tub resurfacing fumes apartment

What is an escalation clause and what are the risks? So, it should not present a long-term hazard to the resident and pets after the project is completed. Simply not worth the risk. Its highly toxic Teri. Ask Sam: Will the U.S. Supreme Court end rent stabilization? Technicians have been properly trained to do this type of work. Thank you so much for this great article and hope that others now are aware of the safety measures that need to be followed. I am Gary Goel owner of the Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association. My apartment is very small and I sat in bedroom with my elderly cat not 20 feet away. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Remember, if it smells new, the fumes are too. It hurt to know my best friend was no longer alive but his body stayed warm and breathing only by use of machines. a great article! This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. There are alternatives to using methylene chloride (MC) for bathtub stripping. What if they put a horrible smell into the product that would alert the user before overexposure. Does anyone know what would cause the reglazing to peel and chip from the tub? Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. The story notes also that worker protections are weak a shop in Chattanooga TN with numerous OSHA violations got fined only $1500 for the death of a teenage employee in 1999, and 7 years later, still had not implemented required safety measures. We pride ourselves on the work we do and strive to provide the best quality service in the refinishing and resurfacing industry. I opened my windows, all four. But two days later it still bothers me. Specifically, typical mobile LEV units have a fan, flexible ductwork, and a hood near the tub that exhausts hazardous vapors to the outdoors. IF THE GLAZED TUB IS SCRATCHED LATER DOES THAT RELEASE TOXIC FUMES? I noticed the odor every time they went in or out of the room, and had the bedroom doors all closed. Please, if you know anyone who refinishes bathtubs, make sure they are VERY AWARE of the dangers and the different situations. We cannot provide individual medical advice on the NIOSH Science Blog, but we suggest that you see a doctor. There is a lot of toxicological information available on the Internet which can be found by joining the term MSDS with as specific a description of the product about which you are interested in knowing. Thanks for this information. This is a great article. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Ron, As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. I am sleeping in the living room under many blankets with the balcony door wide openis it safe? My question is about whether it leaches during use. Ill mention it to my readers on my real estate site. In our blog we state that methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the level in the air is higher than OSHAs permissible exposure limits (PELs). This is a moderated site and your comments will be reviewed before they are posted. I opted in for your Feed too. This article does a good job calling attention to the dangers of methylene chloride products and noting that many people dont know how dangerous it is. Earlier this week NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert titled Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers. ECO-FRIENDLY No Odor Tub Reglazing: Fumes-free and made without harmful chemicals, Ekopel's long-lasting, oil-free glaze never peels! Leave the room immediately after applying the methylene chloride-based stripping agent to limit exposure to methylene chloride vapors. Is there any danger that the enamel could have absorbed the refinishing chemicals to be released into my bath water at this later date? We are inconsolable. From now we must be aware if wanna to do that. The apt right next to me was just resurfaced and the chemicals came through the air vents. Who cares what a bathtub looks like as long as it works? I think this blog is very helpful in knowing about the bad effects Bathtub refinishing of such dangerous products.We need to know what all are used while doing refinishing.Thanks a lot for sharing. Thanks for your comment. My question is, am I in danger using the peeling bathtub??? When the door is closed for a while it gets very strong and when its open one can hardly smell it but that does not mean it is not there. This may sound extreme, but I assure you, neglect to safety is not worth the life of a co worker, family member, or in my case a best friend. After reading this post I think I can live with those scratches until I can hire a professional. Thanks for sharing. The warning labels should be more elaborate about the safety requirements. NIOSH research and prevention efforts focus on worker risk, so we are not able to address this kind of exposure. See the NIOSH topic page dedicated to occupational safety and health hazards associated with Isocyanates (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html). Our apartment filled with these toxic fumes. We can avoid being harmed if we will be knowledgeable about things. They know where people bathe. But if we ever have it done again, I will definitely check to be sure its a safe process for the workers AND the homeowners. Ventilate Your Work Area. Bathtub Refinishing matters should be left to professionals to complete. Another interest in re-glazing is being fueled by informed masses who have shown a continued interest in "greening" their homes, particularly in making them more . I blog often and I really appreciate your content. At Specialized Refinishing, we have a team of highly experienced, certified refinishing and reglazing technicians who can restore and revitalize a wide variety of surfaces and fixtures in your rental property or before you put a house on the market. I dont know of incidents that may have occurred, buy you can never be too careful with peoples lives. Some healthcare providers specialize in assessing environmental exposures (see http://www.aoec.org/index.htm). It's also possible to injure yourself if the product comes in contact with the skin. