Projects to produce non-chrysotile roof sheet are covered in dust

(Dantri) – The debate on the ban of chrysotile in AC roof sheet production at the hearing conference of the Committee on Science, Technology & Environment has come to a practical issue: is there any alternative fiber to chrysotile which is affordable?

Roofing for the poor and people in harsh climate areas

At the hearing session held by the Committee of Science, Technology & Environment on 3 November, the representative of Vietnam National Roofsheet Association said that until now, roofing factories, which have tried to produce roof sheet using alternative fiber, has not been successful.

Confirming this information, the Director of Dong Anh roof sheet factory, which is a company under the Ministry of Construction, revealed that the company had researched on non-chrysotile roof sheet since 2012 but failed due to the high price and poor quality which could only last up to 3 years in Vietnam weather condition.

Mr. Nghia added that customers used to choose color-coated steel roof sheets which were offered with competitive price but they have gradually stepped back from the products because of its poor noise-proof, low heat-resistance, and poor durability comparing to AC roof sheet. Especially, steel roof sheet reveals its poor characteristics at coastal areas.

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Cong Hong – Deputy Chairman of Committee on Laws asked if the use of chrysotile in AC roof sheet production was banned, how about other chrysotile containing materials such as thermal materials, brake pads, and brake linings? What was the possibility of alternative fiber?

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac, since 2001, the Institute of Building Materials of the Ministry of Construction and the Institute of Technology of the Ministry of Industry and Trade have researched different options of chrysotile substitutes. In the period of 2003-2005, the KC06 program had a project to research and develop a non-chrysotile production line. In 2007, Tan Thuan Cuong Company implemented the project. In 2014, there was also a research project of manufacturing KC03 project named “Project of producing non-asbestos corrugated sheets and flat sheets” with a capacity of 3 million m2/year.

Vietnamese scientists have mastered the technology of non-chrysotile roofing sheet production. Currently, the research group of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has provided production consultancy for some areas of Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. However, non-asbestos roof sheet production units in Vietnam has been shut down. The product has encountered challenges when trying to sell in the market due to high price and the less durability when comparing to AC roof sheet.

The Deputy Minister of Science and Technology stated the views and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) should be considered but it also needs to comply with the conditions in Vietnam, a step-by-step roadmap is needed and can be started with controlled use of chrysotile to ensure safety. To people living in high mountainous, remote, and harsh climate areas, AC roofing sheets show many advantages.

“The actual situation at AC roof sheet facilities are well aware by the Ministry of Construction. Which equipments are needed for AC roof sheet producers to covert to non-chrysotile production should be based on the market to develop an appropriate roadmap” – said Mr. Tac.

The roadmap to stop the use of chrysotile has not been officially submitted

Regarding scientific aspect, Associate. Prof Bach Dinh Thien – Director of Research Institute for Tropical Environmental Sciences stated that the ability of PVA to substitute chrysotile has not been proven in two aspects.

First of all, no comprehensive study has been conducted to evaluate the impact of PVA on human health. Secondly, in terms of feasibility, in 2014, the Government assigned the Ministry of Construction to study this issue, the research team concluded that the durability of PVA sheets is much lower than that of AC roof sheet in hot and humid climate.

In fact, all three non-chrysotile roof sheet production projects are now covered in dust.

National Assembly Deputy Le Anh Tuan – Standing Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs noted that AC roof sheet production is regulated as a conditional business line. If any change in policy, law amendment is needed which is the function of National Assembly. For law amendment, the authorized agency needs to have definite conclusion considering different aspects including social and economic factories. When revising and legalizing this issue, attention should be paid to ensure consistency with the bilateral and multilateral international treaties related to business that Vietnam participates in WTO documents and Free trade agreement (FTA) that Vietnam has signed.

In response, the Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh confirmed that, as an agency assigned by the Government to develop the roadmap, the Ministry will review different opinions to add content to ensure the development of roof sheet industry, affordable product for consumers as well as evaluating the impact of chrysotile on human health to report to the Prime Minister comprehensively and objectively based on legal and practical bases.

“The roadmap is still in development process and has not been submitted to the Government. As for the question between the economical interest and human health, the task was assigned by the Prime Minister based on human health. The time for implementation of the roadmap could be longer. The Ministry of Construction also consider the research for alternative materials and has assigned competent agencies to study this issue. We have had initial research and substitute products with better quality and comparable price. We work for the development of the industry, for the workers and the health of the people”.

Deputy President of Vietnam Association for Building Materials stated that the deadline for the ban on chrysotile in 2023 is not feasible but it can determine the gradual reduction of the use of fiber This in material production. The current decree on management of construction materials has very strict regulations on production conditions, even more stringent than many other developed countries. Accordingly, any production facility that does not meet labor safety requirements will be forced to close.

In fact, in the world, chrysotile is still widely used in construction material production in many countries such as Russia, USA, Germany. In Russia, there are millions of square kilometers of clean water pipelines with asbestos cement. According to data published in the German Ministry of Planning magazine, the country is also exploiting and using 50 km of asbestos-containing drinking water pipelines.

P.T