I finally got a look inside the old power plant in Cedar Rapids

They had a public tour for the first time in years. The boiler room was something else, all original 1920s gear. What really got me was the insulation on the steam lines. It was this thick, layered asbestos wrap, still in place. The guide said they just sealed it in place with a special coating because removing it would be a bigger hazard. Made me think about all the old sites we walk into. How do you guys handle it when you run into that kind of historic containment on a job? Do you walk, or is there a safe way to work around it if it's sealed?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy_west16d ago

That asbestos wrap is wild to see up close!

riverb1316d ago

But have you ever considered how useful that stuff actually was? It didn't burn, it insulated like crazy, and it lasted forever. They put it in schools and hospitals because it worked so well. We only see it as scary now because we know the health risks, but back then it was just smart building material. Maybe we threw the baby out with the bathwater on that one.

kelly_rivera16d ago

Saw the same thing at the old textile mill in Lowell. They painted over all the pipe insulation with this thick, gray sealant. Felt weird just being near it.