Finding And Removing Asbestos

Finding Asbestos
Dealing With Asbestos

Any home built before 2000 can contain asbestos. Discover what to do if you suspect it's there.

By Sarah Warwick

Asbestos: A Guide To Finding And Removing It

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material. It was used extensively as a building material from the 1950s, and may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before 2000. This means that even if your home is pre-1950s, you do need to be aware of it. It was used both on its own or mixed with other materials, so it may not be obvious when you encounter it. However, it's likely that some parts of any building built before 2000 will contain asbestos, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?

When asbestos fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening. Asbestos is common in the environment at low levels because it was used so widely - in commercial and domestic buildings and machinery - before it was banned. Working directly with it can cause much higher exposure, and repeated exposures will have a cumulative effect. Around 4,000 deaths a year are attributable to inhaling asbestos fibres - the majority from high exposures in industrial processes and installing asbestos products. It can take between 15 and 60 years for symptoms to develop.

At home exposure to asbestos fibres could come about if you don’t recognise the presence of asbestos and work with it, or the materials containing it aren’t in good condition and the fibres become airborne.

Why Was Asbestos Used?

Asbestos was used as an insulator, for fire protection and to protect against corrosion. It may be found all round your home and garden, in products such as textured coatings, floor tiles, textiles, composites, sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams, insulating board, lagging, cement, and loose in ceiling or floor cavities.

Where Would I Find It?

These are the most likely forms asbestos will take in your home:

Asbestos cement Ordinary cement mixed with asbestos. It’s hard and grey and was used as large, corrugated sheets to make roofs, for example for garages and sheds; as wall cladding for buildings such as garages and sheds; and as boiler flues. Gives off some fibres if broken, and more if sawn or drilled.
Lagging and insulation made from asbestos is mostly found around heating systems and pipes. It easily releases fibres when disturbed, so is one of the most dangerous asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos insulating board (AIB). It looks like plasterboard, so is hard to distinguish from non-asbestos material. Easily releases fibres.
Loose asbestos in cavity walls, under floorboards and in the loft. It’s fluffy and may be blue-grey or white. Probably the most dangerous asbestos material.
Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams. Usually white or grey and with a rough surface. Can have been painted. One of the most dangerous asbestos-containing materials.
Textured decorative coatings. Hard, and may be white or painted over. Asbestos fibres aren’t easily released, except if they’re sanded, so this should never be done.
Floor tiles, which may be under carpet.
Textiles made from asbestos may be found in fuse boxes, old fire blankets and heat-resistant gloves.
Asbestos composites can be found as toilet cisterns, toilet seats, windowsills and bath panels.