Pollution control - asbestos

     

Asbestos in the home

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre found in a number of different forms (commonly called white, brown and blue*) that for many years were used in a variety of products in situations where heat and oil were likely to be encountered. This made asbestos containing materials useful in the home in the past and if your property is more than 15 years old it is possible that it could have some materials containing asbestos.Due to the microscopic size and shape of the asbestos fibres breathing in the fibres when the material is improperly handled can lead to a number of associated diseases

• Blue (crocidolite), not imported since 1972, is used for insulation lagging & sprayed coating
• Brown (amosite), approximately 20 tonnes imported into UK each year, for research purposes and used for thermal insulation until the late 1960's, sprayed applications & insulating boards
• White (chrysotile) is commonly used in domestic appliances & buildings

Blue & Brown

Thought to be the more dangerous, as their tiny fibres can be easily inhaled. (You cannot tell the colour visually as it is often with other materials that disguise it).

White

Old garages and sheds are often constructed of asbestos cement products and are unlikely to release high levels of fibres because of the way they are made, unless subject to extreme abrasion such as drilling or sanding? garages and sheds can be safely left in gardens if owners wish. If they are being removed from the property, care must be taken to dismantle and dispose of them properly & carefully. White asbestos cement panels must not be subjected to extreme heat and so must not be put on garden bonfires. They don't just disintegrate; they can blow apart which will allow the free release of fibre.

What to do if you find asbestos in your home

· Don't panic if you think you have asbestos in your home- the general rule is to always leave asbestos alone, it's usually safe unless it's becomes damaged or disturbed. · Don't drill, saw or disturb materials that contain asbestos. · You can paint indoor materials with an alkali resistant paint such as PVA emulsion, and take care not to sand, drill or saw asbestos containing 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.

Possible Building Materials likely to contain asbestos

• roof and wall claddings
• pipe lagging
• flat roof decking tiles
• flue-pipes/gutters/rainwater downpipes/airbricks
• window boxes
• cold water cisterns
• roof slates and roof linings
• thermoplastics and vinyl floor tiles
• roofing felts
• textured paints
• insulation of warm-air heating systems
• storage heaters
• catalytic heaters
• internal partitions, wall boards, airing-cupboard linings and shelving, duct and pipe covers
• (LPG) portable heaters
• ironing boards
• central heating system insulation

Disposing of asbestos cement waste

Asbestos is classed as 'special waste' - which means that it has to be disposed off separately from normal domestic refuse. Professionals will be able to take down and remove asbestos cement containing materials and dispose of them under licence. It is your responsibility to check that the contractor you choose has the relevant licence. A "Special Waste Consignment Note" provided by the Environment Agency must accompany each load of special waste. The contractor should provide you with a copy of this. Alternatively you may wish to hire a special skip for the disposal of the material.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. However, you should take the following steps to ensure that the asbestos cement 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.

Further Information

• Since 1976, British manufacturers have put labels on their products to show they contain asbestos
• Since 1986, all products containing asbestos carry the European label
• The supplier or manufacturer 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 know if surveys for asbestos have been done.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

Health and Safety Executive
Asbestos homepage