A SHORT GUIDE TO ASBESTOS IN THE HOME
Please note that AMAC are unable to provide detailed advice to householders
regarding domestic asbestos, due to the need to assess condition and potential
for fibre release when managing asbestos materials. If householders require
further information to that which is given below it is recommended that they
seek professional advice from a company offering such services. If removal of asbestos is
required ARCA provide a maintained list of Asbestos Removal Contractors willing
to deal with the public.
http://www.arcaweb.org.uk/Downloads/WORD/domestic_list.doc
General guidelines
which should be followed.
This guide is designed to assist householders in dealing with asbestos in the
home. Before attempting to remove any asbestos product you are advised to “read this page, and carefully follow the
advice given”.
Contact your Local Council for advice. Darlington Borough Council offer advice
and can be contacted
http://www.darlington.gov.uk/default.htm
Customer Services 01325 388799 will advise how to access
disposal of non licensable asbestos
e-mail customerservices@darlington.gov.uk
enquiries@darlington.gov.uk
What
is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral of which there are 3 main types of
fibres, Chrysotile (white), Amosite
(brown), and Crocidolite (blue).
Asbestos products are only dangerous when damaged or worn because they can release
dust into the air. Asbestos dust is made up of tiny fibres which, if breathed
in, are harmful and can cause eventual damage to the lungs even many years
after the first exposure.
The level of exposure at which asbestos fibres cause
ill-health is not known, what is known is that the more asbestos dust a person
is exposed to the greater the risk. It is therefore essential to keep the
release of asbestos dust to a minimum. Remember the dust is harmful so asbestos
products should always be handled carefully.
Why is asbestos a problem?
When asbestos materials age or become damaged they can release fibres into the
air. These can be breathed deep into the lung where they may stay for a long
time, causing possible damage. When very high levels of these fibres are
breathed in there is a risk of lung diseases, including cancer.
People who have worked with asbestos for many years as part of their job or
have washed the dusty clothing of those who worked with asbestos are most
likely to be affected. Workplace regulations now protect such people.
Is everyone exposed to asbestos?
There is a very low level of fibres in the air everywhere because asbestos has
been used widely. Exposure to this low level of fibres is unlikely to harm
people’s health.
Levels of fibres may be higher in buildings containing asbestos materials,
especially where the materials are damaged. It is very unlikely that the levels
of asbestos fibres found in buildings will be harmful, but if you have damaged
asbestos materials in your home you should seek advice on appropriate action to
take.
High, short-term exposures to asbestos fibres can occur during DIY work. For
this reason, try not to raise dust when working with materials which might
contain asbestos, and avoid sanding or drilling.
Where might I find asbestos?
Asbestos is used in a multitude of materials that can be found in and around
many homes
Building materials containing asbestos were widely used from 1930 to around
1980, particularly from the 1960s onwards. So houses and flats built or
refurbished at this time may contain asbestos materials.
Asbestos has also been used in some heat-resistant household products, such as
oven gloves and ironing boards. The use of asbestos in these products decreased
greatly around the mid-1980s, and since 1993 the use of asbestos in most
products has been banned.
It is not always easy to tell whether a product contains asbestos, as modern
asbestos-free materials often look similar - remember it is usually older
products that contain asbestos.
The types of asbestos materials that may be found in homes are described below:
Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB)
(Asbestos content 20-45 percent.)
Insulating board has been used for fire protection, heat and sound insulation.
It is particularly common in 1960s and 1970s system-built housing and is found
in materials such as ducts, infill panels, ceiling tiles, wall lining, bath
panels and partitions. Asbestos insulation Board is used in some warm air
heating systems and also for lining cupboards which house the central heating
unit. Certain storage heaters may also contain asbestos material. There are
several modern substitutes which are now used as an alternative to asbestos
boarding. It is unlikely to be found in buildings constructed after 1982.
Asbestos lagging
(Asbestos content 55-100 percent.)
Asbestos lagging has been used for thermal insulation of pipes and boilers. It
was widely used in public buildings and system-built flats during the 1960s to
early 1970s in areas such as boiler houses and heating plants.
Asbestos lagging is very rarely found in homes, especially those constructed
after the mid 1970s. The use of asbestos for thermal insulation was banned in
1986.
Sprayed Coating
(Asbestos content up to 85 percent.)
Sprayed asbestos coatings were used for fire protection of structural steel and
are commonly found in system-built flats built during the 1960s. The coatings
were mainly applied around the core of the building, such as service ducts,
lift shafts, etc.
Use stopped in 1974 and the spraying of asbestos has been prohibited since
1986. Sprayed asbestos has since been removed from many buildings, or sealed to
prevent fibres being released.
Asbestos-cement products
(Asbestos content mainly 10-15 percent, but sometimes up to 40 percent.)
Asbestos-cement is the most widely used asbestos material. It is found in many
types of building as profiled sheets for roofing and wall-cladding, in flat
sheets and partition boards for linings to walls and ceilings, in bath panels, soffit boards, fire surrounds, flue pipes, cold water tanks and as roofing tiles and slates. It has
been commonly used as roofing and cladding for garages and sheds and also in
guttering and drainpipes.
Asbestos cement products are unlikely to release high levels of fibres because
of the way they are made, unless they are subject to extreme abrasion.
You do not need a 'licence' to handle products
containing asbestos cement.
Other building materials and products
Asbestos has been used in a variety of other building materials, for example in
decorative coatings such as textured paints and plasters. These are still
widely in place but supply and application has been prohibited since 1988.
Plastic floor tiles, cushion flooring, roofing felts,
tapes, ropes, felts and blankets can also contain asbestos.
Heating appliances and domestic equipment
Asbestos was used in some warm air heating systems, electric storage heaters
(up to 1976), in flameless catalytic gas heaters (up
to 1988) and some early ‘coal effect’ gas fires.
A list of manufacturers and models of domestic heaters and boilers known to
contain asbestos components are listed on the Asbestos Information Centre http://www.aic.org.uk/AICFrameSet.html
It has also been used in domestic equipment, such as oven gloves, ironing
boards, seals on cooker doors and fire blankets.
Vehicles
Some vehicle brake shoes or pads contain asbestos.
When carrying out work on the braking system try to avoid breathing the dust or
if possible wear a suitable mask. Do not under any circumstances use an air
hose to clear the dust.
Remember
Asbestos is always there for a purpose. It is used either to provide heat
resistance (as behind gas fires) or provide rigidity (as in asbestos cement
garage roofs), and if removed it should always be replaced by a suitable
non-asbestos product.
Work which will disturb insulation board, lagging or sprayed asbestos must be
carried out by licenced asbestos contractors.
Identification
Identification is not easy as you cannot tell if a particular material contains
asbestos by looking at it with the naked eye. The colour of the material does
not indicate the type of asbestos, which may be present. The ONLY way to be
certain if a product does contain asbestos is for a reputable laboratory to
analyse it. There are a number of private laboratories, which can provide this
service
If I find asbestos what should I do?
If asbestos is found in the home, look for signs of damage or dust being
released by the material.
If any asbestos found is in good condition and not worn or damaged, it can be
left in place. Added protection can be given by painting with emulsion paint,
but remember to use an alkali resistant primer or coating for asbestos cement
products.
If the asbestos is damaged or giving off dust it should be carefully removed.
Large amounts should only be removed by a specialist contractor. Work on
sprayed asbestos, lagging or insulation board should also be left to the
specialists. Smaller amounts of asbestos cement can be removed safely by
following the instructions below.
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement
Removal of small amounts of asbestos cement can be carried out safely if these
guidelines are followed:
1 Wear a dust mask approved for asbestos obtained from safety equipment
suppliers.
2 Wear a disposable overall.
3 Keep other people away from the work area.
4 Spread a plastic sheet under the working area to collect dust.
5 Remember to keep the release of asbestos dust to a minimum by wetting the
material (providing there is no contact with electricity).
6 Remove whole sheets or components; do not break them up. Clean up settled
dust with a damp cloth and seal in a plastic bag whilst still damp.
7 Do not use a domestic vacuum cleaner, as fine asbestos dust will pass through
the filter (industrial cleaners suitable for asbestos can be hired).
8 Wash well afterwards.
IMPORTANT
Do not saw, drill, break, scrape, brush or screw
any asbestos sheeting.
No attempt should be made to dismantle gas or electric appliances. Your local
gas or electrical supplier may be able to give you advice on whether a
particular system contains any asbestos.
How do I dispose of asbestos?
To dispose of small quantities of dusty or loose asbestos waste, dampen it to
stop dust escaping and seal it in a strong plastic bag marked ASBESTOS.
Oven gloves, simmering pads and similar small items should also be sealed in a
suitable plastic bag as soon as they start to show signs of wear.
Large asbestos cement sheets should not be broken up but should be wrapped in
polythene sheeting and marked ASBESTOS.
Do not under any circumstances put waste asbestos in your dustbin or refuse
chute.
Many local councils have provision for the disposal of
small quantities of domestic asbestos waste. You should contact your local
council waste division to enquire about the facilities available.
http://www.darlington.gov.uk/default.htm
Customer Services 01325 388799 will advise how to access
disposal of non licensable asbestos
e-mail customerservices@darlington.gov.uk
enquiries@darlington.gov.uk
The enforcing authority responsible for asbestos waste is the Environment
Agency. They can be contacted on their help line number 0845 9333111 or at www.environment-agency.gov.uk