Despite the use of asbestos being banned in the UK in 1999, the material can still be found in many homes and businesses today. If you own a home or commercial property that was built before the year 2000, there is a chance it may still contain asbestos. Pillars Environmental has put together the following guide on common places to find asbestos in the home to help you manage the potential risk of asbestos within your property.
Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB)
One of the most commonly used asbestos products in the past was Asbestos Insulating Board (also known as AIB asbestos).
Most prevalently used after World War II, particularly between the 1950s and 1980s, AIB is a low-density board that was used as a fire-retardant material as well as a general building board.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), AIB asbestos can be found in several places within residential properties, including but not limited to, the following:
- In bath panels
- In ceiling tiles
- In airing cupboards
- In partition walls
- Behind fuse boxes
- Within interior & exterior window panels
- In soffits & fascias
- Behind fireplaces
Asbestos Floor Tiles
Another common product used when asbestos was very popular in the construction industry, is asbestos floor tiles.
A common type of asbestos reinforced composite, asbestos floor tiles were used in many homes and businesses for their heat-resistant properties, particularly before and during the 1970s. These tiles were generally made up of chrysotile (white) asbestos and thermoplastic products.
The HSE states that the most common type of asbestos floor tiles to find in residential properties are vinyl floor tiles, some of which can also be backed with asbestos paper and asbestos in bitumen adhesive.
Asbestos Cement Products
Used across many applications, asbestos cement was another popular asbestos product that thrived in residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout the 1900s until the 1990s.
Created by combining a mix of (usually) chrysotile asbestos (some older types may contain crocidolite blue asbestos or amosite brown asbestos) with cement, asbestos cement became a versatile material used across several sectors due to its durability and resistance to corrosion.
According to the HSE, asbestos cement can be found in the following elements of a residential property:
- Bath panels
- Interior & exterior window panels
- Roofing sheets/tiles/slates
- Soffits & fascias
- Water tanks
Asbestos Textured Coatings
A very popular design feature in the 1960s, textured coatings were used to add swirly patterns to the ceilings of many homes during that time. These ceilings had a distinctive texture and patterns, remaining a popular feature in British homes until the late 1990s.
This feature became known as ‘Artex’ which was the brand name for the textured coating used to make these patterns. Chrysotile asbestos was used in Artex to strengthen the product, as well as to promote dewatering and curing.
Asbestos Rainwater Goods
While investigating the presence of asbestos within your home, it’s easy to forget about the exterior of your property. But, there are plenty of common places to find asbestos that lie outside of your front door too.
For instance, asbestos guttering and downpipes were sub-products created using asbestos cement products prior to 1980. Asbestos cement was often used within gutter and downpipe linings to add durability and heat-resistance to the gutter.
Asbestos guttering is made using chrysotile asbestos, which adds strength to asbestos cement products.
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Now that you know the common places to find asbestos in the home, it’s also important to know that if you own a house built before the year 2000, there is a chance it may still contain asbestos. Should your property be due to undergo refurbishment or demolition works, or if you simply suspect asbestos may be present, you should enlist the help of our accredited asbestos surveyors to carry out a safe and compliant asbestos survey, help you set out an asbestos management plan, support you with asbestos removal management or carry out regular asbestos re-inspections.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team, based across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, are always happy to discuss your individual project requirements over the phone, via email or using the contact form on our website. We can help you arrange any of our bespoke asbestos services, tailored to you and your domestic, commercial or industrial property. Contact us today for a quick, free and competitive no-obligation quote.
