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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Respirators and holes in the floor (Viewed 2840 times)
La Cigale 


Location: Paris, France
Gender: Male




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Respirators and holes in the floor
< on 9/8/2012 2:14 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've noted health issues with my very first exploration. It was in an abandoned power station directly across the road from my apartment in Melbourne. I used to get inside and it would always smell like shit. And it quite literally was, so much pigeon shit across the floors and walls. In one place I actually stepped on a pigeon by mistake. But there was something else too... All of the pipes were covered in Plaster of Paris. I couldn't figure out why they would plaster pipes.

One day when I was coming home a police car appeared at the front of my apartment / power station. Then another, then a fire truck, then another, then an ambulance, a paramedic, two more police cars, two more fire trucks, a search and rescue van, and a chemical decontamination unit. I waited and watched at they suited up in their space men costumes and entered the power plant, returning some time later with an unconscious girl. The medics took over and the fire fighters were sprayed down in a scene that was reminiscent of old nuclear testing videos.

I read about it in the news papers the following day and the girl was not an explorer, but a street kid or addict that was wandering around drunk one night. Apparently she lost her phone through a crack and went looking for it before falling through a seven meter hole in the ground. The medics took her to hospital where she remained in a critical condition until she died three days later. She was only 13.

There are obvious risks to Urbex… and although this girl was not exploring, but rather homeless, probably drunk and drugged, it doesn't change the fact that it's not a myth that if you fuck about and don't pay close attention to what you are doing, there is a very real chance that you too could end up dead.


I wanted to share this story after reading a touching post about respirators and health by Maypost here on this site. I had no idea that what I though was plaster of Paris, was actually raw asbestos. When you walked the air would be filled with air borne asbestos. The papers described it as one of the deadliest sites in Victoria. I watched as they covered the whole building in plastic whilst they slowly dismantled it. I will surely be buying a respirator after reading Maypost's story.

I have some questions I would like to ask as well… Who of you have respirators. Are there styles that you would recommend? Does anyone use or recommend air quality readers? I do a lot of exploring in caves and have though about getting something to read the toxicity/ quality and availability of air underground. And a big thanks to Maypost for sharing his story.


Maypost's article :
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=104366

News Article about girls death:
http://www.theage....1098474913265.html

*** There is a fucking up up up***
citrusleak 


Location: Indy
Gender: Male


Indy Explorer

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 1 on 9/8/2012 3:16 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I use a half-face style from 3M with P100 filters. Wouldn't trust less, haven't needed more.

Alpha67 






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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 2 on 9/8/2012 3:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
She may have fallen into confined space where there was trapped poisonous gasses. People can die by walking into empty grain silos or descending into open air tanks. The same could be said of tunnels or mines where poisonous gasses can pool - places of heavy dust or inert gasses can also be deadly if there is enough to displace oxygen levels.

Know what you are getting into and never explore these places alone!
[last edit 9/8/2012 6:55 PM by Alpha67 - edited 1 times]

Tenebrae 


Location: The Wild West


Life's short; eat dessert first.

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 3 on 9/8/2012 6:45 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by citrusleak
I use a half-face style from 3M with P100 filters. Wouldn't trust less, haven't needed more.


I see this on 3M's website for $368 (way out of my range), but on amazon or ebay for as little as $30... what should I expect to pay for an acceptable quality mask?
Does the one you're referring to look like this:
1.




Alpha67 






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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 4 on 9/8/2012 6:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Tenebrae


I see this on 3M's website for $368 (way out of my range), but on amazon or ebay for as little as $30... what should I expect to pay for an acceptable quality mask?
Does the one you're referring to look like this:
1.





That mask should be less than $50 anywhere. There must be a prob with the 3M site's pricing.

This mask will not protect you against poisonous gasses or lack of oxygen however (like the scenarios I mentioned)



MeoW 


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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 5 on 9/8/2012 9:30 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Looks like 3M sell them in bulk which would explain the price.

After a quick google search found this place that is selling them for $18. http://www.enviros...ator-assembly.html




I don't do magic Morty I do science!
Breach 


Location: Louisville, KY
Gender: Male




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 6 on 9/9/2012 12:09 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
or you can go to the nearest Lowes and get one for the same price, minus S&H.

"I set the bar high, it makes it easier to sneak under." -J.D. Jenkins
Rust 

I am a rustbucket






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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 7 on 9/9/2012 1:32 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
That's not plaster of paris, that's asbestos.

