That means it is safe to walk on but not safe to scrape sand or use power tools on.
Asbestos floor tiles low risk.
Floor tiles can become friable if they are mishandled damaged or are in a badly worn or weathered condition.
Unfortunately vinyl sheet flooring manufactured with an asbestos backing poses a serious exposure risk when it is disturbed.
Both these options will keep the asbestos trapped in the floor.
Like floor tiles vinyl sheet flooring is a long lasting and economical material and it also offers more aesthetic options to suit a homeowner s taste.
Therefore they generally pose a lower risk to health.
Manufacturers often made this type of flooring with a friable asbestos backing which means asbestos fibres are easily released into the air if the sheet flooring.
Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air.
Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed.
Older vinyl or rubber floors that are damaged are a different story because the tiles can release asbestos so they need to be removed.
If the asbestos floor tiles or sheet flooring have been painted coated with a sealant or floored over using carpet laminate or any other continuous flooring so that the original floor is not exposed the risk level provided by the original asbestos containing flooring is low to beneath the level of detection in the building.
Mixing asbestos into vinyl floor tiles made them more insulating and resistant to damage.
You could also seal it with a coat of epoxy floor paint.
In most cases vinyl tiles are considered non friable.
But when vinyl asbestos flooring is in good condition it is considered nonfriable.