Norwegian retailers have recalled building panels containing asbestos. Hundreds of customers nationwide may have purchased the contaminated products.
Three major companies—Electroimportøren, Right Price Tiles, and Duri Fagprofil—are pulling the panels from shelves. They sold these items for months before discovering the asbestos.
Communications director Åshild Indresøvde called the situation serious and regrettable. The company learned about the contamination during a supplier's quality check last week.
Testing confirmed asbestos in one batch. All sales stopped immediately. Air samples from warehouses showed no airborne asbestos fibers.
The affected panels include Procon Masterplates 1200x600x6mm with item number 88125. They were also sold as ICON Masterpanel 1200x600x6mm at Duri Fagprofil stores.
Asbestos is a dangerous mineral banned in Norway since 1985. Inhaling its fibers can cause cancer and other lung diseases. Norway prohibited it due to cancer risks from inhaled asbestos dust.
Customers should follow retailer instructions carefully. If panels aren't installed, store them safely. Don't dispose of them with regular trash. Avoid cutting, sanding, or drilling into the material.
If already installed, leave them untouched until receiving further guidance. Intact, encapsulated panels pose no health risk.
These fire-resistant panels are mainly used in floors during heated cable installation. Electroimportøren sold them nationwide since last September.
The company now contacts about 590 customers who placed 760 orders for these panels.
Right Price Tiles sold the products in seven locations: Oslo, Rud, Drammen, Vestby, Fredrikstad, Skien, and Bergen. CEO Kari Øgle Kjensberg said this batch should never have reached customers.
They take the matter seriously and work to resolve it properly. The company tracks down purchasers through website notices and customer text messages.
The panels originated from China. Supplier R & D Sourcing AS imported them and first suspected asbestos after customer inquiries.
Their spokesperson Bjørn Richard Johansen apologized strongly. He said imported goods containing asbestos traces shouldn't occur.
The Chinese manufacturer provided test results claiming no asbestos content. Both CE marking and ISO certification were present.
Health officials say this is the only recent case of asbestos in building panels sold in Norway. Asbestos only becomes dangerous when fibers release into the air.
Risk increases if materials get damaged or processed. Long-term exposure leads to lung diseases and cancer.
Hundreds may have handled asbestos unknowingly. Officials recommend dust testing in rooms where panels were handled.
If asbestos fibers appear in dust, professional cleaning companies should decontaminate those areas.
Installed panels don't need removal but future property sales or renovations should disclose the asbestos content. This ensures proper handling during any future removal work.
The situation reveals concerning gaps in import controls for building materials. Despite certifications and testing, dangerous substances still reached consumers through major retailers.