What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Gallery of Asbestos Materials

View real images of common asbestos-containing materials found in homes and commercial buildings across Yorkshire.

Asbestos-containing sink pad fixed to the underside of a stainless-steel sink. The black bitumen-based pad was commonly used for sound insulation and condensation control.

Asbestos Bitumen
Asbestos-containing woven rope seal fitted around an industrial boiler or machinery access door. These heat-resistant seals can release fibres if worn, removed or disturbed.

Asbestos Woven Textiles
Asbestos warning sign restricting access to a hazardous area. Clear signage helps prevent unauthorised entry and warns people that asbestos-containing materials may be present.

Encapsulated Asbestos
Stacked asbestos cement corrugated roofing sheets, commonly used on garages, sheds and industrial buildings. The sheets should remain undisturbed and be handled and disposed of using appropriate asbestos precautions.

Asbestos Cement
An older black toilet cistern, likely manufactured from asbestos-containing reinforced plastic, with associated pipework and pull-chain flushing mechanism. The cistern should not be drilled, cut or damaged without appropriate asbestos precautions.

Asbestos Composite Materials
Industrial pipework fitted with flanged valves, where asbestos-containing gaskets may be present between the metal joints. These gaskets were commonly used to provide heat-resistant seals in older systems.

Asbestos Gaskets
Stacked asbestos insulating board (AIB) panels showing exposed, damaged and fibrous edges. AIB is a higher-risk asbestos material that can release fibres when broken, cut or disturbed.

Asbestos Insulating Board
Older pipework with asbestos-containing thermal insulation visible behind the metal joint. This material was used to reduce heat loss but can release fibres if damaged or disturbed.

Asbestos Insulation
Damaged asbestos-containing paper insulation wrapped around older pipework. The torn covering exposes the underlying material, increasing the risk of fibre release if disturbed.

Asbestos Paper
Decorative textured coating, commonly known as Artex, applied to a ceiling around a light fitting. Some older textured coatings may contain small amounts of asbestos and should be tested before drilling, sanding or removal.

Asbestos Textured Coating
Loose and damaged asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles, with sections lifted and broken. These tiles and the underlying adhesive should be assessed before removal or disturbance.

Asbestos Vinyl Floor Tiles