What does asbestos look like by Bradley Environmental

Asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000. The materials below represent some common places where asbestos can be found. If you are unsure whether asbestos is present, don't start work. Your supervisor or the building manager should tell you if asbestos is present.

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Loose fill asbestos fibre

Sometimes found in fire doors. Also found in paper bags (look like jiffy bags), often between floor joists for sound insulation. It’s raw fibre, any disturbance will send it airborne.

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Asbestos sprayed coatings

Found on steelwork and columns to provide fire protection. Also found on the underside of roofs, ceilings and on walls for insulation and to prevent condensation and on walls for sound insulation (eg theatres). High risk of fibre release.

Asbestos thermal insulation

May be pre-formed or hand applied. Could be wrapped, painted or sealed with a hard plaster (often containing asbestos). Also clad with metal or painted with bitumen for protection. Other materials were also used for insulation such as blankets, tapes, ropes and corrugated paper. High risk of fibre release.

Asbestos insulating board (AIB)

Often used in premises for internal partition walls and linings and for fire protection (eg. fire breaks, fire doors), acoustic and thermal insulation and ceiling tiles. Areas around lift shafts, stairwells and service risers in multi-storey buildings were commonly lined or faced with AIB. High risk of fibre release.

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Asbestos cement products

Asbestos cement is a material which is predominantly a mixture of cement and chrysotile and which, when in a dry state, absorbs less than 30% water by weight. 40% of UK imported asbestos was used in asbestos cement.

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Asbestos textured coatings

These were used to produce decorative finishes on ceilings and walls. In the past, they have had various trade names such as 'Artex'. You do not need a licence to work on these materials, but work with any type of asbestos should only be considered following a suitable risk assessment and adequate asbestos training.

Asbestos paper, felt and card

General heat insulation and fire protection. Electrical/heat insulation of electrical equipment and plant. Asbestos paper has been used in the manufacture of roofing felt and damp-proof courses.