What is asbestos?
There are three main types of asbestos - chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite; they are usually known as white, brown and blue asbestos. However, do not rely on the colour of material for identification as this can only be determined under microscopic examination.
Blue and brown asbestos (the two most dangerous forms) have not been imported into the UK for nearly 20 years having been banned by law. Imports and sale of white asbestos was banned in 2000.
What are the risks from asbestos?
Asbestos-related diseases are currently responsible for about 3000 deaths a year in Britain. There is usually a long delay of between 15 and 60 years between first exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of disease. The vast majority of those now dying were exposed to asbestos during the 1950s and 1960s, before the current regulations were introduced.
Working with asbestos can release small fibres into the air. Breathing in these fibres can cause fatal diseases. Provided the asbestos material is intact and in a position where it cannot be easily damaged, it will not pose a risk to health.
Asbestos is not absorbed through the skin or digestive system and the body will get rid of most of the larger fibres that can enter the nose and mouth. The problems arise due to tiny fibres passing into the lower parts of the lung, where they can stay for years and in some cases work their way through the lung lining.
Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases:
- asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs;
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma, a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavity.
There is no cure for asbestos-related diseases. Repeated low-level exposures could lead to asbestos-related diseases, although high exposure for longer periods is more likely to be the cause.
Many of those suffering today from asbestos-related diseases worked in the building trades, particularly carpenters, plumbers, pipe-laggers and boiler engineers.
What types of buildings are likely to contain asbestos?
Asbestos is likely to be in a building if:
- it was built or refurbished between 1950 and 1980 and particularly;
- if it also has a steel frame; and/or
- it has boilers with thermal insulation.
But you also need to bear in mind that asbestos cement has also been widely used since the 1950s.
The use of blue and brown asbestos has been banned since 1985, but many thousands of tonnes were used in buildings in the past. Much of this asbestos is still there and you cannot easily identify it from its appearance.
What was asbestos used for?
Its most common uses were:
- sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing - generally used for fire prevention in ceiling voids;
- coatings and lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers;
- sprayed asbestos mixed with asbestos cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts, panels, partitions, soffits, ceiling panels and around structural steel work;
- insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions and ducts;
- some ceiling tiles;
- asbestos cement products, which can be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets are largely used for roofing and wall cladding; other asbestos cement products include gutters, and water tanks.
What should I do if I have asbestos in my building?
If Asbestos material is in good order and repair and it does not need to be removed - leave it sealed and well alone! If it does need to be removed, it is recommended that you contact a specialist company to survey or sample (a list is attached) and a licenced contractor used to carry out the removal and arrange disposal.
If left in place, the following measures can be taken:
- Seal and paint - prime asbestos sheet with Alkali Resistent Primer. Finish off with emulsion or gloss paint. Do not sand prior to painting.
- Cover over sheet Asbestos with wallpaper or hardboard fixed with a strong adhesive.
- Seal and paint with a bitumastic paint, e.g. Aquaseal or "Synthaprufe" or
- Seal with PVC adhesive, e.g. "Unibond".
N.B It is a specialist job to deal with soft asbestos, asbestos insulating board (similar to plaster board) or sprayed asbestos coating. Such work is subject to formal controls and must be undertaken by licensed contractors, such as those listed below.
Removal of Sheet Asbestos (e.g. corrugated shed or garage roof)
Removal of asbestos cement products can be undertaken by the householder, subject to the following precautions:
- Always work in well-ventilated areas, wearing appropriate washable over-clothing and dust masks suitable for asbestos use. Don't use power tools and avoid breaking up into small pieces.
- Thoroughly soak the material before starting work. You are advised to introduce a suitable wetting agent, e.g., washing-up liquid, into water before saturation of panels.
- Undo fixing bolts (use releasing fluid if fixings are corroded), screws etc and remove panels complete.
- Stack the removed sheets in the open and cover with plastic sheet. Small pieces should be soaked and swept (no vacuum cleaning) into stout plastic sacks and then sealed.
- Disposal arrangements should be made as outlined below. Prevent dropping material from heights into refuse skips.
Disposal Arrangements
You need to ensure that arrangements are made to dispose of material, prior to removal. There is a duty of care for commercial contractors to dispose of materials correctly. Domestic householders should contact Devon County Council Waste Management (01392-382846) for advice, or you can visit the Devon County Council website for further information on Asbestos disposal.
If large quantities are involved, some skip hire companies (listed in yellow pages) will provide covered skips for asbestos use, providing they are made aware of the nature of the material at the time of booking.
Further Specialist Advice
The following local companies can provide specific advice and are currently licensed asbestos removers:
