Asbestos awareness for older homes

Learn to spot materials in older homes that might contain asbestos, and never disturb them until tested.

AA-01Understand what asbestos is and why it mattersAsbestos is a natural mineral fibre used in UK building materials from the 1930s right up to a full ban in 1999. It's not dangerous sitting still - the fibres only become a health risk when the material is disturbed and dust gets into the air, because you can breathe fibres in without knowing. If your home was built or last renovated before 2000, treat any suspect material as 'possibly asbestos' until proven otherwise.

AA-02Learn to recognise the materials most likely to contain itCommon culprits: textured ceiling and wall coating (often called Artex), old vinyl or thermoplastic floor tiles from the 1950s-80s, pipe lagging (the wrapping around old pipework), corrugated roofing or garage/shed panels, old airing cupboard boards, and the backing panels in old fuse boxes or storage heaters. You can't identify asbestos just by looking - these are simply the materials worth being suspicious of.

AA-03Never drill, cut, sand, scrape or snap a suspect materialThis is the single most important habit to build. If you're about to drill into an old ceiling to fit a light, sand down an old textured coating, or lift old floor tiles - stop first and check if the material could be asbestos. Doing any of these releases fibres into the air, and once that's happened you can't undo it. If there is any doubt at all, don't proceed - get it checked first.

AA-04Use your home's age as a first clue, not proofCheck when your house was built and whether it's had any big renovations - a house deeds pack, previous EPC report, or just asking the seller/neighbours can help. A build date after 2000 makes asbestos unlikely in original materials. But renovations before that date, or reused materials, mean age alone never rules it out completely.

AA-05Get suspect material tested before doing any workDon't take a sample yourself - this risks releasing fibres. Instead, contact a UKAS-accredited asbestos testing company or a licensed surveyor, who will take the sample safely and send it to a lab. For homeowners doing DIY, testing isn't a legal requirement in the way it is for landlords or employers, but it's the only way to know for certain, and it's a small cost against the risk.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place legal duties to manage asbestos on those responsible for non-domestic premises and rented properties. It isn't a legal duty for a homeowner working on their own home, but the same regulations set out safe handling and disposal rules that apply if asbestos is confirmed.

AA-06Keep the area undisturbed while you wait for resultsDon't sweep, vacuum with an ordinary household vacuum, or brush the material - all of these can lift fibres into the air. If you need to move around it, wipe surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a dry one, and keep the area closed off from children and pets. Waiting a few days for lab results is far safer than guessing.

AA-07Know how to tell you've got this rightYou've done this correctly if you can say: I identified anything that could be asbestos before starting work, I didn't cut, drill, sand or disturb it, and I got it tested or removed by a professional before continuing. There's no safe DIY way to 'check yourself' by look or smell - if you've disturbed nothing and waited for a proper test, that's success, even if the answer comes back negative.

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