West Coast Surveys

Asbestos Management

Design by Support-4u

Tel: 01900 61608

Asbestos in our homes

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 is mainly aimed at commercial properties but it does apply to residential properties with shared common internal or external areas such as lobbies, halls and plant rooms. Legislation applies only to the common areas and the duty holder is deemed to be the person responsible for the maintenance and repair of these areas.

We carry out asbestos surveys for estate agents

Private homes are not covered by the law, but householders have an implied responsibility to prevent those entering their home from being exposed to an asbestos risk. Asbestos is commonly identified during pre-purchase surveys and can scare off possible buyers if they do not know the nature and extent of the product identified.

Asbestos was widely used in residential properties until 2000 and is commonly found in over 3500 products used inside and outside buildings.

For a useful guide to common uses of asbestos see the list below or you can visit the UK Heath and Safety Executive guide

• Corrugated asbestos cement sheets on garage roofs & walls
• Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) to internal garage ceilings – very common to provide fire protection
• External Downspouts & gutters
• External soffit boards below guttering
• AIB ceilings in heating cupboards
• AIB panels to fire doors to heating cupboards
• Textured wall and ceiling coatings
• Boiler and pipe lagging
• Floor tiles and fuse boxes
• Old ironing boards
• Toilet cisterns, seats and bath panels
• Window sills
• Wall cladding panels – partition walls

Why not take a building tour to see where asbestos can be found?

Remember, asbestos materials will remain safe while they are in good condition and it is only when asbestos fibres become air-borne that it becomes dangerous.

If in doubt about whether you have unsafe asbestos in your home, contact us on 01900 61609.