Dangers in Property – Asbestos
Today I will be discussing the different types of asbestos products and where they may be found in residential properties. In my opinion, UK housing stock still has a large amount of asbestos products present throughout. From textured coatings ,to cement boiler flues and floor tiles. Asbestos was widely used by tradesmen and throughout the construction, automotive and engineering industries due to its fireproof and heat insulating properties during a forty year period from the 1950′s to the late 1980′s.
On the legal and duty of care issues, until proved otherwise, all suspect materials should be considered to be asbestos. When any works to a building or parts are to be carried out, a refurbishment or demolition survey is generally advised. This survey, which costs around £3-400, should identify all asbestos containing materials present and recommend any further action to be taken.
Licensed Professional Removals Only
Asbestos Insulation Board
This material was mainly used in fire protection, such as in heater cupboards, but is also commonly found in ceiling tiles, partition walls and fireproof panels for fire doors.
It can be difficult to spot this type of asbestos as it can look very much like “ordinary” ceiling tiles and partitioning or plasterboard. These types of asbestos products are also a highly dangerous material, as, when broken or disturbed it can easily release fibers.
The HSE ( Health and Safety Executive) will allow only very minor works to be carried out to this material.
Loose fill asbestos insulation
Loose fill asbestos was used to insulate in between cavity walls, floorboards and lofts. It’s usually pure asbestos and maybe grey or whitish in colour. It is a fluffy type of material. A large volume of fibres can be released when disturbed, as you can see from the picture above.
Asbestos spray coatings
A spray coating is generally found on the underside of ceilings and floors, as fire protection to steelwork and concrete. Considered as one of the most dangerous of the asbestos materials due to the high volume of fibres that can be released when disturbed. Only licensed asbestos contractors may work with this product.
Non-Licensed Removals
Textured coatings
Artex, the scourge of old properties, comes in the form of a decorative paint or plaster finish. More often than not these materials will also have been painted over. The danger can be limited as the material is contained, but easy release is achieved if sanded down. Textured coatings have in the past also been applied over the top of asbestos insulation board.
Therefore care must still be taken when dealing with it. You will need to erect a two stage airlock, and use negative pressure unit as well as the correct PPE.
Asbestos cement products
This material was used in anything from roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes. Boiler flues and wall cladding. The asbestos has been mixed with cement which does help to prevent dispersal of fibres. A common use was as garage roofs. You must not exceed control limits if you remove this yourself. A risk assessment will highlight if the works are likely to exceed the control limits.
Floor tiles, toilet cisterns and textiles
Vinyl floor tiles can have an asbestos content and can be found under carpet. Composite asbestos products have included toilet cisterns and seats, window sills and bath panels. For the tiles and composite products it may be a question of how long they have been in situ as to whether they contain asbestos. Asbestos textiles can be found behind older fuse boxes.
Summary
This list is not comprehensive but does cover some of the main products that you may find. It should always be remembered that asbestos was still being used in building products up to the year 2000. If the material is suspect, you must treat it as asbestos. You cannot determine if a product has asbestos content by a visual inspection. The sample must be viewed in a laboratory.
The Risks To Health
When inhaled, the fibres can cause serious respiratory diseases which are responsible for over 4000 deaths every year in the UK. “Every week on average, 4 plumbers, 20 tradesmen, 6 electricians and 8 joiners die from this hidden killer.” (HSE 2020)Asbestos-related diseases include pleural thickening, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. These diseases do not affect those exposed immediately, but in later life.
