Asbestos has been banned in the UK for almost twenty years, and any building constructed as recently as the year 2000 may well contain asbestos. Despite the ban, asbestos still kills thousands of people every year. It’s a silent killer where the symptoms may take decades to develop. No one wants to live or work near asbestos, so it’s a good idea to check if your building is affected, and if it is, what should you do about it?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been used for thousands of years in a range of items, including clothing, pottery, candle wicks and even in the preservation of dead bodies. Here in the UK, asbestos became widely used during the Industrial Revolution, when its fire and heat-resistant properties were ideal for steam engines, boilers, turbines and pipe insulation. Asbestos has also been widely used in brake linings, drywall, ship-building, and perhaps most notoriously in roof insulation, all of which can be found very commonly in day-to-day life. During the 1990s, the dangers of asbestos came to light, and it was banned. Although it had been banned, many items built before this time still contained asbestos. That is why it is such a danger nowadays as some residential buildings and places like hospitals and schools could risk containing asbestos.

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Asbestos can be hard to detect when mixed with other materials, but it comes in blue, brown, and white varieties in its natural form. Asbestos is most dangerous when the small fibres are disturbed and become airborne. If you live in an older building or are working on any project built before the year 2000, it is essential to get an asbestos inspector out like us here at Clearaway to check for fibres. It is vital you do this before any work begins, as simple things like drilling or knocking walls down could disturb the fibres and make them airborne. Airborne asbestos has no particular smell and is hard to spot, making it even more dangerous, especially as the effects of inhaling it most likely won’t show up for many years.

What Should I do if I Suspect Asbestos?

Asbestos can be very hard to spot as it’s not clearly visible to the naked eye. This is why it is a good idea to call us here at Clearaway. We can come out and inspect, test and then remove the asbestos for you. If you were to find something that you suspect to be asbestos, then it is important that you do not disturb it. It is better to leave this to the professionals to contain in.

What Can Clearaway Asbestos Do to Help?