Document e1eoEmd0jJDqMYoLOZ0B03K2G

UNDERWRITERS' LABORATORIES, INC. ,333 FFINCSTTK ECMJ)*N0*n*00*.tLLX*XS 40062 an independent not-for-profit organization testingfor public safety August 4, 1970 TO: Listees of Spray-Applied Fire-Protective Materials SUBJECT: Meeting of June 17/ 1970 on The Health Hazard of Asbestos Fiber Gentlemen: 'Under date of May 15/. 1970/ we sent a. letter td each of oar Listees of Cementitious Mixtures and Sprayed Fiber materials requesting a meeting to discuss the health hazard, of asbestos fiber* The meeting was held on June 17/ 1970 at our Northbrook Office* Attached is a list of those people attending the meeting. For the benefit of those unable to attend/ this is a brief resume of the discussion at the meeting* Because they appeared to have contributed largely to the recent attention to spray-applied materials containing asbestos, a brief review was conducted of "Asbestosis and Neoplasia," April 1967, The American Journal of Medicine and ~ "The Magic Mineral,* October 1968 New Yorker* Considerable discussion followed and^ some representatives took issue with the conclusions of the articles* It was stated that the . health hazard to the general population by airborne asbestos fibers was without factual foundation. Reference was made to an article entitled "Asbestos and Health in 1969," October 1969, American Review of Respiratory Biseases, as a balanced review of the health hazard of inhaled asbestos, fiber* Continued discussion pointed out that there appeared to be three problem areas associated with the spraying of fire- i. protective materials as follows: 1* It appears to be agreed among those present that there is a problem of materials becoming ariborne at the job site and distributed about the neighborhood^causing a general air pollution problem. However, there was disagreement as to whether this pollution is in fact a cancer causing health hazard* X0343288 -2- August 4* 1970 2* There* appears to be agreement that there health-hazar^^ yor3cimen on the job site if proper precautions are. not'--- takei^^^avpid^*inhaling airborne fibers by isolation of the spray^^^bp^liion fromother workmen, the ase of masks* thorough housekeeping* and the proper handling of contaminated' clothing by spraying personnel. 3. There may also be a.health hazard to the occupants of a building if# for example* particles are sloughed from the fire-protective materials and become airborne as in return air# plenum systems. It appears that Items 1 and 2 are of immediate concern. Item 3# however* has not been reported to be a problem to anyone's knowledge at this time. It was pointed out that Great Britain has been studying the same questions and for/a.longer period* Information on the subject can be obtained from The Asbestos Information Committee* 10 Wardour Street# London* England* WXV 3HG. We were advised that the Sprayed Mineral Fiber Manufac turers Association is printing a "Recommended Code of Practice for the Application of Fireproofing Materials" which should be available in the near future. 4 .... Mr. E. N. Davis urged submittal of the Code to American National Standards Institute for adoption as evidence that the industry was striving to solve a recognized problem and on a national standard level. It was pointed out that'U.L.I. had an obligation to supply information to locat inspection authorities on the proper application of Listed materials. Accordingly* one solution would be tp include such instructions on the bags of material or a reference on the bags to application instructions. A bulletin containing a specific proposal is being prepared and will be sent out shortly. This concluded the discussion on the health hazard of asbestos'fiber 1~ 0343289 -3- August 4, 1970 The guests were invited to reconvene after lunch to discuss implementing the new criteria for fire-resistance ratings to be contained in ASTM 119 and UL263* The Labora tories is considering new methods of presenting fire-resistance ratings sucb as a separate booklet in the form of looseleaf pages and the grouping of rated assemblies according to .con struction type* The grouping could be similar to the method of Indexing new preceding Floor and Ceiling Assemblies in the List* Ho specific actions or proposals resulted from the discussion and the subject of rerating, will be the subject of another Bulletin by the Laboratories to be issued' in the near future* The meeting ended at about 3 p*m* The Laboratories wishes to thank those attending the meeting for their time and valuable comments* --' UNDERWRITERS1 LABORATORIES, INC RLPsbja R* L* PARKS Associate Managing Engineer Fire Protection Department X 0349230 . Attendance at Meeting of June 17, 1970 Name Company James L* Kempthorne Sprayon Research Corp- -- A* C- Richardson Atlas Asbestos Co* H* J. Corson Midwest Mechanical Packing Co* William K* Curtis National Gypsum.Co* C M. Brasker Morris Lieff Philip-Carey Philip-Carey Lee Jenne ; Keene Corp* - Sound Contrpl Div* Lick Kempthorne Sprayon Research Corp* Larry Gropp United States Mineral Products Co. Bill Kedlyn United States Mineral Products Co* R. J. Wenk U* S. Gypsum Co* Fred Kastner U* S* Gypsum Co* Edw. N. Davis Underwriters1 Laboratories, Inc Jack A* Bono Underwriters* Laboratories, Inc. Henry Marraffa Universal Fire-Bar, Inc. George Wright Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. W. P. Raines Johns-Manville Corp. "* --: R. H* Neisel Johns-Manville Corp. Thomas Egan Tom Feit W. R* Grace & Co. I W* R* Grace' & Co. R# L*. Parks Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc* X 0349291