If you are about to undertake some house renovations or buy a house, you have likely thought about the issues you might uncover. Mould, pests, and asbestos are the most likely suspects. And you’ve probably wondered if you need an asbestos survey. Let’s answer that question.
If you own, or about to buy, a property built before 2000, there is a chance to contain asbestos. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 1999 that asbestos was made illegal in the UK. This is why you must take special care of any buildings that predate the year 2000.
Asbestos is still one of the most significant factors when it comes to work-related deaths in the UK. So you must take steps to protect yourself and your family.
Where Can I Find Asbestos In My Home?
Asbestos can be found in several areas in the home. Asbestos was used in several materials within the building trade before 1999 as it is chemical and fire retardant.
Likely areas you will find asbestos in:
- Some insulating boards
- Roofing felt
- Loose-fill insulation, this will likely be found in the loft
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Some fire blankets
- Floor cavities
- Lagging
It is essential to know that you might not be able to spot asbestos by looking at a material. Which is why you will need an asbestos survey. Some materials seem to be asbestos but are, in fact, just things like blown-in cellulose.
Do I Need An Asbestos Survey?
Almost certainly for any building that is 20 years old or more. You can start the process by ordering a DIY asbestos kit. The kit will come with everything you need to safely take a sample of the materials that may be asbestos. Once you have the results, you can then call a professional asbestos removal company.
It is important to note that unless the asbestos is disturbed, it will pose no threat to you. However, it should still be removed at the earliest possible time.
Types Of Asbestos Survey
There are two types of asbestos survey. One is refurbishment and demolition, during construction asbestos is highly likely to be disturbed and become a deadly hazard. When the fibers enter your lungs, you become at risk of developing asbestos diseases. A management asbestos survey is more of a visual inspection. This will look at the condition of the asbestos materials, and decide if it is safe enough for occupancy.
A typical survey will not give you the details of the condition of the asbestos, and they will not go into more information about the cost of the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) removal.
What Happens Next?
Using an asbestos sampling kit, you will carefully take a sample of the material and send it to a lab to be tested. If you get a positive result for asbestos, then you will need to take steps to arrange a specialist to come and remove the asbestos for you. You should ensure that the asbestos sampling kit is suitable for the materials that you intend to test.
