Legal Notice - The
The
Asbestos Information Centre Ltd
FAQs on AC products
Below are listed the most frequently asked
questions that we receive about asbestos cement and asbestos containing paint
products. For FAQs on low density products please click here.
Q: I am
considering buying a house, which has an asbestos garage in the garden. Is the
house safe to buy and if so how expensive will it be to dispose of the garage?
A: The product used on an "asbestos garage" will have
been asbestos cement, which has an asbestos content of between 10 to 15%, and
if it is in good condition and not being abraded or going to be abraded then it
will not be releasing dangerous quantities of fibers. It should be monitored so
if it is noticed that it is beginning to degrade it should be removed at that
time. You do not need to use a licensed contractor to work on the garage but
you should use a competent contractor. See our advice
note for more details.
Q: I
have an asbestos garage in my garden that has come to the end of its economic
life and needs to be removed. I am being told that it will be very expensive,
as I need to use a licensed contractor. Is this correct?
A: See my
above answer, you do not need to employ a licensed contractor, but you do need
to use one that is competent. Again refer to our advice note ‘Working with Asbestos Cement Products’
Q: My
building society’s surveyor has advised that a house I am intending to purchase
has an asbestos sheet/slate roof and so I need to either have it sealed or
removed by a licensed contractor before I move in. How much is this likely to
cost?
A: Your surveyor is giving you incorrect advice. If work is
required on the roof you do not need to use a licensed contractor but as above
you do need to use a competent contractor. Having a roof sealed is extremely
difficult and since all the lichens, moss and dirt will need to be removed
first, it will be counter productive, as the removal will release more asbestos
fibers than leaving the roof alone. If the roof is not leaking then the
sheets/slates must be in a reasonable condition and so the best course of
action is to leave well alone. If the roof does need to be worked on then you
will need to employ a specialist roofing contractor who we suggest is a member
of a reputable trade association such as the National
Federation of Roofing Contractors or a Construction
Group Member of the Rural Design and Building Association. See our Advice Note for further
Q: What
are the rules for when I have to use a licensed contractor to work with
asbestos containing materials in my building?
A: see the answer on the page ‘FAQs
on low density products’
Q: How
can I tell if the product in my building has a density of less than 1000 kg/m3
A: A product with a
density of less than 1000 Kg/M3 will float on water; also see
the answer on the page ‘FAQs on low density
products’
Q: I
understand that there are different kinds of asbestos called blue, brown &
white with blue being the most dangerous. The slates on my roof are blue, does
that mean that they contain blue asbestos and that they are causing damage to
my family?
A: There are three different kinds of asbestos, which are listed
below in the order of their danger, Crocidolite being the most dangerous.
Crocidolite:
this is known as blue asbestos
Amosite:
this is known as brown asbestos
Chrysotile:
this is known as white asbestos
You
cannot tell from looking at a product, which type of asbestos it contains. You
have to use a very high power microscope to tell the difference. The slates on
your roof will be asbestos cement and will most probably contain Chrysotile. UK
manufacturers stopped using Crocidolite in roofing products in the 60s.
From the
answers below you will see that if your slate roof is in good condition and if
it is not being abraded it will not be releasing dangerous quantities of fibres
Q: I have been told that one asbestos fiber can kill is this
correct?
A: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in the rocks in
the UK and elsewhere in the world, it is constantly being eroded into the
atmosphere. If you take a reading anywhere in the world you will find small
quantities of asbestos fibres present. So asbestos fibres would be being
breathed in by everyone even if asbestos had not been used by man. It is the
inappropriate use by man, when quantities of fibres are released, which is so
dangerous
Q: I am
considering buying a house, which has an asbestos garage in the garden. Is the
house safe to buy and if so how expensive will it be to dispose of the garage?
A: The product used on an "asbestos garage" will have
been asbestos cement, which has an asbestos content of between 10 to 15%, and
if it is in good condition and not being abraded or going to be abraded then it
will not be releasing dangerous quantities of fibres. It should be monitored so
if it is noticed that it is beginning to degrade it should be removed at that
time. You do not need to use a licensed contractor to work on the garage but
you should use a competent contractor. See our advice
note for more details.
Q: I am
proposing to buy a new home which was built in the 60s. It has textured
ceilings, which my surveyor advises may contain asbestos. Since it must be
dangerous how can I safely remove it.
A: If the textured paint
is in good condition and is not being abraded it will not be releasing
dangerous quantities of fibres. Those paints that did contain asbestos only
contained approximately 5% chrysotile asbestos. So the best thing to do is to
leave it alone but keep a note that it does contain asbestos, so that if you or
anyone else has to work on the ceilings you can take the necessary precautions
to keep the dust to a minimum. If you strongly dislike the texturing and wish
to have a smooth ceiling then it is not a good idea to try and scrape it off as
the process likely to cause excessive dust. The best course of action is to
plaster over it. There are propriety products that can be obtained from your
local DIY store or builders merchant that are designed for this situation.
Director General: A M Hutchinson FIoR
Asbestos Information Centre
director@aic.org.uk