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PCB joints
PCB joints in construction
PCB joints are hazardous to health and are primarily found as joints in modular construction and around windows
In addition to sealants, PCB can also be found in paint, concrete, adhesives, and sealants used in double-glazed windows. In the event of PCB contamination, PCB can also be measured in many other materials.
Typically, they are found in oil-based products such as linoleum, paints, various furniture, and dust. Old ventilation systems can also cause elevated PCB concentrations.
How dangerous are PCB joints?
PCB, whether it comes from sealants or other materials, is highly hazardous to health. It is clear that sealants with a very low concentration of PCB are less dangerous than sealants with a very high concentration. Unfortunately, concentrations are often very high in most sealants where PCB was originally used.
Today, we have a great deal of knowledge about the impact of PCBs on humans, and it has been documented that PCBs can:
- Be carcinogenic (especially in children)
- Be endocrine disruptors
- Reduce reproductive capacity
- Disrupting development in children
- Interfere with learning ability
Facts about PCB joints:
- PCB was used as a softener in sealants from 1950 to 1977
- PCB sealants were primarily used in modular construction, such as the ‘Plan’ schools, but they were also extensively used in office buildings and social housing construction.
- You cannot see or smell if there is PCB in a sealant; this needs to be analyzed further
- Sealants containing PCB must be removed (remediated).
- Remediation of sealants containing PCB should only be carried out by trained personnel.
- Remediating only the PCB sealants may not necessarily solve a PCB contamination
- Surfaces that have come into contact with PCB sealants should be sealed to prevent new contamination of the indoor environment
- Sealing is included in 9 out of 10 successful PCB renovations today
- TWO Teknik has been solving challenges with PCB sealants and surfaces for over 10 years
Do you need help?
Do you need guidance regarding PCBs and PCB sealing?
Then contact a specialist from TWO Teknik.
We are ready to assist you.
Phone
+45 72 30 20 31
Mail
info@twoteknik.dk
PCB is dangerous because it accumulates in the body’s fat stores and is a very stable substance that the body cannot break down on its own. The accumulation of PCB ultimately leads to the body developing cancer cells, just like it does with asbestos and through smoking.
The impact of PCB is also dangerous because it emits into the indoor air and is therefore very difficult to control and its consequences can be severe. PCB from sealants that have emitted into the indoor air for, e.g., 40 years has spread to and contaminated many different surfaces. Therefore, a PCB contamination is often extensive, as ceilings, floors, ventilation, and furnishings can all be contaminated with PCB after years of exposure.
Today, it is common knowledge that walls and ceilings, even with low concentrations of PCB, contribute significantly to a PCB contamination. These must be addressed in a PCB renovation, and they should be sealed with a product that is both effective and not harmful or toxic – it should be completely natural and obvious.
How to deal with PCB joints
That is correct. Removal of PCB-containing caulking should be carried out by professionals who have undergone proper training in handling PCBs. While the actual process of removing the caulking may not be complicated, it is crucial to take the necessary precautions for personal protective equipment and environmental safety. Failure to do so can have severe consequences for one’s health and the people and environment around them.
There are special requirements for personal protective equipment when removing a PCB sealant. The requirements depend on whether electric/mechanical tools are used that heat up the PCB sealant or if there is exposure to PCB-laden dust.
As a minimum requirement, respiratory protective equipment with filter class P3 should be used, which must be replaced daily. For heating work, A2P3 filters must be used as a minimum requirement, which must be replaced according to the supplier’s instructions.
Protective clothing and gloves must be worn, and all skin contact with PCB-containing sealants must be avoided.
Always remember the responsibilities of the parties in PCBs
The developer is responsible for:
- Always provide information on the presence of PCBs
- Notifying the construction site to the Health and Safety Executive (if the scope of the work requires it)
- A written plan for safety and health (PSS) should be developed.
- To sort PCB-containing waste on the construction site.
- The disposal must be carried out according to the municipality’s guidelines.
