Asbestos in Domestic Premises

General Information

All asbestos is potentially dangerous - breathing in air containing asbestos can lead to cancers of the chest and lungs. The more dust inhaled, the greater the health risk and this is only likely if the asbestos is damaged (for example by drilling or sanding) or it is soft or pliable.

Asbestos in the open air is less dangerous due to dilution, and also keeping it wet minimises emissions.

What is asbestos and how can I recognise it?

Asbestos is a collective name given to the fibrous forms of a naturally occurring mineral which has been used in building materials and consumer goods for many years.

The 3 most common types are:

• chrysotile (white) asbestos
• amosite (brown) asbestos
• crocidolite (blue) asbestos

It isn't possible to tell asbestos just by looking at it: the only sure way to identify asbestos is by laboratory analysis. There are, however, typical uses for asbestos and if you suspect a material is asbestos, its location may prove a useful indicator.

Is it Asbestos?

You may expect to find asbestos if the building was constructed or refurbished between 1950-1980 and particularly if it also:

• has a steel frame and/or;
• has boilers with thermal insulation.

You are most likely to come across asbestos in the following materials:

• sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing - as fire breaks in ceiling voids. These may have a high asbestos content.
• moulded or pre-formed sprayed coatings and lagging - generally as insulation around pipes and boilers.
• Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning and ducts.
• Some ceiling tiles.
• Asbestos cement products - often in flat or corrugated sheets used as roofing and wall cladding. Other asbestos cement products include gutters and pipes. These, generally, will not give off measurable levels of fibre unless worked on or damaged.
• Certain textured coatings and paints.

Where in my home could I possibly find asbestos?

Asbestos materials have been put to many uses over the past century and can potentially be used in a variety of locations within the home including the following:

• eaves, gutters and rainwater fall pipes;
• fire blankets;
• garage and shed roofs;
• linings for walls, ceilings and doors;
• insulation panels in some storage heaters;
• bath panels;
• central heating flues;
• loose asbestos packing between floors and in partition walls;
• floor tiles.

What are the health risks associated with asbestos?

Asbestos fibres enter the body through the nose and mouth: they cannot be absorbed through your skin. The body naturally removes any asbestos fibres that you might take in with food and water. The body also removes most of the larger fibres, but tiny fibres can pass into the lung where they can cause disease.

Asbestos dust can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and certain types of cancer, for which there is no cure. All asbestos must therefore be considered to be potentially dangerous, although people who have not worked directly with it are extremely unlikely to develop a related disease. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos, but there is no doubt that people who work with asbestos materials are at much more risk than householders. The risk to health in the home environment is therefore negligible.

I live in an ex-council house - does the Council have any information about whether asbestos may be present within it?

You are advised to contact the Area Housing Office local to your home who should be able to provide you with more information.

I know that my house contains some asbestos, but it appears to be in good condition - should I have it removed?

Not unless you prefer to. If the asbestos material is in good condition, not broken or chipped and it is in a position where it is unlikely to be worn or get damaged, then there is no significant hazard associated with it, particularly when it is sealed with paint.

I suspect that there is asbestos in my house - what should I do?

If you suspect that you have found asbestos containing material in your home then you should NOT drill into it, sand it, saw it, or disturb it in any way, as this would create fibres that can be inhaled. Where the asbestos containing materials are in a good condition and there is no risk of the material becoming damaged, you can seal them with paint to prevent dust escaping. You can remove any surface dust if necessary with a damp cloth, which should be placed in a plastic bag whilst still damp and disposed of.

What type of paint should I use?

Emulsion paint should be used on insulating board, and alkali resistant primer or coating should be used on asbestos cement.

Can I remove asbestos from my home?

Yes you can remove the materials yourself, but it is essential that you follow safety precautions:

• wear a dust mask approved for asbestos;
• wear an overall (disposable or one which can be washed well after use);
• keep other people away from the working area;
• wet the material well with water containing a little washing up liquid. Check that there is no potential for contact with electricity first;
• DO NOT use any power tools;
• always remove whole sheets or components. DO NOT break them up;
• place any loose or small items in strong plastic labelled bags and seal;
• clean up all dust with a damp cloth and then seal it in a plastic bag whilst damp;
• DO NOT use a domestic vacuum cleaner as dust may pass through the filter.

I do not want to remove the asbestos myself - who can I employ to have it removed?

If you do not want to handle asbestos yourself, then as a home owner, your other option is to employ an asbestos contractor. Such contractors can be found by looking in the Yellow Pages.

You can check whether a contractor is licensed by contacting the Health and Safety Executive on 0121 607 6200. If an asbestos contractor does not have a license this indicates that they have not passed essential requirements of the HSE.

How should I dispose of asbestos waste from my home?

As a householder, if you have sheets of asbestos material or sealed bags containing asbestos materials you need to dispose of, you should not put them in with normal waste.

You can however obtain a permit from the Council which will allow you to take your waste in a nominated vehicle, free of charge to a named waste tip.

Contact: Warminster HRC Site, Furnax Lane, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8PE
Tel: 01985 211531

Relevant Legislation

If work is conducted by contractors in your home, for example builders, which involves asbestos, then the requirements of Health and Safety at Work legislation and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations will apply to their work activities. This work is not actually enforced by officers of this local authority, but by officers from the Health and Safety Executive.

If you conduct any work yourself within your home involving asbestos, then this health and safety legislation does not apply, however you still have a duty to work safely. Any complaints regarding the safety of asbestos in workplaces should be directed to the Health & Safety Team on 01225 776655.

Asbestos in Domestic or Public premises - where asbestos is deemed to be a statutory nuisance under The Environmental Protection Act 1990. Any complaints with regard to construction works, demolition works or contaminated sites, the Environmental Protection Team should be called on 01225 776655.

For more information please contact the Health & Safety Section or the Environmental Protection Team on 01225 776655

S3200

Updated 2 April 2007