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Where Should I Look Out For Asbestos?
Written by Tom Doerr   
Monday, 01 March 2010 08:53
The toxic, fireproof, insulating material, which was banned in the 1990s exists in a variety of forms including; cement, floor tiles, insulating coatings, lagging and loose. Many buildings build before it was banned can still contain at least one form of asbestos as it is sometimes too expensive and too difficult to remove which meant it was left behind.
by TomDoerr


The toxic, fireproof, insulating material, which was banned in the 1990s exists in a variety of forms including; cement, floor tiles, insulating coatings, lagging and loose. Many buildings build before it was banned can still contain at least one form of asbestos as it is sometimes too expensive and too difficult to remove which meant it was left behind.

Cement containing asbestos can come in the form of roofing, cladding and guttering. The most common is corrugated cement roofing often found on farm buildings, warehouses and some sheds. This would be considered the safest form of asbestos as it is held tightly within the concrete and can only be released by being sawed or drilled.

Many walls and ceilings used to be coated in asbestos in either a sprayed or textured form, this could exist in lofts, around beams and living spaces. Textured coatings are generally quite stable but sprayed coatings have the highest asbestos content so even a minor disturbance could release huge quantities of the material into the air.

Tiles made of asbestos were often used in insulating floor surfaces underneath laminate flooring or carpets. Similar forms of the material were used in fire blankets and oven gloves. Although generally quite safe to work with it is still best to consult a specialist or guidelines.

Fireproofing with asbestos insulating board (AIB) was quite common and this often existed in partition walls, fire doors, lift shafts and roof lining. Large quantities of this can be found in many buildings from the 50s-90s and it is considered very dangerous to work with. It should be handled by a fully licensed contractor.

Lagging and loose fill asbestos are considered the most dangerous forms of the material and exist in cavities and open spaces and wrapped around pipework or boilers. Both forms can easily release the material into the air and should not be handled by anyone but a professional.

Information:

Want to find out more about asbestos in buildings, then visit the 'whats-my-claim-worth' site for advice on making a claim for asbestos exposure.
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