Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of many small fibres. There are three main types, blue, brown and white - all can be harmful. Asbestos has been used for many years in building materials and consumer goods. We can offer advice on asbestos in the home, including identifying types of asbestos and how to remove and dispose of it safely.

Asbestos Information

• Where will you find asbestos?
• Other uses
• How to identify products or materials containing asbestos
• What should I do if I suspect there is asbestos in my home?
• Take care when doing DIY
• How to dispose of asbestos
• Types of asbestos
• Important

Asbestos is a natural mineral made up of many small fibres. There are three main types: Blue, Brown and white - all can be harmful if dust containing the fibres is breathed in

Asbestos, in its various forms, has been used for many years in building materials and consumer goods.

Levels of fibres may be present in buildings containing asbestos, but it is unlikely that asbestos levels found in buildings will be harmful, unless damaged asbestos is present. High, short-term exposure to fibres would usually occur during DIY work-particularly if sanding or drilling asbestos, which should be avoided.

Building materials containing asbestos were widely used from 1930 to around 1980, particularly from the 1960s onwards.

Where will you find asbestos?

• Houses and Buildings used for fire protection, heat and sound insulation, especially in 1960s and 1970s System built housing. It is found in ducting, infill panelling, ceiling tiles, wall lining, both panels and partitions. It is unlikely to be found in buildings constructed after 1982.
  
  
• Lagging used for the thermal insulation of pipes and boilers. Very rarely found in homes, especially those constructed after the mid 1970s. Its use for this purpose was banned in 1986.
  
  
• Sprayed coating used for fire-protection of Structural steel, mainly in 1960s system built flats - its use stopped in 1974 and spraying asbestos has been prohibited since 1986. Most sprayed asbestos has since been removed from buildings or sealed in to prevent fibres being released.
  
  
• Asbestos Cement Products most widely used asbestos material found in many types of building in the form of sheeting used for lining walls and ceilings, in both panels, soffit boards, fire surrounds, flue pipes, cold water tanks and roofing tiles. It is also commonly found in panels for garages and sheds, as well as guttering and drain pipes. These products are unlikely to release high levels of fibres due to the way they are made, unless subject to extreme or severe weathering.

Other Uses

Asbestos was used in some warm air heating system, electric storage heaters (up till 1976) and in flameless catalytic gas heaters (up to 1988) and some early coal effect gas fires. It has also been used in some domestic products such as oven gloves, ironing boards, cooker door seals and fire blankets, brake linings and pads.

Although prohibited since 1988, Plastic floor tiles, cushion flooring, roofing felts, tapes, ropes and blankets can also contain asbestos.

How to Identify Products or Materials Containing Asbestos

• Since 1976, British manufacturers have labelled products to show that they contain asbestos. Since 1986, all products containing asbestos carry the European label.
  
  
• The Supplier or manufacture of a product may be able to tell you if it contains asbestos.
  
  
• Often, homes built at the same time contain similar materials - your neighbours may be aware of asbestos surveys that may have been carried out.
  
  
• Officers of the public health section may be able to assist in identifying if you have asbestos products in your home.

What Should I Do if I Suspect There is Asbestos in My Home?

Asbestos materials in good condition that cannot readily be damaged are often best left alone, because their removal can lead to higher levels of fibres in the air. Check the condition of the material periodically for damage.

If you are planning home improvements etc, always inform building contractors of the presence of asbestos prior to any work starting.

• Avoid disturbing or damaging asbestos materials that are in good condition.
  
  
• If you have damaged or deteriorating asbestos in your home then seek advice.
  
  
• Do you use oven gloves or other items containing asbestos? - dispose of them safely (see How to Dispose of Asbestos). If you think that components of your heating system may contain asbestos then seek advice from your local gas or electricity supplier. If they do contain asbestos, do not attempt to dismantle appliances yourself. seek advice from the Public Health Section.

Take Care When Doing D.I.Y

Never attempt any work involving sprayed asbestos, lagging or insulating boards. Any such work must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos removal contracts.

If in doubt seek advice.

However, if you do any work involving close bonded asbestos sheeting materials, take the following precautions:

1. Keep other people from the work area.
   
   
2. Wear protective clothing (eg. overalls), preferably disposable. Wear a disposal dusk mask (marked 'CE' to 'EN149' with FFP2 particulate filters is recommended).
   
   
3. Keep asbestos materials wet to avoid dust.
   
   
4. Work outside if possible and avoid working overhead.
   
   
5. Never drill, cut or disturb asbestos unless absolutely necessary. Do not scrape or sand asbestos materials prior to painting and decorating, cover over existing decoration, rather than removing them.
   
   Some types of asbestos are very soft and can release large numbers of fibres if rubbed or scraped.
   
   
6. Use hand tools rather than power tools.
   
   
7. Do not use a domestic vacuum cleaner to clear up the dust. Hire an industrial vacuum cleaner that confirms to BS5415 (Type H).
   
   
8. When you have finished work, clean up and carefully remove your overalls to avoid raising dust from the fabrics, double bag them, clearly mark as "ASBESTOS" and dispose of as asbestos waste. Wash non-disposable overalls straight away, in a washing machine.

How to Dispose of Asbestos

• Wet small amounts of asbestos waste and put it in a strong plastic bag. Seal this tightly and clearly mark it "ASBESTOS".
  
  
• Do not break up large asbestos cement sheets, they do not need to be sealed in bags, but should be wrapped in polythene or similar and disposed of as asbestos waste.
  
  
• Do not put asbestos waste in the dustbin. Seek advice from the Waste Management Section about how to dispose of your asbestos waste.

The City Council has a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to collect and dispose of asbestos waste. Asbestos, during handling and disposal, must be under conditions so as to avoid the release of hazardous fibres into the atmosphere.

The legislation makes provision to include the recovery of expenses or other charges for the collection and disposal of asbestos.

The following information is therefore, intended to ensure that all asbestos is handled in a safe and responsible manner.

Types of Asbestos

Determine which type of asbestos being dealt with: -

1. Bonded or hard cemented asbestos sheeting.
   
   
2. Fibre or unbonded asbestos (legislation demands handling by licensed contractors).
   
   
3. Advice upon identification of asbestos may be obtained from Staff in department's Public Health Team. Tel. 0115 915 6798 (direct dial).
   
   It is highly desirable to employ a competent contractor for removal and disposal of asbestos.
   
   Any such undertaking by Nottingham City Council will entail a necessary charge and completion of all necessary documentation; telephone Cleansing Services Hotline 0115 915 2000.
   
   
4. Householders who wish to take asbestos to a disposal point via their own arrangement should again contact the Cleansing Hot Line on 0115 915 2000 who will arrange an appointment for you to take the waste to the tip.

Important

• Avoid creating Asbestos dust
• Avoid breathing asbestos dust
• Asbestos material should be left alone

If you think you have asbestos - containing materials in your house, seek advice from the Public Health Team, before taking any action.

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