Well known as a substance that is dangerous for human health, asbestos was commonly used as a building material up until it was entirely banned in the UK in 1999. However, buildings built before 1999 can still contain asbestos and it is important for owners of both residential and commercial properties to understand this.
It may be the case that you are concerned that asbestos might be present in your home or workplace. So, if you are a looking around to check for the presence of asbestos, where is it most likely going to be found? Here we take a look at common places that you might find asbestos throughout residential homes and industrial premises.
Insultation
Asbestos has many properties that made it popular for use in building and construction work for many years. For example, it is extremely effective as insulation. This means that there could be asbestos lining your walls or in spaces such as lofts and attics.
It should be pointed out that many people think that they can identify asbestos insulation simply by looking at it, but often this is not the case. Many insulating board products look very similar, but many are not made of asbestos and are perfectly safe. The only way to tell is to have professionals sample and test the material as a part of an asbestos survey.
Cement
You might not be aware that asbestos was commonly used as an additional ingredient in cement mixtures, as it was able to add strength and density. It was used in cement roofs, wall cladding, downpipes, and flues. Once again, this isn’t something you can establish with the naked eye – so you will need to work with professionals.
Ceiling coatings and tiles
Another common place to find asbestos is in ceiling coatings such as Artex. It was also regularly used as a material in tiles and coverings. If you have any concerns about any part of your property containing tiles or containing with asbestos, you should get in contact with asbestos professionals as soon as possible.
If you would like more information, or if you are interested in working with an experienced team of asbestos specialists, get in touch with the team at Crucial Environmental today.