What is asbestos?

Asbestos materials are made up of asbestos fibres that are strong and resistant to heat and chemicals. In the past these qualities led to asbestos being used in a range of building materials and household products past these qualities led to asbestos being used in a range of building materials and household products.

Why was asbestos banned?

When asbestos materials age or become damaged, they can release fibres into the air. If these fibres are breathed into the lungs, this could result in asbestos related diseases. It is extremely unlikely that the levels of asbestos fibres found in buildings will be harmful. Asbestos does not pose a risk to health if it is undamaged or in a position where it cannot be easily disturbed.

Where is asbestos found?

Building materials containing asbestos started being used in the early 1900s and were more widely used between the 1960s and 1980s. Houses and flats built or refurbished around that time may contain asbestos.

 Asbestos may be found in:

• Insulating board (such as ducts, infill panels)
• Fire break walls in lofts
• Asbestos lagging (pipe insulation)
• Soffit boards (on the exterior of buildings)
• Older sprayed coatings (e.g. for fire protection of structural steel)
• Asbestos cement products; particularly found as corrugated roofing on garages and sheds
• Older water tanks
• Older fire safety items (particularly older fire blankets)
• Textured paints and plasters
• Roofing materials (roofing felts and tiles)
• Heating appliances (storage heaters)
• Boiler flues
• Some older plastic and vinyl floor tiles (e.g. from the 1960s and 1970s)
• Older ceiling tiles
• Rainwater down pipes (cement) from the 1960s and 1970s)

 Asbestos was also used in household equipment such as:

• ironing boards, seals on cooker doors and fire
• blankets.

If you have older items such as these in your home, you are strongly advised to replace them with new or newer items (e.g. items less than 10 years old). Since 1999 the use of asbestos has been banned in the UK.

How can you identify asbestos?

It is not always easy to identify asbestos. One of the main uses for asbestos was for boxing-in (e.g. older bath panels) and for cladding purposes (e.g. shed roofs). It was most widely used in flat or corrugated sheet form and in tube form (for flues). Asbestos may look like a grey, cement-like material. The only way to positively identify whether a material contains asbestos is to have a sample tested in a laboratory. 

Who has information on asbestos?

CDS Co-operatives hold records of where any asbestos containing materials have been found so far, and where suspected asbestos may be located. We carry out inspections of the communal areas of our properties to monitor the condition of any asbestos containing materials.  A copy of the asbestos register for each co-operative is available for inspection.

If there is a significant risk from asbestos we will employ specialist contractors to remove it.

What should you do if you think there is asbestos in your home?

In the vast majority of cases any asbestos containing materials found in homes will pose a very low risk.

Do not disturb or damage asbestos containing materials that are in good condition. As long as it has not cracked, split or flaked, then it is best left alone. If you damage asbestos or suspect damaged asbestos is in your home contact CDS Co-operatives immediately.

Do not attempt to remove asbestos yourself, as this is likely to result in fibres being released into the air. Only specialist contractors should remove asbestos.  These Government licensed contractors have to follow strict regulations to make sure asbestos is correctly removed.

Take care when doing D.I.Y.

Never attempt to repair asbestos yourself. Do not saw, sand, scrape or drill holes in asbestos.

Remember…

It is older products and materials that can contain asbestos.

• Asbestos is a low risk if in good condition.
• Don’t damage asbestos.
• Don’t remove or dispose of asbestos yourself.

For more information please contact CDS Co-operatives:

telephone: 020 7397 5700

customer services helpdesk: 03333 21 30 30

e-mail: enquiries@cds.coop