Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral known for its heat resistance and durability. It has been used in various industries for its insulating and fire-retardant properties. However, asbestos poses severe health risks when its fibres are inhaled or ingested. Prolonged exposure can lead to serious illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Due to its hazardous nature, asbestos has been heavily regulated, and its use has been restricted or banned in many countries. Understanding the dangers associated with asbestos exposure is crucial for ensuring safety in construction, renovation, and industrial settings.
General information about asbestos:
Asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals found in crystalline fibrous forms, boasts strength, resistance to heat, chemicals, and water solubility. The two primary types, serpentine (white) and amphibole (including ‘blue’ and ‘brown’), were extensively used in building materials until banned. The UK prohibited all asbestos importation, supply, and use in 1999; amphibole asbestos was banned earlier in 1985 due to its increased hazard level compared to serpentine asbestos.
When disturbed, asbestos can release fibres that pose health risks when inhaled or ingested, potentially causing lung conditions like Mesothelioma. Classified as carcinogenic, asbestos has been a health concern since its introduction in the late 1800s in UK construction.
Despite a UK-wide ban, some products containing asbestos continued installation until 1999. Over 5 million tonnes of asbestos were imported and installed in an estimated 1.5 million commercial buildings. The most common types include Crocidolite (blue), Amosite (brown), and Chrysotile (white), all linked to fatal lung diseases when airborne fibers are inhaled. Asbestos-related illnesses claim 3000-4000 lives annually in the UK, a number projected to increase in the coming years.
Asbestos Management and Regulations
Under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, known as the Duty to Manage, it is now a legal obligation to identify and manage asbestos in commercial properties as well as in the maintained or communal areas of residential properties like blocks of flats.
Note that Regulation 4 requires asbestos management, not necessarily a survey. ENV Surveys Ltd can guide you through your options. Presence of asbestos doesn’t always mandate removal. Well-maintained asbestos materials can often be safely managed, reducing the need for expensive removal or remediation
Identification
Crocidolite (blue); Amosite (brown); and Chrysotile (white) asbestos cannot usually be identified by their colour alone. There are 1,000’s of products containing asbestos used throughout the industrial and domestic sectors (See our Asbestos Material & Uses Gallery), including:
Thermal Insulation – pipes; boilers, Lagging etc
Sprayed Coating – ceilings; structural building components
Insulating Board – wall panels; doors; fire-breaks; ceiling tiles, etc
Cloth, Ropes and Yarns – fire blankets; gaskets; lagging; clothing, Fire-stopping etc
Paper/Millboard – roofing felt; damp-proof courses; flooring; lagging, filters etc
Cement – profiled sheets; roofing sheets and tiles; decorative panels; soffits; partitioning; rain-water goods; tanks and cisterns, etc
Bitumen Products – roofing felts; damp-proof courses; gutter linings, etc
Textured Coatings – walls; ceilings, etc
Positive identification may only be possible through sampling and analysis in a UKAS accredited laboratory.
UKAS Accreditation
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is recognised by the UK Government as the sole UK national accreditation body responsible for assessing and accrediting the competence of organisations in the fields of inspection, calibration, testing and the certification of systems, products and personnel. E N V is a UKAS accredited inspection body No. 353, accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020 as a Type C Inspection Body, to undertake Management and Refurbishment & Demolition surveys. To view our accreditation schedule click here
ENV Surveys Ltd. is also accredited to ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 to undertake the analysis of asbestos in bulk materials and Asbestos Air Testing. (Bulk Analysis / Sample Testing / Air Monitoring) To view our accreditation schedule click here
