Asbestos in the home

If your property is more than 15 years old, it's possible that it contains materials made from asbestos.

Common locations are listed below but there may be others in your home - so if in doubt leave well alone and seek expert advice from a licensed asbestos removal contractor.

Details of licensed contractors can be found on the Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk) website or do refer to your local business directory.

This advice is aimed at householders.

The Health and Safety Executive have produced a number of leaflets which are more appropriate for businesses.

Common Locations of Asbestos

• Asbestos cement on garage or shed roofs.
• Asbestos cement shed and garage wall panels.
• Asbestos cement drain pipes.
• Asbestos cement or Insulation board soffit, infill panels and partitions.
• Asbestos cement on the side of bath panels.

If you have Asbestos in your home

• The general rule is to always leave asbestos alone, it's usually safe unless it's damaged or disturbed.
• Paint indoor materials with an alkali resistant paint such as PVA emulsion, and never sand, drill or saw asbestos materials.
• Always seek advice before thinking of removing asbestos and follow the basic rules below if carrying out asbestos cement removal work. Do not attempt to remove asbestos lagging, spray coatings or large areas of Insulation Board by yourself as these materials can only be safely removed by a licensed contractor.
• Sometimes it will be necessary to take a sample, for example to identify the type of asbestos.

If you have Asbestos in your workplace

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) require persons/companies in control of workplaces to manage asbestos in buildings. A practical effort should be made to identify the presence, nature and conditions of any asbestos present. 

Where asbestos is in poor condition it is probably best to have it removed - a licensed asbestos removal contractor will probably be required. 

Where asbestos containing materials are in sound condition and doing a useful job (i.e. fire protection) it is probably best left in situ - but information on the location and type of asbestos must be recorded. This information will be required to ensure a system of routine checking on the condition of the asbestos is carried out and most importantly that nobody carries out any unauthorised work on asbestos-containing materials.

The CAR 2012 can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Information on the management of asbestos in retail premises can be found on the British Retail Consortium website. 

Safe Asbestos Cement Removal

Asbestos cement can be safely removed by remembering these basic rules:

• Prepare the work area - remove any unnecessary items, cover the floor and surfaces with disposable polythene sheeting.
• Wear protective clothing- disposable overall with hood, disposable paper face mask (for use with asbestos) and rubber or disposable gloves.
• Damp down - use a plant sprayer or hosepipe but don't soak the area as this will make cleaning up more difficult. PVA adhesive can also be used to coat the surfaces.
• Remove the asbestos without breaking it up, wrap in polythene sheeting or bags and seal with tape. Do not use power tools, such as drills, saws or sanders under any circumstances.
• Visually inspect the area and clear up any debris by hand - wipe down with disposable damp cloths. Never use a vacuum cleaner as this will just spread dust around.
• Pick up polythene sheeting and remove protective clothing and dispose of both as asbestos waste.
• Wash hands and face after the job is completed.

Disposal of Asbestos Waste

Small amounts of asbestos cement (up to 4 sheets 6ft x 2ft or 4ft x 3ft) can be disposed of free of charge by householders at the recycling centre in St Albans Road, Stafford.

Further information about asbestos disposal at the recycling centre is available at Asbestos - Staffordshire County Council

If as a householder, you intend to transport asbestos cement waste in your own vehicle, you do not need to be a registered carrier provided that it is your own waste.

You should take the following steps to ensure that asbestos does not contaminate your car:

• Spray sheets of asbestos cement with water.
• Double wrap or double bag the asbestos cement with heavy duty polythene.
• Ensure the wrapping is secured with tape.
• Make sure vehicle occupants do not have access to the asbestos waste.

Asbestos Dos and Don'ts

• Don't panic if you think you have asbestos in your home - it's usually only a problem if it's disturbed.
• Do treat asbestos with respect.
• Don't drill, saw or disturb materials that contain asbestos.
• Do seek advice if you think you've got a problem with asbestos in your home.