Plasterboard or Asbestos Insulating Board?

[vixen80]

Hi, we are renting and there are some gaps in the bathroom wall - could you please tell me what do you think this is? Last pic is from a different room but I think it is the same material and the pic is better… Thanks!

 

[Wayners]

Looks like asbestos. Treat it like asbestos until you get confirmation

 

[RandomGrinch]

Some bits look like plasterboard to me.
There's even what appears to be foil backing on this bit...

@vixen80 , how old is your house, do you know when this work was done?

Edit: though looking closer, other bits look possibly like AIB...

Testing kits are cheap, but if you suspect there is asbestos, this should be something your landlord should register an deal with.

 

[PolarNorth78]

Its very difficult to tell from the images alone, especially for suspected AIB. The one bit does look like foil backed plasterboard but the other bits you cannot tell from images alone. Your landlord who had the renovations done might know but I do ask why you need to know? Unless you have disturbed something it presents no risk to your health. Fundamentally, it's not your place, it's your landlords and thus their problem.

For wider background, an asbestos testing kit will confirm the presence of asbestos but not the type of material. If your landlord wants to know the type of material then you need a water absorption test. I wouldn't go getting samples anyway as it's not your place.

 

[vixen80]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I’ll try to get a better pic.

 

[vixen80]

Sorry these are not the best images...

 

[vixen80]

@RandomGrinch I really appreciate it - here is another pic of the bit you said may be AIB, in case it helps. It looks like the brown stuff may be some kind of paper? I see no foil here (at least not on the side with the tile, it might be on the side with the cement layer?

It's a block of flats built in 1979 - I don't know about renovations and I doubt current landlord knows as they purchased the flat in 2014 but I will ask.

@PolarNorth78 I would like to know because these holes are in the ensuite bathroom, behind the toilet and sink. I now have a 3 month old baby sleeping in the bedroom and I am worried she might have been exposed to asbestos (because of winds from opening and closing the door, etc). We didn't disturb it but still… it's quite a big gap.

 

[Wayners]

Go look in DIY store at the plasterboard.
Especially look at the ends that are open cut not the paper edges sides. Dry. Chalk like. Dusty. Soft to touch and you can dig finger nail in.
Then compare with what you have.

Because you have unclear photos that could have hair and dust or wool insulation catching edge its hard to tell.
Plasterboard and asbestos are different enough you can decide for yourself.

That foil backed plasterboard in photo is nothing to worry about.

 

[vixen80]

Thank you, I deffo would but have none close to where I live and it's hard going to one with a newborn. It seems to be sandwiched by cardboard/paper so I believe (from what I read here) that it's plasterboard - is that a good indicator? Also, in real life it looks very similar to the one you confirmed it's not harmful.

Thanks again, I had no knowledge about this as I work in a different field.