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New Specifications for Non-Asbestos
Fiber-Cement Products
AVAILABLE MARCH 1 are specifications for products used worldwide.
“C17 is pleased to announce the publication of four new standards
on non-asbestos fiber-reinforced cement pipe,” says John Mulder,
vice chairman of ASTM Committee C17 on Fiber-Reinforced Cement
Products, and chairman of Subcommittee C17.91 on Editorial and
Terminology. “As an industry transitions from asbestos fiber-containing
products to non-asbestos for routine underdrain pipe, sewer pipe,
etc., the subcommittee has taken the initiative to convert previously
existing asbestos cement standards.”
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C 1447, Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Underdrain
Pipe, is built from the existing C 508, Standard Specification
for Asbestos-Cement Underdrain Pipe;
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C 1448, Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Conduit,
is built from the existing C 875, Standard Specification for Asbestos-Cement
Conduit;
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C 1449, Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Nonpressure
Sewer Pipe, is built from the existing C 428, Standard Specification
for Asbestos-Cement Nonpressure Sewer Pipe; and
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C 1450, Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Storm
Drain Pipe, is built from the existing C 663, Standard Specification
for Asbestos-Cement Storm Drain Pipe.
“They are used for the exact same thing,” says Mulder, a technical
services manager with James Hardie Building Products, Fontana,
Calif.: “Examples are pipes under freeways for the removal of
drainage water. These two-to-three ft. diameter concrete pipes
are steel reinforced and are usually about eight ft. long because
they’re constrained by their weight. Many of these non-asbestos
pipes can be 12-13 ft. long of the same diameter. So that allows
fewer lengths of pipe to be installed for the same distances which
means less labor, less equipment, etc.”
Non-asbestos fiber-cement products may utilize cellulose, polyvinyl-alcohol,
coated glass fibers, polypropylene fibers, or other non-asbestos
fibers to reinforce cement. “Worldwide, the industry knows ‘fiber-cement’
as a discreet fiber-reinforced cement product that is totally
made of non-asbestos components,” he says.
The specifications were converted by members of Subcommittee C17.02
on Fiber-Reinforced Cement Products, representing manufacturing
plants in Australia, Belgium, Central and South America, France,
Hungary, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa,
the United States, and others. “We have had representation from
foreign manufacturers’ interests within the main committee and
its subcommittees for 40 years,” adds Mulder. Academians, consultants,
users, architects, and specifiers also participated.
“This committee, that has been around for quite a while, has been
progressively moving along in the development of new standards
and the conversion of existing standards from asbestos-containing
fibers to non-asbestos-containing fibers,” he concludes.
For further technical information, contact John Mulder, James
Hardie Building Products, 10901 Elm Ave., Fontana, CA 92337 (909/356-6300).
Committee C17 meets during ASTM Committee Week, June 20-21, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. For meeting or membership information, contact
C17 Staff Manager Jim Olshefsky, ASTM (610/ 832-9714). //
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