What is Asbestos and why was it used?
- Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in rock. It was used in building products in the UK, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, because it’s a very strong and heat/chemical-resistant material.
The use of asbestos was stopped in 1999, but any building built before 2000 may still contain it.
Why is asbestos dangerous to people?
You don’t need to worry if you have asbestos in your home. If it’s in good condition, it’s not usually a problem.
Asbestos only becomes dangerous when it’s damaged or disturbed. This is because it releases invisible fibres into the air.
If we breathe in these fibres, they can get stuck in the tissues of the chest or lungs. This can cause diseases including Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.
- Asbestos is not usually a problem unless it is damaged or disturbed.
Do I have asbestos in my home?
- We continually carry out surveys for asbestos and keep records of any properties with asbestos identified in them. Not all properties will have asbestos in them.
If asbestos isn’t damaged and still doing its job by strengthening and fireproofing, it’s safest to leave it in place. Where asbestos is a hazard, we’ll risk assess it. We do this in line with current law and what government policy/legislation says is best practice.
We’ll let you know when our trained asbestos surveyors are going to be carrying out these surveys. We can also tell you about the results.
If we find asbestos in your home, we’ll take one of these actions depending on the level of risk:
- We'll leave it.
- We'll remove it.
- We'll enclose, cap, or seal it.
We’ll also make sure any contractors we ask to work on your property know where the asbestos is so they don’t disturb it.
If we need to remove the asbestos, we’ll let you know where it is and what to do in the meantime. Remember, asbestos is not a risk unless it is disturbed or damaged.
Concerned about asbestos, or want to get permission for DIY?
If you suspect you may have disturbed asbestos or have found a damaged suspected asbestos product and are worried that fibres may be released, please leave the room where the suspect material was found, close the door to that room and contact us on 01204 328000.
We’ll discuss and assess the situation with you and agree the best course of action.
- You should get permission from us before making alterations to your house or flat. We can check our records and see if your home is likely to contain asbestos and where it is.