Topping Cement
Asbestos in Topping Cement
Topping cement is a type of self-leveling flooring material normally used for industrial buildings, cellars and basements and other areas in which the appearance of a floor is not an issue. However, topping cement is also available in colors and can be applied decoratively. It can also be used to repair and resurface concrete floors and steps, for example. The advantage of this type of flooring is that it is neither difficult nor expensive to create or maintain. Unless it is used to repair a flooring surface, topping cement is usually poured or troweled over a rough surface, such as packed rubble.
Topping cement is a mixture of Portland cement and other ingredients, such as sand, silica and calcium carbonate in addition to a polymer – usually some type of acrylic – that may either be contained in the mix or added at the jobsite. There may also be up to fifteen other various types of chemical additives that allow topping cement to bond to the surface to which it is applied.
Until the mid-1980s, asbestos fibers were often added to topping cement products in order to increase tensile strength and durability.
Topping Cement Products Containing Asbestos
The following partial list of topping cement products were known to contain asbestos:
| Product Name | Start Year | End Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bondex Cook’s Lifeline All Purpose Texture Joint and Topping Cement | ||
| Bondex Hi & Dri Topping Cement | ||
| Bondex Reardon’s SX Topping Cement | ||
| Bondex SX Topping Cement | ||
| Bondex Trax Topping Cement | ||
| National Gypsum Gold Bond Topping Cement | 1935 | 1976 |
Hazards Associated with Topping Cement
When topping cement was initially installed, it did not pose a major asbestos risk to those working with it such as builders and construction workers because the asbestos was safely contained in the cement. There was a significant risk, however, to the people in the processing plant where the topping cement was manufactured as they were working with raw asbestos fibers.
If the surface began to deteriorate due to age or wear, asbestos in the topping cement had the potential to become friable, meaning that fibers could be released into the immediate environment. As topping cement floors may still exist in many older buildings, renovation and demolition workers should use extra precaution to protect themselves from airborne asbestos while performing their work. Asbestos exposure is known to cause a serious cancer called mesothelioma.
Sources
Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)
N/A. "Understanding Decorative Concrete Overlays & Resurfacing."
http://www.concreteideas.com/concrete/...