Designers are responsible for:
- To advise the client on necessary investigations and measures (Advisor responsibility)
- To inform about risks in project material
The contractor is responsible for:
- Investigating the construction site further if there is suspicion of PCB
- Ensuring a minimization in the spread of PCBs.
- To prepare a written plan for the execution of the work
After remediation of the PCB joints
Every PCB renovation has its own history and recipe for a PCB-free indoor environment. However, all PCB renovations have in common that PCB sealing is involved to a greater or lesser extent, as the remediation of the primary source of PCB contamination alone does not remove the contamination, but only eliminates the cause of contamination (here and now).
Each PCB renovation has its own history and recipe for achieving a PCB-free indoor environment. However, all PCB renovations have in common that PCB sealing is included to a greater or lesser extent, as remediation of the primary source of PCB contamination alone does not remove the contamination – but only the cause of the contamination (here and now).
When PCB-containing surfaces have been remediated, they need to be sealed. There are several different products available on the Danish market for PCB sealing, all of which can seal PCB to a greater or lesser extent. However, no other products offer the same user-friendliness, environmental considerations, traceability, and application possibilities as the SPS series. We have been involved from the beginning and have developed our sealing products “first hand” based on the experiences we have gained over more than 10 years. We always develop our products in close dialogue with advisors and contractors, with the greatest consideration for users and the environment. That is why all our products are not based on epoxy, which according to the Danish Working Environment Authority, is harmful and should be limited, as epoxy can have allergenic properties and cause serious health damage with prolonged exposure. Contains carcinogenic substances such as bisphenol A. Our PCB sealing products are extremely effective, innovative, and can be used by all technical personnel.
We believe that our products stand up to comparison at any time. Below, we have collected the common PCB sealing products on the market and compared them based on a range of criteria that we believe are relevant in choosing a product for PCB sealing.
We hope the table can provide an overview and make it easier to choose the right product for the task.
Sealing PCB joints – with advice
It is very important and crucial for a successful PCB renovation to have a PCB specialist involved in the process, and therefore we always recommend that if you do not already have an experienced advisor on the case, you should contact one. We are happy to provide advice and guidance on PCB sealing, which is our specialty, and we are happy to refer you to several of the country’s leading advisors on PCB renovations and PCBs in general.
For PCB sealing, we recommend SPS PRIMÆR and PRIMÆR VINTER, which are some of the most effective barriers to PCB on the market and at the same time offer the widest range of application options.
With a seal of building materials, the polluting substances are encapsulated in a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly manner. By using the tracer SEAL TRACE simultaneously, the effectiveness of the encapsulation can always be controlled and verified – which is unique in the world, by the way.
OUR PCB SEALERS
Sealing of PCB joints
That consideration for the environment and for the people who work with our products is always a top priority for us. Our PCB sealers SPS Primær and SPS Primær Vinter are free of harmful toxins and reduce PCB contamination by over 95%.
We do not use epoxy or products containing bisphenols or solvents in any of our products, which means anyone can work with PCB sealing from TWO Teknik.
Our products are recommended by the leading environmental consultants in the country and are used in all kinds of PCB projects of varying sizes.
Sealing after PCB joints with effect
At TWO Teknik, we recommend that PCB sealing of embedded joints only be used as a temporary solution.
The PCB sealing itself does not remove the cause of contamination, just as the remediation of the actual joint does not in itself remove the PCB contamination.
Independent laboratory tests
Although independent laboratory tests show that our PCB sealer reduces pollution by more than 95% of the outgassing for more than 10 years, this solution should be considered temporary. Encapsulation of in-situ PCB joints should only be used as a “here and now” solution to stop PCB outgassing and bring PCB values below the National Board of Health’s threshold values for PCB in indoor air, so that a larger renovation can be properly planned.
PCB sealing as a permanent solution is carried out after thorough decontamination of the PCB-contaminated joints, followed by sealing of the surfaces that have been in direct contact with the PCB-contaminated joint, also known as the secondary sources.