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. The two maintenance men pulled the man off of the tub. I didnt know that the bathroom fans and windows wouldnt provide the right amount of ventilation. So, it presents no long-term hazard to the resident. My apartment manager refinished my bathtub about 2 1/2 years ago instead of buying a new one. Use a qualified occupational safety and health specialist to assist in the design and installation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to effectively control vapors to below applicable PELs. Bathtub refinishing can be very dangerous indeed, I have seen many poorly trained so called bathtub refinishing specialists using dangerous chemicals to refinish bathtubs in peoples homes without the proper ventilation systems in place and without using the proper protective equipment necessary. I wish I had read this blog before the procedure. I feel sure many, many more have died from methylene chloride than we know why is this so? Also my bedroom windows are both open, and that door is closed as well. I guess this is one of those occupational hazard jobs when doing bathtub refinishing. I had my cast iron tub reglazed on a very hot humid day. Lowering exposures, even below the PEL, is considered to be good industrial hygiene practice. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers, http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/#General, http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA, http://retrorenovation.com/2016/05/02/understanding-potential-lead-hazards-old-porcelain-enamel-bathtubs-sinks-ceramic-tile-any-age/#ixzz47UvHcM00, https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/09/21/17991/common-solvent-keeps-killing-workers-consumers, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/default.html, http://jwcpropertyservices.co.uk/bathtub-refinishing-dangers/, https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-quality-apartments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Thorough prep and and cleaning can preventbig headaches down the road. I also had diarrhea several times this morning. Other uses, such as use by professionals outside industrial installations or household use by individuals is forbidden. I myself am in the process of creating a technique that will eliminate the need for methylene chloride. Bathroom fans or open windows do not provide adequate ventilation. Successful bathtub stripping with benzyl alcohol as an alternative to methylene chloride-based paint strippers So, once workers can smell methylene chloride they are already being overexposed. Bathtub refinishing is also known as reglazing, or resurfacing. However, products are more dangerous when they are sweet smelling, and as your article states your are already exposed once you smell it. Acid is then applied to deglaze the tub and/or tile, followed by a bonding agent or primer, and finally, a urethane topcoat is applied. We do not have any information about leaching of polyurethane/acrylic bathtub finishing. OSHA has regulations that sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure over an 8-hour work shift. It took me a little bit to get used to, and while it doesn't look super cool, it's clean and an upgrade from the '90s pink tile for sure.. I have contacted the government,the union head [name removed], and the legal ombudsman but to no avail. Perhaps this us not the case. Pre-leasing now launched at 595 Dean St., the newest rental development in Brooklyn's vibrant Prospect Heights, The roommate dilemma: It's much more expensive to rent an apartment in NYC all by yourself now. Barely 3 days later I now have pluracy and bronchitis, i feel the building should be held responsible as we werent notified of the dangers. Bathtub refinishing is the process of restoring the surface of an old bathtub to improve the bathtubs appearance and repair surface damage. The fog was so thick and i could barely take a breath even with fans on. My cat and I were both really sick afterwards and my cat has now passed on.no one told us to go anywhere else, my cat was unable to be transported anyway and so was I since Im handicapped. Thanks! This is in response to Chris concerning isocyanates use in coatings. Thanks if you reply. We are sorry to hear about your health issues. In February 2012, a worker using a product containing methylene chloride to refinish a bathtub was found dead, slumped over a bathtub in an unventilated bathroom. Your local health department may also be able to provide more assistance or information. good cotent, i like it. Im positing now with the hope it may influence one decision. I wish I discovered this post a few weeks earlier. thank you so much. I have read reglazing tub reviews where a few customers couldn't take the scent while others had no issue with the bathtub reglazing odor. Because this process, which involves spraying a new topcoat on your existing tub and/or tile, is significantly cheaper, easier, cleaner, and less time-consuming than actually replacing a tub. For consumer concerns such as this you may want to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Comments listed below are posted by individuals not associated with CDC, unless otherwise stated. Obviously, I would