Asbestos was banned from the UK in 1999, however, it can be found in any residential or industrial building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000.
Loose-Fill Asbestos:
This was used to insulate domestic and industrial properties and is often found under floorboards, between cavity walls, and in loft spaces. It is one of the hazardous materials containing asbestos since it is made up of pure asbestos and huge numbers of fibres can be released into the air to be inhaled if disturbed.
Asbestos and Sprayed Coatings:
This can often be found in the insulation on the underside of roofs and at times, on the sides of buildings and warehouses. Asbestos spray coatings were also used for fire protection on reinforced concrete beams and columns, on the underside of floors and on steel. It is usually grey or white in colour on a rough surface, although it is sometimes painted over.
Asbestos and Insulation and Lagging:
This is mostly found in or around heating systems such as boilers and pipework. The type of asbestos used in buildings for this purpose has several different appearances. Most commonly, it is a fibrous material that powders and flakes easily. It is often painted or covered in a protective coating when applied to pipes which can make it harder to identify.
Asbestos and Textured Coatings:
Textured coatings were once a commonly used way of producing decorative finishes on walls and ceilings and may come under various trade names like Artex. Not all textured coatings will contain asbestos, but if it was installed in the building prior to 2000, there is a high chance that asbestos is present and any work on the textured coating should be carried out by a suitably trained professional.
Asbestos and Floor Tiles:
Prior to 2000, many floors were made from asbestos tiles and you may find them hidden underneath carpets and other floorings in older buildings. Asbestos paper was also used for lining under tiles. The tiles are not very distinctive from non-asbestos tiles, which is why it’s recommended to find out when the tiles were originally put down or look for a trade name before conducting any work.
Asbestos Cement:
Asbestos cement is typically a combination of white asbestos, known as chrysotile, and cement which is moulded and compressed. It can be found in many places inside and outside buildings that were built or refurbished prior to 2000. It may be present in cement roofs, wall cladding, downpipes, gutters, flues, and sewer pipes.
Prior to 2000, asbestos was commonly used as a building material, therefore it can potentially be found in any building that was constructed or refurbished before this time.