Tertiary sources
Today, we know that the tertiary sources (all surfaces that have absorbed PCB through the air) contribute to a PCB contamination far more than previously thought. In fact, even low concentrations on large surfaces can create PCB concentrations higher than the Danish Health Authority’s limit values of 300 ng PCB/m3 air. Sealing of the tertiary sources is a very effective method to reduce PCB concentrations in indoor air. The SPS products can be painted over with a quality acrylic paint. TWO Teknik has successfully sealed walls and ceilings in several schools that had been sanitized for PCB joints in the previous years.
PCB sealing - best economy
If you choose a PCB sealing or encapsulation of the PCB-containing building materials with SPS PRIMÆR, you choose a solution that is economical, manageable, environmentally friendly, and time-efficient compared to other products on the market. We offer both execution of PCB sealing in main and subcontracting, as well as wholesale of PCB sealing.
SPS Primær is also highly suitable for sealing the tertiary surfaces such as walls and ceilings, and can be tinted and subsequently painted over.
Translation: PCB sealing with SPS Primær and SPS Primær Vinter is recognized as encapsulation by experts and advisory specialists, as a safe way to achieve a successful PCB renovation and a PCB-free indoor environment.
PCB sealing with the best sealing products
We constantly develop and maintain the SPS product line with the products SPS Primær and SPS Primær Vinter, which we have specially developed to encapsulate PCB. At the same time, it is important for us that the PCB sealing is completely free of harmful or toxic substances – such as Epoxy, Isocyanates or solvents. Epoxy contains, among other things, bisphenol-a (BPA) which can be both allergenic and carcinogenic. BPA is also suspected to be endocrine disrupting, can cause reproductive damage, and be a cause of overweight. Read more about the use of epoxy in the AT Guideline on epoxy and isocyanates on the Danish Working Environment Authority’s website here.
Sealing - with respect to the environment
We have a very clear attitude towards the environment and the materials we work with. Therefore, our products for PCB sealing are as gentle on people and the environment as possible, and contain none of the harmful substances that are found in Epoxy, for example. With the products in the SPS series, we guarantee an extremely effective encapsulation of PCB, while offering the most environmentally friendly PCB sealer on the market. If sealing PCB-containing surfaces was solely about encapsulating the PCB as much as possible, without any consideration for people and the environment, then different products would be used for the purpose than those used today. However, fortunately, we are increasingly seeing that environmental considerations are important to our customers, and therefore the choice often falls on our products.
PCB sealing without toxins
Our products are without epoxy and isocyanates – which means that all professionals can work with them, as they do not require an epoxy course or a special certificate. Of course, the products are developed for professionals who already work with PCB. That is, demolition workers, contractors, painters, carpenters, and others. Everything from adhesion, viscosity, and curing time is balanced to function optimally in Nordic climates. It is clear that PCB sealing requires thorough instruction, as the optimal effect of the sealant is contingent on correctly executed work. We offer thorough instruction in the use of all our products, as well as ongoing supervision and final quality control.
Proven sealing products
At TWO Teknik, our products have undergone several independent investigations and analyses, including one by Professor John Mortensen from Roskilde University. The analysis of SPS Primær and Primær Vinter demonstrates that our products are highly suitable for sealing PCB, even on surfaces with extremely high levels of off-gassing.
When we have chosen to work with silicates as the basis for our sealing products, it is partly due to the natural formation of an extremely tight “network” or “barriers” by silicates. In addition, silicates do not contain toxic or harmful ingredients. The SPS Primary products form a tighter network than most other sealing products because the silicates in the series form many more internal connections during curing and can also create a chemical connection to, for example, concrete. That is to say, the sealant is not just “glued” to the surface, but comes into contact with the surface material, which provides a much stronger and more durable seal.
