The asbestos fibers were braided in order to form the sealing product known as asbestos rope. This product was more flexible than all of the other sealing materials and its fire-resistant properties were enhanced by the mineral known as asbestos. Some types of asbestos ropes were reinforced with nickel, steel or copper wires.
As it was being handled, fibers might have been released into the environment but this was not considered as being the greatest hazard of asbestos rope. Its main problem was becoming friable due to the constant heat it was subjected to. You could have been exposed if: