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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is fire-resistant and amazingly versatile, leading to it being incorporated into everything from plasterboard to telephones during the 20th century. However, it was later discovered to be carcinogenic and linked to life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, leading to a decline in its usage and eventual outlawing in the UK in 1999.
Unfortunately, because of its popularity in the last century, it is common to find asbestos in walls, ceilings and floors of homes and commercial buildings across the UK even to this day, posing a serious potential health risk to occupants.
In this blog post, we are going to detail some of the areas that you might find asbestos in your property, how to identify it, how to test for it and what to do if you find asbestos.
So, when was asbestos used in plaster walls? If your home or property was built between the late 1800s and 1999, there’s a chance that it may contain asbestos in some form somewhere in its structure. Asbestos was used to make a range of construction materials including:
• Plasterboard
• Textured ceilings
• Insulation
• Electrical insulation
• Pipe lagging
• Soundproofing
• Exterior siding
• Floor tiles
What this means is that asbestos could be almost anywhere in your property, from your floor to your roof. Pay particular attention to textured ceiling coatings, like Artex, which were widely used from the 1950s to the 1980s and made using asbestos.
How to tell if plaster has asbestos: in walls, it can be difficult to tell, but any signs of a pale, fibrous material might be an indicator that it is present. The same is true of other materials such as asbestos resins and flooring.
However, some Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are a little easier to spot. For example, loose-fill asbestos insulation, which is quite distinct, resembling loose, grey fluff, and asbestos textiles used to wrap pipes and insulate electrical systems, which are usually white and fibrous in appearance.
The best and safest indicator of the possible presence of asbestos in your property is the year in which it was built. If it was constructed prior to 1999, it may well contain asbestos and caution should be taken. Something as simple as hanging a picture could cause fibres to be released and put your health at risk.
To learn more about visually identifying asbestos, read our guide: ‘What does asbestos look like?’
ACMs in your property are a potential hazard to all occupants and can release harmful fibres if accidentally disturbed.
The only way to know for certain whether there is asbestos in your walls is to take samples and have them tested.
The safest means of testing for asbestos in your property is to contact an expert asbestos surveyor such as EMS. A professional surveyor can conduct either an asbestos management survey, asbestos demolition survey or asbestos refurbishment survey depending on your needs. This will involve locating and testing any possible ACMs, with samples sent to an accredited lab for careful identification.
Learning that there is asbestos in walls within your property can be stressful, but there are steps forward. After your surveyor has finished inspecting your property, they will issue you with an asbestos report. This will detail practical next steps, from ongoing management to licensed or non-licensed removal, depending on the type of asbestos identified.
If you own or operate a commercial building, or rent a residential property with communal areas, you are required by law to identify, monitor and, if needed, remove any ACMs in order to protect occupant health. This responsibility is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 and non-compliance could land you with a considerable fine or even a prison sentence. The same requirements do not apply to purely domestic properties, but living in a home with ACMs could put you at risk.
Whatever you do, do not attempt to remove the ACMs yourself. Always consult with your surveyor or consultant for advice on the next steps for safe removal.
Give yourself peace of mind and ensure you meet your legal obligations by booking an asbestos survey with EMS today. Since 2003, we have been conducting UKAS-accredited asbestos surveys in Hereford and across the UK. Our expert team can inspect your property and help you to manage or remove any ACMs.
To learn more or book your survey, call us now on 0800 358 1100, email us at emsinfo@ems-asbestos.co.uk or fill out our contact form here.
Asbestos in any form is potentially dangerous, but the risk level presented by asbestos in wall materials is relatively low if it is not disturbed. However, disturbing it can be as simple as hammering in a nail to hang a picture. Until you know whether there is asbestos in your plaster walls, it is best to act as though there is and avoid hammering, drilling or any activity that could disturb asbestos fibres.
Yes. Buyers may be willing to pay less for a property with asbestos on account of the cost of removing or managing it, as well as the potential safety risks. Some buyers may avoid the property altogether.
In commercial properties and rented residential properties with communal areas, responsibility for managing ACMs falls to the duty holder, which is usually the landlord, property owner or property manager. Sometimes responsibility can be shared between the owner or manager and a tenant, but the former will always bear some responsibility. The full terms of this duty are laid out in CAR2012.
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