have paid any price to do this rather than suffer these sad consequences. Tenant and all occupants in the apartment hereby release Bathtub Refinishing and Fiberglass Expert. I have learned some incredible information in this report. Having your bathtub professionally refinished will cost around $460 (the national average), but you can expect to pay between $200 to $900 depending on the type of tub you have and the cost of labor in your location. I hope many people will now be thinking at least thrice before making use of such chemicals. They agreed to resurface it for me as they would not replace it. The odor is still very strong and I am wondering how long it will take before I can go back in that room? Our apartment building had the next apt tub realized these morons did this in winter and there was no windows open. During this process, the holes and cracks in the bathtub will also be repaired. Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure. Our blog focused on the exposures from methylene chloride to workers during the process of stripping the old paint off of the tub prior to refinishing. The NIOSH studies pertained only to workers who were applying methylene chloride directly, and we have not studied consumer-related exposure. He was found unconscious minutes later and was rushed to the emergency room, several neuro tests where done and they all concluded the same thing.. Kevin had been brain dead before he was found on the job. Long-term exposure may cause cancer in humans. She and her contractor agreed to wait until the weather cooledto remedy the situation. But because were low income, we also do not get the luxury of telling management or housingno. Thanks for sharing such a helpful information. They were all exposed to open tanks of Methylene Chloride and cutting up bodies causing carbon monoxide. I now have a colostomy, urostomy,skin cancers and CKD(chronic kidney disease)with only one kidney working and that only functions at 15%. I am ok with both tub and tile appearance until I can afford a replacement/bath remodel. Proper ventilation and a proper fitting organic vapor respirator are an absolute requirement for DIY bathtub refinishing. Methylene chloride, a new chlorinated solvent, is usually a risky, without color liquid having a sweet-smelling smell. CDR Hall is the Deputy Branch Chief of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology. Avoid use of methylene chloride or minimize the amount of methylene chloride used at each site. Methylene chloride is a volatile liquid and will fully evaporate shortly after the project is completed. What is this stuff? Thetoxic fumesreleased during the processnot only make your apartment smell bad. Especially if chosen to be done in small places like a bathroom. I repaired the tile finish as best I could and covered it with 123 primer and latex kitchen/bath paint by mohair brush. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. Ask Sam: I saw my apartment on a listing site, but I havent received any notice from my landlord. I could not believe how hard it was to even find a kit to purchase, which led me to wonder why. THANK YOU! Refinishing Porcelain & Fiberglass Bathtub Reglazing/Refinishing Service. If safety is not enough to discourage the DIY Kits then maybe aesthetics will. Refinishing is also the best option with antique tubs that dont lend themselves to relining. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article about bathtub refinishing. I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. I cannot replace the tub without it being a major, expensive remodel. Reglazing involves stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Resurfacing is when we paint the counters, cabinets or tubs. Making safety precautions is the priority for all kinds of work. He was formally pronounced brain dead at the hospital, the same day of the incident. Thanks! Surely the proper checks should be taken before the products leaves the factory. If youve got an old bathtub(or bathroom) and youre investigating your options for giving it an upgrade, youve likely come across the term reglazingalso known as refinishing or recoating, which can revive a tiredtub or evenold bathroom tile. loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. We use MC (methylene chloride) in my furniture shop. Also you should understand between difference between Refinishing (without removing the old layer first) and Reglazing (stripping off the previous coating and sanding down the tub) a Bathtub. Thank you! There are a few scratches and black marks from a previously installed shower door that was installed on the tub. Being relatively poor most of my life Ive always been a do-it-yourselfer. A bathtub in our old home was reglazed a few weeks ago. Step 1: Remove Tub Hardware Shut off the water supply to your tub and drain any water from the line before you begin. It has one small rust stain and is still moderately shiny. Consult the OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert for specific information regarding engineering controls, exposure levels and air monitoring, personal protective equipment, worker training and medical surveillance. I had my tub reglazed recently. You may want to ask the installer for the products safety data sheet which may have useful information on curing times and precautions. I refer to this CDC article a few times a month when answering questions from customers. As a point of comparison, water boils at 212 F and has a room temperature vapor pressure of 17 mmHg. You must ventilate your workspace to minimize tub reglazing fumes. Open the bathroom door and as many . A lot of times when a solvent stinks, you realize you need the right protective equipment and ventilation. She refinished furniture in our garage. Even if you hire a professional, let the area air out and keep it ventilated after the work is complete until you can no longer detect any unusual or chemical odors. