Understanding Asbestos in the Home

Asbestos can be dangerous if disturbed – especially during home improvements. This guide explains where asbestos may be found, what health risks it poses, and how to deal with it safely.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in building materials due to its strength, heat resistance, and insulating properties. It was commonly used in homes built before 2000, particularly between the 1950s and 1980s. However, we now know asbestos fibres can cause serious health risks if disturbed and inhaled. Recognising and managing asbestos safely is vital for anyone working in home improvement.

Did you know?

There are three main types of fibres: chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue).
The mineral itself is very rarely found in its raw form but is often present within building products commonly referred to as Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMS).

https://nhic.org.uk/doorstep-digests

Sprayed asbestos coatings

Sprayed asbestos coatings were used for fire protection on structural steel and are commonly found in system-built flats constructed during the 1960s. These coatings were primarily applied around the core areas of buildings, such as service ducts and lift shafts. The use of sprayed asbestos stopped in 1974, and its spraying has been prohibited since 1986. Since then, sprayed asbestos has been removed from many buildings or sealed off to prevent the release of fibres.

Asbestos-cement

Asbestos-cement is the most commonly used asbestos material, found in a variety of building applications. It is used for profiled sheets in roofing and wall cladding, flat sheets and partition boards for wall and ceiling linings, bath panels, soffit boards, fire surrounds, flue pipes, cold water tanks, and roofing tiles and slates. Additionally, it has often been utilised for roofing and cladding in garages and sheds, as well as in guttering and drainpipes. Asbestos-cement products are unlikely to release high levels of fibres due to their manufacturing process, unless they are subjected to extreme abrasion.

KEY ADVICE
The exact level of exposure that can cause health issues due to asbestos fibres is not known, but the risk increases with the amount of asbestos dust a person is exposed to.

When is asbestos dangerous to you?

Asbestos products only pose a danger when they are damaged or disturbed, as this can release dust into the air. Asbestos fibres are extremely small and can be easily disturbed, often without being visible to the naked eye. It’s important to note that domestic vacuum cleaners are not suitable for cleaning up asbestos dust, as their filters are insufficient to capture harmful asbestos fibres.

The exact level of exposure that can cause health issues due to asbestos fibres is not known, but the risk increases with the amount of asbestos dust a person is exposed to. Therefore, it is crucial to minimise the release of asbestos dust.

Inhaling very high levels of these fibres can lead to lung diseases, including cancer. Those who have worked with asbestos for many years or have laundered the clothes of workers exposed to asbestos are at the highest risk of being affected.

Older heating appliances and domestic equipment

Asbestos can be found in various domestic appliances and fittings, particularly those manufactured before 1980. This includes items such as water heaters, range hoods, clothes dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, portable dishwashers, toasters, slow cookers, and portable heaters. It was also used in warm air heating systems and electric storage heaters (up until 1976), as well as in flameless catalytic gas heaters (up until 1988) and some early ‘coal effect’ gas fires.

Additionally, asbestos has been used in household items such as oven gloves, ironing boards, seals on cooker doors, and fire blankets.

How do you identify asbestos?

The colour of the material does not indicate the type of asbestos that may be present. It is challenging to visually identify asbestos, as modern asbestos-free materials often resemble those that contain asbestos. Generally, older products are more likely to contain asbestos.

The only way to confirm whether a product contains asbestos is to have it analysed by a laboratory. A list of laboratories offering this service can be found on the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association (ATaC) website.

The extent of the asbestos issue depends on the type of material present. While all asbestos fibres are hazardous, certain products—such as asbestos insulating boards, lagging, and sprayed coatings—pose significantly greater risks because their fibres can be easily released into the air.

https://nhic.org.uk/doorstep-digests
https://www.atac.org.uk/

Does all asbestos need to be removed?

No, this can often lead to more problems. If the material is in undamaged condition or is enclosed or encapsulated, it is usually safer to leave it alone. Those responsible for business premises are required to identify their location (or mark it with a label) so that appropriate precautions can be taken if any work might disturb it.

If I find asbestos, what should I do about it?

Householders do not have any legal duty other than to dispose of any asbestos safely. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not recommend the DIY removal of asbestos without professional advice. The government authority responsible for hazardous waste, including asbestos, is the Environment Agency.

Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 03708 506 506 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

You can also contact your local council for more information about asbestos and its disposal.

DIY removal is not encouraged, but if a householder is tempted to disturb or remove small amounts, they should always refer to the available guidance to ensure that it is done cleanly and disposed of correctly.

For contractors working in your home, guidance on small-scale, unlicensed asbestos removal work can be found in the government’s Health and Safety Executive guidance, Introduction to Asbestos Essentials.

https://nhic.org.uk/doorstep-digests
https://www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste/contact-the-environment-agency
mailto:enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a0.pdf

Government regulations regarding asbestos

Due to the risks associated with asbestos exposure, work involving asbestos is subject to very strict regulatory control. Workplace regulations, including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Approved Code of Practice, and guidance, apply to tradespeople working on asbestos in your home. They are legally required to have sufficient training, equipment, and work methods to carry out the work in a way that prevents exposure. In many work situations, organisations also need permission (i.e. a licence to work with asbestos) from the Health and Safety Executive to work with asbestos.

Asbestos waste disposal

If asbestos is not handled and disposed of correctly, there is a serious risk of exposing yourself and others to asbestos fibres. Asbestos waste should never be placed in a dustbin or refuse chute. This is classed as “Hazardous” or “Special” waste that needs safe disposal. Any asbestos products must be double-bagged and labelled as asbestos waste. You must not mix asbestos waste with other types of waste.

KEY ADVICE
Asbestos products only pose a danger when they are damaged or disturbed, as this can release dust into the air. Asbestos fibres are extremely small and can be easily disturbed often without being visible to the naked eye.

https://nhic.org.uk/doorstep-digests
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm

Further Information and Contacts

Asbestos Testing and Consultancy (ATaC) Association – www.atac.org.uk
Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) – www.arca.org.uk
Environment Agency (EA) – www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Government advice – https://www.gov.uk/asbestos-in-home
Health & Safety Executive FAQs – https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm
NHS asbestos advice – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asbestosis/

What to do if you think you have been in contact with asbestos

Contact your doctor, the NHS online or call 111 and remove yourself from the source of exposure.

The NHIC would like to thank the RMI WG2 Consumer Voice members for their contributions to this guide.

Please note that this guidance document, produced by the NHIC, was accurate when it was created. However, information and regulations may have changed since the publication of this document. Therefore, seeking the most up-to-date information and expert advice is always advisable before making any decisions related to improving your home.

Back to the doorstep digests

download digest

Our Doorstep Digests were produced by Working Group 2 in partnership with the Construction Leadership Council.