Asbestos...
when you want to know a little bit more
For those of you that would like to know a little bit more about asbestos and where it can be found at work and around the home, the information below will hopefully answer some of your questions. Remember any building constructed before the year 2000, could contain asbestos materials. If you want a littel bit of advice, a product testing or quite simply getting rid of the material, then feel free to give us a call
Asbestos
It's one of those subjects that we are all aware of, know that its dangerous, but on the other hand its something we still know little about. Remarkably its been around for thousands of years becoming commercially used as we know it today and used extensively just after the second world war until its ultimate ban in 1999.
Once hailed as the architects dream, a material with incredible properties, such as heat proof, fire retardant, acid resistant, incredible strength when added to other materials, a non conductor of electricity and an anti-condensate barrier to name but a few. Asbestos can be found in products that were never expected.
But here we are today, left by our ancestors unknowingly with products containing asbestos which we now know to be human carcinogens. Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) and causes around 5000 deaths every year in the UK alone.
Asbestos was mined from the earth in pretty much the same way as copper, coal and iron and processed and added to products for varying reasons. Asbestos products as we know them have been around for years and will remain so whilst they fulfill the job that they were designed for and remain in good condition.
The UK government recognise the dangers associated with asbestos, and advise that
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Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road.
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Around 20 tradesman die each week as a result of past exposure
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However, asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases.
These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now
At Ferncroft, we understand asbestos better than most, with our founder having worked for the last 40 years or so in the asbestos removal, management and remediation sector dealing with its safe removal, disposal, education and management.
Its difficult to know what contains asbestos, so to be sure we have developed over the years our surveying and testing service. Samples are sent to a network of UKAS accredited laboratories for determination and presence of asbestos.
Below we have added some resource buttons, that will take you to further available information, alternately if you are concerned or require some additional information, feel free to give us a call.
Asbestos Roof Sheets
Loose Fill Insulation
Electrical Flash Guards
Asbestos Soffits
Commercial Properties
Inside
1. Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls, beams and columns
2. Asbestos cement water tank
4. Lagging on boilers and pipes
5. AIB ceiling tiles
7. AIB partition walls
8. AIB panels in fire doors
9. Asbestos rope seals, gaskets and paper
10. Vinyl floor tiles
11. AIB around boilers
12. Textiles eg fire blankets
13. Textured decorating coatings (on walls and ceilings eg artex)
Outside
14. Asbestos cement roof
15. Asbestos cement panels
16. Asbestos cement gutters and downpipes
17. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement
18. Asbestos cement flue
AIB = Asbestos Insulating Board
Domestic Properties
Inside
A. Asbestos cement Water tank
B. Pipe lagging
C. Loose fill insulation
D. Textured decorative coating eg artex
E. AIB ceiling tiles
F. AIB bath panel
H. AIB behind fuse box
I. AIB airing cupboard and/or sprayed insulation coating
J. AIB partition wall
K. AIB interior window panel
L. AIB around boiler
N. AIB behind fire
Outside
O. Gutters and Asbestos cement downpipes
P. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement
Q. AIB exterior window panel
R. Asbestos cement roof
S. Asbestos cement panels
T. Roofing felt
AIB = Asbestos Insulating Board