Plus, you can get histoplasmosis from inhaled pigeon shit. Very nasty stuff.

Asher0719 


Location: MSP
Gender: Female


The World Abandoned

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 8 on 9/9/2012 4:58 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I use the P100 half-face mask from 3M that others have posted here. I ordered mine brand new off of eBay for $25. The P100 masks are pretty cheap too, so it's well worth the minor investment that it is.

I definitely wear a respirator when I see the need. I went into an old school once and all the pipes were covered in asbestos. I definitely put it on then and was glad I did. I went into a cave once w/o wearing one and coughed for a week straight, which was annoying to say the least. It's definitely a matter of choice, but I would definitely recommend wearing one if you see the need. It's not worth finding out you have some kind of lung disease twenty years down the road, no matter how cool the building was that gave it to you.

~Asher
La Cigale 


Location: Paris, France
Gender: Male




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 9 on 9/9/2012 7:59 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Rust
That's not plaster of paris, that's asbestos.


If you continued reading you would see that I mentioned this in my story.


*** There is a fucking up up up***
brighamm 


Location: Washington
Gender: Male


Noob

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 10 on 9/9/2012 5:02 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
16.75 Shipped
http://www.ebay.co...ash=item2c6337f5d2

Weirdlig 


Gender: Female




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 11 on 9/9/2012 9:47 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I don't have much to say on respirators here that everyone else won't cover.

...but I have this dumb obsession with getting very close to the dangerous areas while exploring. I can tell you from personal experience--follow your head and don't think a shot is more important than your security.

Everything that ever went wrong for me, I already called myself an idiot just before attempting. I always knew what the risks were, and it was my cockiness that got me hurt. Pay attention to your intuition is my best advice.

Falling through floors sucks. If you're lucky, the best is can go is that you get splinters and cuts from very dirty sources. I had a finger lose blood flow for ten minutes from something I already knew not to do.

http://www.flickr....irdlingphotography
La Cigale 


Location: Paris, France
Gender: Male




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 12 on 9/9/2012 10:58 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Tenebrae


I really don't want to sound superficial... but do they come in other colours?

*** There is a fucking up up up***
Rust 

I am a rustbucket






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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 13 on 9/10/2012 12:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by La Cigale


If you continued reading you would see that I mentioned this in my story.



Damn, how did I miss that.

And unfortunately, all p100 filters are color coded pink. It's some sort of industry standard.

buddykermit 


Location: Mid Atlantic
Gender: Male


"hey dude watch this"

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 14 on 9/10/2012 12:48 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
i also have the half faced 3m mask it works great. it does get real nasty inside the mask after a while though. this summer i could feel the sweat and condensation had accumulated like 1/4-1/2 inch i pulled my mask away from my face and it poured out. it was epic

When one man, for whatever reason,
has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life,
he has no right to keep it to himself
Tenebrae 


Location: The Wild West


Life's short; eat dessert first.

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 15 on 9/10/2012 3:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Asher0719
I went into a cave once w/o wearing one and coughed for a week straight


I've been in many caves without encountering any respiratory problems (maybe just lucky)... Tunnels and methane aside, what could a cave contain that would produce coughing?

Tenebrae 


Location: The Wild West


Life's short; eat dessert first.

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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 16 on 9/10/2012 3:08 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by La Cigale


I really don't want to sound superficial... but do they come in other colours?


I wondered, too. Pink is not my favorite.

ZenCanadian 


Location: High Park, Toronto
Gender: Male




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 17 on 9/10/2012 3:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
That's odd, my cans are purple

Are you ready?? The zombies are outside! by ZensLens, on Flickr

Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life.
yeya 


Location: La La Land, TX
Gender: Female




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 18 on 9/10/2012 5:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I also use a respirator and also the P100. I believe this is the one I have:
http://www.homedep...d=-1&storeId=10051

You just never know. Been in one place that I wouldn't have been able to go into if I didn't have it. It REALLY reeked!!!

DSomms 


Location: Detroit
Gender: Male




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Re: Respirators and holes in the floor
<Reply # 19 on 9/10/2012 8:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by yeya
I also use a respirator and also the P100. I believe this is the one I have:
http://www.homedep...d=-1&storeId=10051

You just never know. Been in one place that I wouldn't have been able to go into if I didn't have it. It REALLY reeked!!!


I have that one too but with the low profile filters. Without it I'd have never been able to see the basement of the hospital we went to this weekend.

UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Respirators and holes in the floor (Viewed 2840 times)
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