Common Places to find Asbestos

Being a popular building material since the 1950s, asbestos was widely used in homes and commercial buildings up until it was finally banned in the UK in 1999. As a result, buildings built or refurbished prior to 2000 have a high chance of containing asbestos.

The Health and Safety Executive put together the following illustration highlighting where you might find asbestos in either a domestic or industrial property. 

 

ASBESTOS IN A DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY                                   

 

INSIDE A DOMESTIC PROPERTY

      1. Asbestos cement Water tank                                         
      2. Pipe lagging                                                                   
      3. Loose fill insulation                                                        
      4. Textured decorative coating eg artex                             
      5. AIB ceiling tiles                                                               
      6. AIB bath panel                                                                
      7. Toilet seat and cistern                                                     
      8. AIB behind fuse box                                                        
      9. AIB airing cupboard and/or sprayed insulation               
    10. Coating boiler                                                                 
    11. AIB partition wall                                                             
    12. AIB interior window panel                                               
    13. AIB around boiler                                                                   
    14. Vinyl floor tiles                                                                     
    15. AIB behind fire
 

OUTSIDE A DOMESTIC PROPERTY

    16. Gutters and Asbestos cement downpipes                    
    17. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement                                 
    18. AIB exterior window panel                                           
    19. Asbestos cement roof                                                  
    20. Asbestos cement panels                                             
    21. Roofing felt

AIB = Asbestos Insulating Board​
 

INSIDE A INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

     1. Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls, beams and columns
     2. Asbestos cement water tank
     3. Loose fill insulation
     4. Lagging on boilers and pipes
     5. AIB ceiling tiles
     6. Toilet seat and cistern
     7. AIB partition walls
     8. AIB panels in fire doors
     9. Asbestos rope seals, gaskets and paper
   10. Vinyl floor tiles
   11. AIB around boilers
   12. Textiles e.g. fire blankets
   13. Textured decorating coatings on walls and ceilings e.g.

OUTSIDE A INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

   14. Asbestos cement roof
   15. Asbestos cement panels
   16. Asbestos cement gutters and down pipes
   17. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement
   18. Asbestos cement flue


If you think you have found asbestos, do not put yourself and those around you at risk. Call Carymar today on 0141 842 8070. 

For example, loose fill asbestos was widely used to insulate industrial and domestic premises and can be found between cavity walls, under floorboards and in loft spaces. Loose asbestos is one of the most dangerous asbestos containing material as it is made up of pure asbestos, and if disturbed can release large amounts of fibres into the air, where they can be breathed in. This type of work should only be worked on by HSE-licensed contractors.
 

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