The silicates also have the crucial advantage that they do not absorb PCB themselves. This means that the sealed surface itself cannot become a source of pollution. Various products, including acrylic products, actually absorb PCB, and therefore there is typically a sudden drop in concentrations when they are painted. However, over time, this surface will begin to emit PCB and contribute to new pollution.
SPS Primær and Primær Vinter have been tested and further evaluated by Dansk Miljøanalyse, which shows that their barrier properties are over 95%.
Radon protection
If you need guidance regarding radon sealing, please contact an expert from TWO Teknik.
We have more than 10 years of experience and are ready to assist you.
Radon protection
If you need guidance regarding radon sealing, please contact an expert from TWO Teknik.
We have more than 10 years of experience and are ready to assist you.
Frequently asked questions on PCBs
TWO Teknik is Denmark’s first and most experienced company in sealing PCBs in building components.
We have been involved since the beginning, and with our focus on PCBs in indoor environments, we solve a lot of tasks annually in collaboration with contractors and consultants.
We have developed some of the world’s best and most versatile products and solutions for PCBs in building materials. We have been the first in the world with some of them, and we hold patents on others. All of these, as well as our know-how, are available to you as a customer when you choose TWO Teknik as your partner for PCB sealing.
Just as we constantly have our own solutions for evaluation and ongoing development, we also offer to work with new solutions and products externally.
TWO Teknik has a solid collaboration with several major Danish knowledge centers and leading laboratories for testing and development of new products.
No, we produce and sell products and solutions for indoor climate problems, building technical problems, and work environment. We are happy to refer to several of the country's most experienced companies in the field of PCB remediation.
Yes, we perform PCB sealing both as main and subcontractors. If you prefer to do the sealing work yourself, we offer thorough instruction and guidance on the use of all our products.
Yes, you can always call our experts at +45 72302031 or write to info@twoteknik.dk.
For direct building owner advice, we are happy to refer to the country's leading experts in the field.
We use the tracer substance SPS Seal Trace as a unique and comprehensive tool for quality assurance of a PCB sealing. SPS Seal Trace is developed and patented by TWO Teknik.
SPS Seal Trace is a completely unique product that is offered at no additional cost with our products for PCB sealing.
We have a clear stance that our products should be as least harmful as possible for the environment and people. Therefore, none of our products are based on epoxy, which can be allergenic and carcinogenic, and do not contain any isocyanates or solvents of any kind.
At the same time, we do not believe that epoxy is the most appropriate choice for sealing PCB, as epoxy naturally has a limited lifespan as an effective PCB sealer. The requirement for durability or lifespan of products in a building context where there is PCB, is significantly longer than for example the lifespan of a workshop floor where epoxy is normally used.
Anyone who is a professional can work with our products. We offer thorough guidance and instruction on usage, as well as ongoing monitoring and assistance with quality control.
Our sealing products come with layer thickness gauges. These should be used during the sealing work to ensure that the seal has the correct layer thickness of at least 150 µm. We offer thorough guidance and instruction in the use of our products, as well as ongoing monitoring and assistance with quality control.
The layer thickness gauges can be photo documented and included in the quality assurance of the work.
The sealant is typically cured and allows for further work after only 24 hours. This means that, for example, in a window replacement project, windows can be removed, remediated, and sealed on day 1, and new windows can be installed on day 2.
The sealing must be applied in several layers to achieve the correct layer thickness. The sealing is ready for the next layer when the previous layer is "semi-dry", meaning it should not feel sticky but rather like "duct tape". This is usually achieved 30-60 minutes after application. NOTE THAT THE SEALING MUST NOT CURE BETWEEN LAYERS.
The sealant should have a thickness of at least 150um, and the number of layers required to achieve this will depend on the surface being worked on. Normally, 2-3 layers will be sufficient to achieve 150um.
Yes - Both SPS Primær and SPS Primær Vinter can be painted over with most quality acrylic paints. However, tests should always be carried out on a less visible area. (We are always helpful with test stones for paint samples)
YES - We offer both tinting of the sealant and delivery of color powder so that you can do the tinting yourself.
