Is There Asbestos in My Home?
by [Jeto Limited](/content/author/altitudeinternet/ "Posts by Jeto Limited"/index.html) | Apr 4, 2024 | Asbestos Testing
Moving house is one of the most stressful things that we go through in our hectic modern lives, whether it be moving from one rented property to another, or purchasing your own home. With so many things to organise and arrange, asbestos will probably be the last thing on your mind.
The reality is that any property in the UK built before the year 2000 has the potential to hide Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), from the textured coating commonly known as ‘Artex’ on ceilings and walls to asbestos insulation board garage ceilings. So, how can you safely find out how much of this dangerous material might be in your new home and what can you do about it?
Asbestos Testing
The first thing to remember is that providing the ACMs are in good condition and you have no plans to damage or disturb them, they can remain safely in place. It is the microscopic fibres that are released from disturbed asbestos that can cause health issues such as asbestosis or the lung cancer, mesothelioma.
However, knowing where the asbestos is hiding in your property will make sure that you can not only monitor its condition over the years, but you don’t accidentally damage it during renovations, putting your and your family’s health at risk.
Homeowners
When purchasing a property, along with structural surveys or home buyers reports, have an asbestos survey carried out. An asbestos management survey can be carried out whilst a property is occupied and will look to sample, test and identify easily accessible possible ACMs and provide a detailed report of their location and condition.
There are other types of asbestos surveys available too, such as refurbishment and demolition asbestos surveys. These are more intrusive and best carried out in a vacant property before major refurbishment or any demolition works. Armed with these surveys, you can have peace of mind knowing the location of ACMs during your future DIY projects. You can also ensure the safety of any tradespeople who may undertake building or decorating work in your home.Renters
Ask your landlord to share with you the asbestos survey or asbestos management plan they have in place for the property. This will ensure the home you’re moving into not only has these in place and the landlord is carrying out their duty of care to manage asbestos in their property, but that any future repair works carried out in the property will not risk exposing you to dangerous asbestos fibres.
It may well be that the property you are buying or renting has undergone recent refurbishment, but this unfortunately doesn’t mean that all ACMs have been managed or removed. An asbestos survey is the best way to have any suspected materials checked.
What Happens Next?
If your survey identifies ACMs within the property and you would like to have them removed, the next step is to ascertain if the material is considered a non-licensed or a licensed product.
Non-licensed asbestos removal includes work with bonded items such as asbestos cement, textured coating, floor tiles etc. These removals can be carried out without an asbestos licence by a contractor with suitable asbestos training and the correct equipment, along with the appropriate waste carrier licence if they are transporting and disposing of the waste.
Licensed asbestos removal includes work with friable ACMs such as asbestos insulation board and asbestos insulation. These removals must legally be carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor under fully controlled conditions with an ASB5 notification made to the HSE 14 days prior to starting works. An independent analyst will also need to be employed at the completion of the works to carry out a four-stage air clearance and produce a certificate of reoccupation.
Who Can Help?
Licenced asbestos removal contractors, such as Jeto Limited, should be your first point of call when dealing with the management or removal of ACMs. We can provide a safe and effective asbestos removal service with all of the correct control measures in place and following all of the current HSE legislation.
Leaving the removal of ACMs to untrained tradespeople or even undertaking the removal yourself to save a few pennies is simply not worth the risk. Poor removal can lead to asbestos contamination of a whole property which, in the worst case scenarios, could lead to having to dispose of all soft furnishings, electrical goods and clothing as part of a full environmental clean to make the property safe to occupy again. This is of course on top of the dangerous exposure of yourself, your family and friends, and anyone working at the property, putting all of your long-term health at risk.
Take control of your own castle, know the risks and make sure you are able to keep everyone entering the property safe. If you have asbestos removed, make sure that the operatives have the correct training and are disposing of the materials correctly.
Arranging Asbestos Removal and Disposal
Jeto Limited are based in rural Hampshire and undertake the collection of asbestos waste fly tips on a weekly basis. Don’t let the asbestos from your home be dumped on a country road, contaminating the beautiful countryside and bringing dangerous health risks to the wider public.
Jeto Limited are here to help. We understand how intimidating it can be to discover you have this hazardous material in your home and getting it removed professionally is the best way to keep everyone safe. Our friendly and experienced team will guide you through the process, making sure to answer all of your questions and give you peace of mind that your home is safe.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today if you suspect the presence of asbestos in your home or if you are considering undertaking a renovation project and want to check for ACMs before you start work. We are a fully accredited asbestos removal contractor and can provide the end-to-end support you need with asbestos.