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. What's the difference between jumbo and conforming loans? If the area is poorly ventilated (which is common in bathrooms) or the person doing the work isnt wearing the appropriate protective gear, they could stop breathing, or worsemethyl chloride has an effect similar to carbon monoxide poisoning. Hi, so I had my bathtub reglazed in March. I understand the dangers of the application process, but what about the 2/3 days following the reglazing? What to know about adding skylights to your NYC brownstone or apartment, How to evaluate different types of NYC contractor bids when you're renovating, New Yorkers moving out of state save more money on housing than taxes, 5 houses for sale in Margaretville, NY, a small town in the Catskills, 5 houses for sale in Sagaponack, the most expensive zip code in NY. You may want to contact the Environmental Protection Agency or The Consumer Product Safety Commission. Its in our best interest to devise a way to remove these coatings without harming ourselves or the environment. What if your bathtub could be transformed in one day from embarrassing to your bathroom's sparkling centerpiece? Vapors from this liquid can collect in the bottom of the tub and cause the person refinishing the tub to asphyxiate or even suffer from a heart attack because methyl chloride turns to carbon monoxide in the body, cutting off oxygen supply. However, during the refinishing process, it is not possible for us to guess what the airborne concentration of methylene chloride may be in your home without knowing how the workers will be using methylene chloride and how they plan to ventilate the work area and the house. Always check product labels and safety data sheets to understand the recommended and required precautions. According to OSHA, you must also provide local exhaust ventilation and make-up air to replace the vapors removed by the exhaust. I have read many articles but this is different one. Takes longer and cost more but the client can pay the labor or feel free to do it themselves. "My glazing lasted three weeks before it began to peel from a tiny spot in the center of the tub," she says. As far as we are concerned, 2k urethane systems should not be allowed in residential use. Its not bad to ask especially if we dont know anything about something. No warning that fumes would make me sick. I stayed home all day, working around the house because there were two workers and didnt want to leave strangers in my home. We had it done over a year ago, and even with ventilation, I was outside in January feezing temps. Read more about our comment policy . So glad I read this. NIOSH cannot provide individual medical advice. Maybe others reading this blog will be able to help point you in the right direction. I started reading articles and ended up reading most of the comments in this blog. There are bathtub refinishing companies out there, [company name removed] are using safe processes for refinishing your bathtub, you just have to ask the tough questions. Did you know that the fumes from the chemical used to refinish or reglaze your bathtub can be hazardous to your health? "[The problem area] now takes up about a third of the bottom of the tub, because every time the water runs, more comes off," she says. For consumer-related questions after the tub has been refurbished, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Is that legal? I own a home built in 1940 and have been considering getting my cast iron bathtub refinished. I would like to know. For example, if you have a beautiful clawfoot tub made from heavy cast iron, refinishing is absolutely the way to go. Based on this information, I think I can live with a less-than-perfect finish until we are able to get the tub professionally refinished. The legal basis is Annex XVII of the REACH regulation. Posts: 19. Will these chemicals be leaching out of the surface, presenting a health concern from contact? I never post anything anywhere. Theres no such thing as excessive safety precaution. DIY Bathtub Refinish Kit with SlipGuard in White. She enjoyed improving discarded furniture, then selling it it was like art to her. I am linking an article from the Retro Renovation blog on safety that includes links to other sources on this. So how and why are these places allowed to keep doing that tub refinishing if its so dangerous?? Since methylene chloride is a volatile organic compound that will evaporate faster when sprayed, brushed, or poured, the chemical vapors can quickly build up in small spaces. It seemed like this article focused more on the concerns of MC and not ISO is there a follow up article that is just based on Isocyantes? If you are referring to paint strippers (which is what methylene Chloride is used for) one consideration would be using alternative methods, such as sanding. Or will we be ok?? Its better not to use methylene chloride for the safety of everybody. This is great information to share to hopefully make us more aware and careful. I have been thinking about reglazing our kitchen countertop (tiles). Traditional Spray Paint Style Refinishing has certain inherent dangers that you should be aware of. It is a less costly alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, the process often involves the use of hazardous chemicals including methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates.

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