Commercial and domestic asbestos removal...

Where can I find asbestos?

Hover over one the the bullet points to see the image below change:

• Asbestos cement products
• Textured coatings
• Floor tiles, textiles and composites
• Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams/columns
• Asbestos insulating board
• Lagging
• Loose asbestos in ceiling or floor cavity

Types of Asbestos...

• Asbestos Cement Products
• Asbestos Insulation Board Products
• Asbestos Millboard
• Asbestos Sprayed Coatings
• Asbestos Floor Tiles
• Asbestos Rope Insulation and Yarns
• Asbestos Textured coatings
• Asbestos Thermal Insulation
• Other Types of asbestos

Introduction

Asbestos has been incorporated into many materials over the last century.   There are three common types of asbestos: Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Chrysotile (white asbestos).

The commercial use of asbestos in the UK began around the end of the 1890's and increased gradually. Immediately after World War II, large quantities of asbestos were used, particularly for new ‘system-built’ buildings in the 1950s,60s and 70s. Asbestos Containing Materials were also routinely used in the refurbishment of older buildings.

Asbestos has been the subject of gradual voluntary and formal bans since 1969, for example:

• the use of blue asbestos stopped almost completely in the early part of the 1970's;
  
• the use of sprayed coatings decreased gradually from 1970 to 80 and was the subject of a legal ban from 1985;
  
• the use of asbestos insulating board decreased sharply after 1980 and stopped completely in 1985;
  
• the use of asbestos paints and varnishes stopped in 1988;
  
• the use of asbestos-containing decorative plasters was legally banned in 1992;
  
• the use of asbestos cement was prohibited in 1999.

By 1999 the importation, supply and use of all forms of Asbestos Containing Materials had been banned, with the exception of a few specialised applications.

NOTE* these dates are only provided as a guideline, as asbestos held in stock may have been used after these dates.

Asbestos Cement Products:

Asbestos cement is a product used widely in the past as a building material. It generally contains 10-15% asbestos fibres which are bound in portland cement or calcium silicate and the uncoated sheets can be identified as light grey in colour.

Banned in the UK in 1999, asbestos cement products are by far the most common use of asbestos.  Many houses, particularly those built between the 1940s and the mid 70s have asbestos cement garages and other asbestos products within and around the house.

• Commonly Found: Garages, Sheds, Industrial Units, Dutch Barns, Nissan Huts, Domestic & Commercial properties, Schools, Hospitals, Churches
• Commonly Used for: Construction material, Corrugated roof sheets, Wall cladding (Corrugated & flat), Roof tiles, Soffits,  Rain water products (Guttering & down pipes), Soil & vent pipes,  Verge plates, Flues, Bath panels, Panels to airing cupboards, around gas & electric meters.

Asbestos Insulation Board Products:

Asbestos Insulation  Boards (AIB)

Asbestos insulating board is a lightly compressed board made from asbestos fibre and hydrated Portland cement or calcium silicate with other filler materials and can be used for structural purposes e.g. as a partition.

• Commonly Found: Ceiling Tiles, Wall Panels, Fire Doors, Window Panels, Soffits, Boxing around structural steel work, Lift shafts,
• Commonly Used for: fire protection, thermal and acoustic insulation, resistance to moisture movement and general building board. Found in service ducts, firebreaks, infill panels, partitions and ceilings (including ceiling tiles), roof underlay, wall linings, external canopies and porch linings.

Asbestos Millboard ('Millboard')

Crocidolite (blue) asbestos was used in some millboard manufacture between 1896 and 1965; usually chrysotile (white) asbestos. Millboards may contain 37-97% asbestos, with a mixture of clay and starch.

• Commonly Found: Pipe runs, electrical gear, vaults, storage.
• Commonly used for: general heat insulation and fire protection. Also used for insulation of electrical equipment and plant.  

Asbestos Sprayed Coatings

Asbestos Sprayed coatings is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate very high fibre levels if disturbed.

• Commonly Found:  Roof underlining (especially on asbestos cement roofs), service risers, floor voids, ceiling voids and around firebreaks,
• Commonly used for:  fire protection on structural supports (eg columns and beams), fireproofing and soundproofing.

Asbestos Floor Tiles

Vinyl (PVC) or thermoplastic tiles contain asbestos. Floor screed typically contains about 2% asbestos. Because these screeds are incredibly hard wearing they were used in areas of high occupany such as stairwells and entrance halls.

• Commonly Found: Floors
• Commonly Used For: Floor Coverings

Asbestos Rope Insulation and Yarns

Asbestos Ropes and Yarns have been used as lagging (insulation), as packing material around windows, and may contain anywhere between 40 and 100%  asbestos depending on its function.

• Commonly Found: around pipework, windows, boilers and ovens, on electrical equipment
• Commonly Used For: pipe lagging, insulation, jointing pipes, as packing material around windows, as insulation on electrical equipment, and as heat resistant sealing for boilers and ovens.

Asbestos Textured coatings (Artex)

Textured coatings contain a small amount of asbestos. The asbestos is well bonded and fibres are not easily released. However, it is still an asbestos product, and as such, needs to be worked with safely. If you are unsure whether your textured coating may contain asbestos, we can take a sample and analyse it to find if its tests positive.

• Commonly Found: Domestic and commercial properties
• Commonly Used For: Walls and ceilings.

Asbestos Thermal Insulation

Asbestos thermal pipe and boiler lagging is a high hazard asbestos product. It can contain anywhere between 20-85% asbestos.  Used as thermal insulation to prevent loss of heat in pipes carrying hot liquids (normally water) or gases.

• Commonly Found: commercial properties, hospitals, domestic properties, schools and churches etc.
• Commonly Used For: Boiler and plant rooms, pipe runs and underfloor ducting.

Other

• Gaskets - can also be made from woven Chrysotile (white) asbestos. Gaskets are common in pipework joints. Sometimes after prolonged use these products can become dry and damage easily when removed.
• Bitumen - can also contain asbestos and may be found on roofs, floors, external walls, under stainless steel sinks, mastic, adhesive, roof felt, sink pads