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What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and fire resistant. It has also been used in household products like ironing boards and oven gloves.

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s.

Some areas in your home where you may find asbestos include:

• How to identify asbestos: Health and Safety Executive Opens new window

• Asbestos information from the Asbestos Information Centre Opens new window

Why asbestos is a problem

Most people are exposed to low amounts of asbestos present in the atmosphere with no ill effects.

However, asbestos fibres and dust are potentially very dangerous if inhaled in higher concentrations over a period of time. If this happens, they can cause serious lung diseases including cancer. The symptoms of these diseases often don’t appear for between 20 and 30 years after exposure to asbestos.

If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos fibres, it’s a good idea to see your GP and let them know, so it can be entered on your medical record.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has more information on why asbestos is dangerous and how to recognise it.

• Why asbestos is dangerous: Health and Safety Executive Opens new window

If you think you have asbestos in your home

It‘s very hard to identify asbestos, but if you suspect you are living with it:

• don't panic – unless asbestos is damaged or disturbed, it is safe to leave it in place
  
• where possible, repair and then protect damaged asbestos materials, provided that the repair or sealing will be durable and not likely to be disturbed
  
• never sand, drill or saw asbestos materials
  
• only remove asbestos if repair is not possible or the material is likely to be disturbed
  
• always seek professional advice before thinking of removing asbestos materials

You can get an asbestos survey of your house. You should only use a competent asbestos surveyor to do this. The HSE website has information on how to select a competent surveyor.

• Selecting a competent surveyor: Health and Safety Executive Opens new window

• Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) Opens new window

• Asbestos Control and Abatement Division (ACAD) Opens new window

Covering up asbestos to make it safe

You can use paint, wallpaper or adhesive to coat asbestos so that it can’t release dust. Here are some options:

• prime the asbestos with alkali resistant primer and finish off with emulsion or gloss paint – don’t sand or scrape the asbestos material before painting
  
• cover sheet asbestos with wallpaper (fixed with a strong adhesive) or with hardboard
  
• paint with a bitumastic paint (eg Aquaseal or Synthaprufe)
  
• seal with PVA adhesive (eg Unibond)
  

Removing asbestos

If you hire a tradesperson to remove asbestos from your home, check that they have the proper training and equipment to do this.

If you choose to remove asbestos materials yourself, make sure you’re wearing the correct personal protective equipment. This includes a dust mask approved for asbestos and a disposable overall. For full details, see the guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

You should also take the following precautions:

• keep other people away from the working area
  
• wet the material well with water containing a little washing up liquid (check there is no potential for contact with electricity first)
  
• always remove whole sheets or components; don’t break them up
  
• place any loose or small items in strong plastic labelled bags and seal
  
• clean up all dust with a damp cloth and then seal it in a plastic bag whilst damp
  
• don’t use a domestic vacuum cleaner, as dust may pass through the filter

If in any doubt, contact your local council for advice.

• Download 'Personal protective equipment' from the HSE (PDF, 496K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Find your local council Opens new window

Disposing of asbestos

Asbestos is classed as hazardous waste and can only be disposed of at a licensed waste disposal site – not in your normal household waste. Contact your local council to find out about local arrangements.

• Find out about asbestos removal from your council Opens new window

Irresponsible removal or disposal of asbestos

If you see someone fly-tipping asbestos waste, or removing it in an unsafe way, you should report it to your council’s environmental health department.

• Find your local council Opens new window

If you are concerned about asbestos

The HSE provides detailed information and advice on the use and removal of asbestos.

Your council can offer advice to residents and businesses on what to do if you think asbestos is present in a building.

• Information on asbestos from the Health and Safety Executive Opens new window

• Find your local council Opens new window

More useful links

• Asbestos advice from the British Lung Foundation Opens new window

• Ealing council information on asbestos Opens new window