Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 11769:2000 (Part 2) is the Indian Standard (BIS) for guidelines for safe use of products containing asbestos, part 2: friction materials. This standard provides guidelines for the safe handling of friction materials containing asbestos, such as brake linings and clutch facings. It outlines control measures, work practices, PPE requirements, and waste disposal procedures to minimize worker exposure to airborne asbestos fibres during manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.
Guidelines for safe use of products containing asbestos, Part 2: Friction materials
! Always prioritize wet methods (e.g., using water or paste) when cutting or handling materials to suppress dust generation.
! Ensure all waste is double-bagged in thick, labelled plastic bags and disposed of only at sites approved by the State Pollution Control Board.
! Regular health check-ups for workers, including chest X-rays and lung function tests, are mandatory and crucial for early detection of asbestos-related diseases.
ISO 7337:1997International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighWithdrawn
Asbestos-cement products — Guidelines for on-site work practices
Provided guidelines for handling and working with asbestos-cement products on construction sites, similar to the IS code.
HSE L143Health and Safety Executive (HSE), United Kingdom
MediumCurrent
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) — Approved Code of Practice
Covers work with all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), but from a regulatory standpoint focused on management, control, and removal, not new use.
29 CFR 1926.1101Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), USA
MediumCurrent
Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - Asbestos
A mandatory regulation for all construction work involving asbestos, including asbestos-cement, with highly detailed work practice requirements.
NOHSC:2002(1994)National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, Australia
LowWithdrawn
Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos [NOHSC:2002(1994)]
Focused on removal, not installation or use, reflecting Australia's early move towards a complete ban on asbestos.
Key Differences
≠Philosophical Approach: IS 11769 is based on the 'controlled use' or 'safe use' principle for new asbestos-cement products. Most modern international regulations (e.g., UK, EU, Australia) are based on complete prohibition of new use, focusing strictly on managing and removing existing materials.
≠Licensing and Competency: Modern international standards like the UK's CAR 2012 mandate a strict, formal licensing scheme for contractors undertaking most types of asbestos work. IS 11769 provides guidelines for training but does not mandate a comparable government-regulated licensing system.
≠Hierarchy of Controls: International regulations (OSHA, HSE) legally enforce a strict hierarchy of controls, prioritizing elimination/substitution. IS 11769 provides guidance on safe work practices assuming the use of the product is a given, placing more emphasis on PPE and work methods rather than elimination.
≠Decontamination Procedures: For higher-risk work, OSHA and HSE standards mandate the use of full, multi-stage decontamination units (shower facilities). IS 11769's guidance on personal hygiene is less stringent, typically recommending washing hands and face and changing clothes.
Key Similarities
≈Dust Suppression with Water: Both IS 11769 and all equivalent international guidelines universally recommend wetting asbestos-cement materials with water or a wetting agent before and during any work to minimize airborne fiber release.
≈Prohibition of High-Energy Tools: There is a strong consensus on prohibiting the use of high-speed power tools, such as abrasive disc cutters and sanders, on asbestos-cement products due to their potential to generate high concentrations of airborne fibers.
≈Use of Hand Tools: All standards recommend the use of hand tools (e.g., hand saws, scribe-and-snap cutters) as a preferred method for cutting or shaping asbestos-cement sheets to reduce dust.
≈Waste Disposal Practices: The fundamental principle of containing asbestos waste is shared. All standards require waste to be sealed in impermeable bags (often double-bagged), clearly labeled with asbestos warnings, and disposed of at a licensed landfill.
≈Emphasis on Respiratory Protection: IS 11769 and all international counterparts stress the critical importance of wearing appropriate, approved respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when working with asbestos-cement.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Primary Cutting Method
Use of hand tools or specially designed slow speed saws.
Use of hand tools (e.g., 'score and snap') or specialized low-speed cutters, often with integrated local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
HSE L143
Dust Control
Control dust by use of water or other dust suppressants.
Mandatory use of wetting agents (e.g., water with a surfactant). For any power tool use, dust suppression is combined with on-tool extraction.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - 8-hr TWA
0.1 fibres/cc (as per The Factories Act, 1948 and subsequent rules).
0.1 fibers/cm³ (same as IS code). However, includes a lower 'action level' (0.05 f/cm³) and a strict 'excursion limit' (1.0 f/cm³ over 30 min).
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101
Minimum Respiratory Protection
Use of an approved respirator conforming to IS 9473.
Specifies minimum Assigned Protection Factor (APF). E.g., APF 10 (like an FFP3/P100 disposable mask) for low-intensity tasks.
HSE L143 / NIOSH
Waste Bagging
Place debris in impermeable bags, tie them up, and mark them.
Must be double-bagged in UN-approved bags with specific color coding (e.g., red inner, clear outer) and a prescribed asbestos warning label.
HSE L143
Drilling Method
Use a hand drill or a slow-speed power drill.
Use of a hand drill or a slow-speed drill combined with a cowl and dust extraction (LEV) or applying a paste/gel to the drill site.
ISO 7337:1997 / HSE L143
Site Access Control
Prevent access of unauthorized persons to the work area.
Formal demarcation of the work area with barrier tape and specific asbestos warning signs. Entry restricted to trained personnel only.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values4
Quick Reference Values
Permissible Exposure Limit (TWA for 8 hours)0.1 fibre/ml
Minimum air sampling volume400 litres
Maximum interval for static air monitoring6 months
Minimum frequency for medical examinationOnce every 12 months
To provide a framework for controlling the release of and exposure to airborne asbestos fibres during the use of non-cement asbestos products.
What is the permissible exposure limit for asbestos fibres?+
The time-weighted average (TWA) concentration over an 8-hour period should not exceed 0.1 fibres per millilitre (f/ml) of air.
What kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended?+
Appropriate Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) with high-efficiency filters and disposable or non-woven fabric overalls are essential (Clause 5).
How should work areas be cleaned?+
Cleaning should be done using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter or by wet wiping. Dry sweeping is strictly prohibited (Clause 6).