Asbestos - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if there's asbestos in my home /
garden?
There's a possibility that any home that is
over 15 years old may contain materials made from asbestos. Here
are the common locations where you may find asbestos:
- Drain pipes (asbestos cement).
- Soffits, partitions or infill panels (asbestos cement or
insulation board.)
- Shed or garage walls (asbestos cement).
- Shed or garage roofs (asbestos cement)
- Bath panel sides (asbestos cement)
If you rent your home, your landlord may have relevant
information.
What should I do if I have any in my
home?
Generally it's best to leave it alone. Unless
it's damaged or disturbed it's usually safe.
Never drill, sand or saw asbestos and if painting use an alkali
resistant paint such as PVA emulsion.
Always seek advice before thinking of removing any asbestos and
follow the
basic rules when 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 removed by a licensed contractor.
If you are unsure which type of asbestos you have, it may be
necessary to take a sample to identify it - please contact us if
you think this may be necessary.
How many types are there?
There are three
main types which have been used commercially:
- Crocidolite - commonly known as blue asbestos
- Amosite - commonly known as brown asbestos
- Chrysotile - commonly know as white asbestos
Is it really dangerous?
Blue and brown
asbestos are significantly more dangerous than white, although if
left undisturbed they pose no health risk.
However, when asbestos materials are disturbed fibres are
released which can become lodged in the lungs where they remain for
years. Repeated exposure can lead to asbestos-related disease.
How do I remove it if I
need to?
Asbestos cement can be safely removed by
adhering to these basic rules:
- Preparing the work area:
remove
any unnecessary items
cover
the floor and surfaces with disposable polythene sheeting
- Wear protective clothing:
disposable
overall with hood
disposable
face mask (specifically for use with asbestos)
rubber
or disposable gloves
- Damp down the asbestos:
use
a paint sprayer or hose but don't make the area too wet as cleaning
up will be more difficult
- Remove the asbestos without breaking it up, wrap it in
polythene (sheeting or bags) and seal it with tape.
- Visually inspect the area and clear up any debris by hand. DO
NOT use a vacuum cleaner as this just spreads the dust around. Wipe
down with a damp cloth.
- Pick up all sheeting, remove protective clothing and treat both
as asbestos waste.
- Thoroughly wash hands and face when the job is completed.
How should I dispose of it?
As a
householder you can dispose of it at Malvern Household Waste &
Recycling site at Newland or at the Waste Site at Hallow.
Please take the following steps to ensure you don't contaminate
your car:
- Double wrap or bag the asbestos with heavy duty polythene and
ensure that it is secured with tape
- Make sure any other occupants in the car do not have access to
the asbestos waste.
Other useful sites:
