Asbestos Specialist Frequently Asked Questions

Our asbestos specialists check your buildings for any existing asbestos, arrange safe sampling, and send samples to a lab for testing. They provide a report that says where asbestos is, what condition it is in, and what to do next. They can advise on managing it safely, sealing it, or arranging safe removal if needed.

Contact one before any work that could disturb older materials, such as drilling, sanding, cutting, removing ceilings or wall boards, pulling up old flooring, or changing pipework. You should also contact one if you find damaged, dusty, or crumbling materials, or if a property survey mentions suspected asbestos. If you think asbestos has been disturbed, stop work and get advice straight away.

You might, especially if the property was built or refurbished before 2000, and you plan any repairs or renovations. If you are not doing work and materials are in good condition, you may not need immediate action, but an asbestos survey can help you avoid disturbing asbestos by accident later.

Asbestos is dangerous when fibres get into the air and are breathed in. This can happen if asbestos materials are damaged or worked on. Breathing in fibres can lead to serious illnesses years later, including lung scarring, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

No, you cannot be sure just by looking. Many asbestos-containing materials look the same as non-asbestos ones. The only reliable way to know is to have a sample tested by a laboratory, usually taken by a trained person to reduce risk.

Asbestos was used in many common building materials because it was strong and heat-resistant. It is most often found in older roofs and wall panels made from asbestos cement, such as garage or shed roofs, soffits, and flue pipes. It can also be in textured coatings on ceilings and walls, some types of wall and ceiling boards, and around boilers, tanks, and pipes, where insulation was used. 

Older floor tiles, the adhesive underneath them, and some backing on vinyl flooring can contain asbestos as well. It may also be found in fire protection materials, such as panels around service risers, cupboards, and partition walls, plus older seals and gaskets in heating systems.

Asbestos is most dangerous when fibres are released into the air and breathed in. If an asbestos-containing material is in good condition, sealed, and left alone, the risk is usually much lower because fibres are not easily released. The risk increases if it is damaged, drilled, cut, sanded, scraped, or if it is naturally crumbly. Even so, it should always be treated with care, because you cannot be sure how stable it is without proper checks.

Stop work straight away and keep other people out of the area. Do not sweep, dust, or use a household vacuum cleaner, as this can spread fibres. If you can do so without causing more disturbance, close doors and windows to limit the movement of dust, and wash your hands and face. If your clothing may be contaminated, change carefully and place the items in a bag until you can get proper advice. Then contact an asbestos specialist for guidance and, if needed, testing and safe clean-up.

It is a lot less likely, but it can still happen. A much newer building may include older materials reused during refurbishment, or it may contain many parts that have been installed before the year 2000, such as a garage roof, outbuilding panels, or old flooring. Some newer sites also sit next to older structures, and materials can be moved or left behind during previous work. So, while the chance is lower, it is still sensible to be cautious if you find an unknown material and you plan to disturb it.

The safest approach is to avoid disturbing it and follow a clear plan. Keep the material in good condition, do not drill or fix items into it, and stop anyone from scraping or sanding it. If it is in a place where it could be knocked or damaged, it’s best to get advice about sealing, enclosing, or removing it safely. 

For staff, make sure anyone doing maintenance knows where it is and what they must not do, and keep records so the information is easy to find. In a home, explain simply what areas to avoid and consider getting a survey before any work, so you do not uncover it by accident. If the material is damaged or in a high-traffic area, get a specialist to assess the risk and recommend the safest option.

An asbestos survey is a careful inspection that looks for any materials that may contain asbestos, checks their condition, and records where they are. It is needed because asbestos is hard to spot and can be harmful if fibres get into the air. A survey helps you avoid disturbing asbestos during repairs, maintenance, or building work. It also gives you clear information so you can manage it safely, plan work properly, and reduce risk for your family, tenants, visitors, or staff.

The main types are a management survey and a refurbishment and demolition survey. A management survey is used to help manage asbestos during the normal use of a building. It focuses on materials that could be disturbed during everyday activities and routine maintenance. 

A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before major building work, such as renovations that will disturb the structure, or any demolition. This type is more invasive because it may involve opening up parts of the building to check hidden areas, so it is planned carefully and usually done when the area is empty.

The time depends on the size of the building, how easy it is to access areas, and how many samples are needed. A small flat might be surveyed in a few hours, while a larger house or a commercial site can take most of a day or longer. If areas are locked, cluttered, or hard to reach, it can take more time. The written report often follows later, after lab results are back.

Testing usually starts with a surveyor looking at materials that might contain asbestos. If sampling is needed, they take a small piece of the material using controlled methods to reduce dust. The sample is sealed, labelled, and sent to a laboratory. The lab examines it using specialist methods to confirm whether asbestos is present and, if it is, what type it is. The results are then added to your report with advice on what to do next.

In many cases, you do not need to leave for small, straightforward sampling, as long as the surveyor can work safely and keep the area controlled. You may be asked to stay out of the room being sampled, keep children and pets away, and avoid walking through the area until it has been cleaned and made safe. For more invasive surveys, or if the material is in poor condition and likely to release dust, it may be safer for people to be out of the property or out of certain areas while the work is done.

This tends to depend on the laboratory and the service you choose. Many routine sample results come back within a few working days, and there are faster options available if you need them immediately. Your survey report is often issued once the lab results are received, so the full turnaround is often a little longer than the lab testing time.

You do not always need to remove asbestos. If an asbestos-containing material is in good condition, not likely to be damaged, and not in the way of planned work, it can often be left in place and managed safely. Asbestos removal is more likely to be needed if the material is damaged, crumbly, in a high-traffic area, or if building work will disturb it. The right choice depends on the type of material, where it is, and how likely it is to be knocked, drilled, or worn down over time.

The safest way to approach the situation is to avoid disturbing them and get proper advice before any work starts. If asbestos is confirmed and can be left alone, it should always be managed to make sure it stays sealed and protected, with clear rules against drilling or cutting it. If it cannot be managed safely in place, the safest option is controlled removal by trained professionals using the correct safety methods. The main aim is always the same: to stop the fibres getting into the air.

A small, straightforward job, like removing asbestos-cement sheets, may take a day or significantly less time to carry out. Yet, much larger jobs, or higher-risk materials like insulation boards or pipe insulation, usually take longer. This is because of the extra safety steps, setup, and checks afterwards. Other factors, like the access, the size of the area, and how the building is used, can also affect the timescale.

Good asbestos removal should not leave your property covered completely in dust, but it can still feel quite disruptive. Areas are usually sealed off, and there may be warning signs, protective sheeting, and limited access while work is happening. Some minor disturbance is normal, especially during setup and pack down, but the aim is to keep the rest of the building clean and safe. Any visible debris should be contained, removed, and the work area cleaned properly before it is handed back.

Dust control is a main part of the job. The work area must always be isolated using sealed barriers, and only our trained staff enter wearing protective clothing and the right breathing protection. 

Materials may be kept damp to reduce dust, and specialist equipment can be used to capture fibres. Waste is sealed in approved bags or wrapping, and the area is cleaned using methods designed for asbestos work, not ordinary sweeping or household vacuuming.

After asbestos is removed, it must be handled as hazardous waste (called special waste in Scotland) and kept under strict control.

It is sealed and clearly labelled so fibres cannot escape (often double-bagged or wrapped for larger pieces).

It is not mixed with other waste and is stored safely until it is collected.

A hazardous waste consignment note is used to record and track the waste from the site to the final disposal point.

It is taken by a registered waste carrier to a site that is allowed to accept asbestos waste.

It is disposed of at an authorised facility, usually a permitted landfill area designed to keep it contained.