ for completion PPG Industries will supply what may be more than 75 per cent of the pipe insulation and all the blanket insulation requirements The nearly 50 miles of pipe and insulation would stretch half times the width of Long Island and the blanket insulation would - cover more than 30 football fields Because of the lower Manhattan site of the Trade Center there are no parking or contractor storage fa- + cilities thus getting steel concrete glass aluminum and tons of other construction materials onto the site ' &. creates a major logistics problem The men engi- neering staff of the general contractor uses a computer to help schedule the unloading hoists for each contrac- tor This operation is so closely scheduled that when it's a contractor's turn to use the hoists they must be Be there with all material and must finish on schedule , After six years of planning designing and the demo- _ tion of 13 city blocks the center is beginning to take APRIL 1970 Insulation Pipe Milfoam Milfoam Polyurethane Pipe Insulation Pipe covering Segments Ends COMPLETE PRODUCT LINE ACCURATE DIMENSIONS DELIVERY WHEN NEEDED COMPETITIVE PRICES CALL MILFOAM FIRST FOR QUALITY DELIVERY, PRICE MILFOAMMILFOAM CORPORATION - 7 ; P. O. BOX 250 MILFORD CONN 06460 TEL 203-878-6506 re on : i: i ite