Where is Asbestos?

Asbestos is found in many products built or refurbished before the year 2000. Here are some examples of a industrial and domestic property.

Where asbestos is found in industrial buildings

Industrial

Inside

1

Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls, beams and columns

Asbestos sprayed coatings are insulation which has been machine sprayed onto surfaces for fireproofing. Commonly found in old car parks and around steel work. Very friable if disturbed.

2

Asbestos cement water tank

Asbestos cement water tanks are more likely to be found within a domestic property these days. We tend to uncover redundant water tanks in peoples lofts where housing associations or councils have left them in.

3

Loose fill insulation

Asbestos loose fill insulation, the most dangerous type of asbestos. Found mostly in lofts used as old insulation. Extremely friable this makes removal a challenging task.

4

Lagging on boilers and pipes

Asbestos lagging can come in various types such as moulded sections which is joined with band straps. Also can be hard set which is typically hand applied. Paper lining and rope wrapped around the pipes places them in the asbestos lagging category.

5

AIB ceiling tiles

Asbestos insulating board ceiling tiles commonly found in old offices and schools, The fixings of these can vary, some are within a metal ceiling grid and some are nailed up to timber frame work.

6

Toilet seat and cistern

Not many people realise toilet seats and toilet cisternscan contain asbestos. Very common during the 80s but as bathrooms have been refurbished over the years less of them crop up.

7

AIB partition walls

AIB walls are as common as ceilings, typically found around staircases and used as fire protection.

8

AIB panels in fire doors

The panels are typically sandwiched within the door making it hard for the landlords to know asbestos is present. Sometimes you will find the asbestos pinned onto the door. This is then easily damaged.

9

Asbestos rope seals, gaskets and paper

Rope seals are usually present in old glass beading, robin hood boilers and ducting. Gaskets are very common to find as pipe flanges remain in situ. Paper comes on various products such as pipe insulation, fibre boards and linos.

10

Vinyl floor tiles

Possibly the most common asbestos found and removed. Used extensively in commercial, residential and education sectors. The adhesive typically also contains asbestos.

11

AIB around boilers

Not common to find these days as most boilers have been replaced over the years. Some warm air boilers contained asbestos but they left the asbestos in during the new boiler installation.

12

Textiles eg fire blankets

A rare find these days but back in the 80s they were a common product found in offices and schools. Asbestos fire blankets have been replaced with modern non asbestos ones now.

13

On walls and ceilings eg artex

The iconic textured coating found in millions of homes. Can contain asbestos right up to 1999. Unknown if it contains asbestos without having the textured coating asbestos sampled.

Outside

14

Asbestos cement roof

Asbestos cement roof sheets, found mainly on garage roofs and farm barns. Commonly found on pre-fabricated buildings in all sectors including residential.

15

Asbestos cement panels

Asbestos cement panels are found in numerous indoor and outdoor locations. Used for waterproofing and fire proofing.

16

Asbestos cement gutters and downpipes

Asbestos cement gutters and asbestos downpipes are still found commonly on homes and commercial buildings. Easily removed fully intact, without disturbing the asbestos.

17

Soffits - AIB or asbestos cement

Asbestos cement and AIB soffits are found on many homes, schools and offices in the uk. Asbestos cement under cloaking is also found in many homes under the roof tiles.

18

Asbestos cement flue

Asbestos flue pipes found in all types of buildings including schools and homes. Usually attached to an old boiler, but occasionally found in situ after boiler replacements. These are more often internally than outside the property.

Where asbestos is found in domestic buildings

Domestic

Inside

A

Asbestos cement Water tank

Asbestos cement water tanks are found within domestic properties. We tend to uncover redundant water tanks in peoples lofts where housing associations or councils have left them in.

B

Pipe lagging

Asbestos lagging can come in various types such as moulded sections which is joined with band straps. Also can be hard set which is typically hand applied. Paper lining and rope wrapped around the pipes places them in the asbestos lagging category.

C

Loose fill insulation

Not commonly found in the uk but when it is its usually used as loft insulation. Asbestos loose fill insulation is the worst type of asbestos.

D

Textured decorative coating eg artex

Other than asbestos floor tiles textured coating is the most common asbestos product found in domestic properties. Textured coating needs to be asbestos tested to see if it’s an ACM.

E

AIB ceiling tiles

Asbestos insulating board (AIB) is found more often than not in garage ceilings used as a fire protection.

F

AIB bath panel

Asbestos bath panels can also be in asbestos cement, the asbestos survey report will identify these.

G

Toilet seat and cistern

Asbestos toilet cisterns and toilet seats aren’t as common as they used to be, found in abandoned or run down properties now as most have been renewed for modern versions.

H

AIB behind fuse box

Asbestos panels were used to mount the electric fuse boards to. These are for heat and electric protection. The fuse boards also should be asbestos surveyed in case flash guards are present.

I

AIB airing cupboard and/or sprayed insulation coating boiler

Aib in on airing cupboard doors or linings around the boilers are common in 1970s-1980s properties. Sprayed coating isn’t something you see in domestic properties often if at all.

J

AIB partition wall

AIB partition walls are usually located in garages or boiler cupboards unless used by builders using up loose materials on domestic properties. Use for fire and heat proofing.

K

AIB interior window panel

Asbestos insulating board (AIB) and cement were used on window surrounds to form window sills and covering the cavitys.

L

AIB around boiler

Asbestos insulating board (AIB) was used to line walls/cupboards around boilers due to its heat resistance.

M

Vinyl floor tiles

Vinyl asbestos floor tiles are possibly the most common asbestos found within a property. Often hidden under modern carpets. The adhesive also can contain asbestos.

N

AIB behind fire

Panels behind fireplaces or used above old fire surrounds which are sometimes asbestos cement. Usually removed during the fire replacement.

Outside

O

Gutters and Asbestos cement downpipes

Asbestos cement was used on gutters and cement downpipes due to its waterproof properties. Easily removed without any damage to the asbestos.

P

Soffits - AIB or asbestos cement

Asbestos cement and AIB soffits are found on many homes. Asbestos cement under cloaking is also found in many homes under the roof tiles.

Q

AIB exterior window panel

Asbestos insulating board (AIB) more likely to be found on commercial buildings and schools than domestic properties although they are still located from time to time.

R

Asbestos cement roof

Asbestos cement roof sheets most commonly found on garage roofs but we also find remnants of former asbestos roofs in old pre-fabricated council houses.

S

Asbestos cement panels

Asbestos cement panels are used outdoor due to them being waterproof and durable. More often than not found on garages.

T

Roofing felt

Roofing felt can contain asbestos which is the same material used for the damp proof course which is often found containing asbestos.

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