Fiber Cement Siding Health Hazards

James hardie is here to help you work safely and efficiently with this standard.

Fiber cement siding health hazards.

When trying to prevent employee exposure to silica dust recognized as a deadly hazard for nearly a century the technology has improved and the dangers are more clearly quantified but the national institute for occupational health may have found a simple solution for cash strapped contractors using fiber cement siding in construction and renovation. Fiber cement is a composite material made of cement reinforced with cellulose fibers. It has become common in some parts of the country offering design versatility and a solid feel. If you are an architect designer home improvement specialist you should be aware of the risks of using fiber cement siding.

Fiber cement siding is made from a blend of cement silica sand wood fiber and other ingredients making it a siding option that is known for durability and strength. Fiber cement is a siding material that was introduced to the market in the 1980 s as a replacement for asbestos cement siding products. The national institute for occupational safety and health niosh published this recommendation in workplace solutions. Health issues with the industrial revolution and the invention of the pneumatic hammer in 1897 higher levelsof dust exposure caused severe respiratory diseases shortening the lives of workers.

In contrast the market share of wood siding in residential con struction has decreased from 38 to. Fiber cement siding fibre cement cladding in the uk and fibro in australia is a building material used to cover the exterior of a building in both commercial and domestic applications. Most fiber cement products come with a warranty of up to 50 years thanks to a natural resistance to fire termites and rot. Despite its many benefits fiber cement siding comes with its share of problems ranging from adverse.

Today crystalline silica is used not only in fiber cement board but in many severalconstruction products including gypsum board joint compound and fireproofing to name afew. From 1991 to 2010 the market share of fiber cement siding has climbed from 1 to 13 u s. The use of fiber cement siding in con struction and renovation is undergoing rapid growth. Originally asbestos was used as the reinforcing material but due to safety concerns that was replaced by cellulose.

Reducing hazardous dust exposure when cutting fiber cement siding fiber cement siding a construction material that has grown in popularity in recent years contains crystalline silica and when cut can create fine dust particles that a worker can inhale. The occupational safety and health administration osha has issued new rules to curb lung cancer silicosis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in america s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. House fires are an acute concern as the burning of pvc produces both dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls pcbs creating significant health risks.