Identifying and Managing Asbestos

Here in the UK, it's now law for all commercial buildings built before year 2000 to maintain an asbestos register, identifying where asbestos might be present in the fabric of the building.

So where do you start looking for asbestos?

The way we conduct asbestos surveys is to start at the top of the building and work our way down, from the outside, then moving inside and working in the same methodical way.

So, starting at the top, we begin on the roof. Several types of materials can contain asbestos:

1) Asbestos Cement Roof Panels - usually corrugated panels made from a mixture of cement and Chrsotile (white) asbestos.

2) Roof Felt - Older roofing felt, particularly base felts contained quantities of chrysotile asbestos.

3) Soffit Boards are often found to be made from asbestos cement and we've even found some that are made from AIB (Asbestos Insulation Board), a mixture of white and brown asbestos.

Tiled roofs can also contain asbestos. These are usually identified by small rivets holding each tile in place. Even those that look like blue slate can also be made from asbestos.

WALLS

On older industrial units, wall panels are often made of asbestos cement - either as a flat board, or more commonly, the corrugate panels similar to the roofing panels.

Sometimes, even on buildings that appear to have metal formed roof and wall panels, asbestos is found underneath the metal panels, the original asbestos materials having being over-clad.

It's also a good idea to look out for asbetsos cement rainwater goods like guttering and downpipes, chimney cowls and flues. These can be found on walls and roofs.

Damp Proof Course - older damp proof courses made from what appears to be felt, can also contain asbestos.

Moving inside the building, the first place to look is in roof voids on pitched roofs. The sarking felt, the under-covering for the tiles on older buildings can contain asbestos.

Artex on ceilings is also a prime suspect, as the original artex products contained white asbestos to give it strength.

Look carefully at pipe lagging, particularly if it's a sprayed finish - as this is potentally dangerous blue asbestos.

Partitioning panels can also contain asbestos, particularly the older ones from 1950-1980, though most are made from plasterboard of course.

Floor tiles, old, black WC seats and cisterns, sink pads have all come up positive on our tests.

More information: http://www.asbestosservices.com