Approximately, 60% of UK homes, 29-70% of NHS hospitals, 78% of commercial and public buildings are still riddled with or affected by asbestos. As many as 81% of schools still pose an asbestos risk. These are staggering statistics. The legacy of asbestos is undeniable.
In 1985, the UK began phasing out asbestos, banning blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos. In the late 1990s, white (chrysotile) asbestos was banned, followed by a complete ban of all asbestos in 1999.
Despite the UK’s commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of everyone living, visiting, and working in residential, public, and commercial buildings, asbestos, the blight of asbestos sheets remains – often lurking in aspects of a building that you wouldn’t think.
We define what asbestos sheets are, how to identify asbestos sheets in UK buildings, their characteristics, what to do if you discover asbestos, and much more.
What Are Asbestos Sheets?
Asbestos sheets are flat or corrugated construction materials, typically manufactured using a mixture of cement, water and asbestos fibres.
They were widely-used as wall cladding, corrugated roofing and fencing throughout the 20th century, until the dangers of asbestos became widely known.
The asbestos concentration within each sheet is roughly 15%, with the remaining 85% being cement or binders. Asbestos sheets will also have trace elements of sand, cellulose or silica and other additives.
The Characteristics of Asbestos Sheets
Knowing how to recognise asbestos sheets in the UK is paramount to mitigating a potentially life-threatening issue hidden with properties.
Gaining an understanding of the visual cues can help in distinguishing asbestos sheets from other building materials. However, it’s important to remember that to confirm the identification requires specialist expertise. Below is a basic overview of what asbestos sheets look like.
Appearance
Asbestos sheets are generally off-white, grey, or bluish in colour. They can become weathered over time and may appear faded or dirty. Their surface is either smooth or dimpled. Although smooth on the surface, they can have a rough or fibrous texture along edges that are broken or cut.
Weight
With a mixed construction of cement and asbestos fibres, asbestos sheets tend to be heavier than expected. The exact weight depends on their thickness (between 4mm to 10mm.) As an example, a 6mm asbestos sheet measuring one by two millimetres will weigh roughly 20kg.
Brittleness
Their composition of asbestos fibres and cement creates a hard but rigid material. Over time, asbestos sheets may become brittle and easily snap or crumble, releasing fibres into the air. When these fibres are ingested, they can cause health issues.
Durability
Asbestos’ durability and strength relative to their material construction and ability to withstand different environments is one of the primary reasons why they proved to be popular in construction,
Fire Resistance
Being manufactured from non-combustible materials mixed with cement and able to withstand extremely hot temperatures of over 1,000°C or 1,800°F), asbestos acts as a strong fire barrier.
Insulation
Asbestos fibres resist heat transfer, making them effective for insulating walls, roofs, pipes, and boilers, improving a building’s energy efficiency.
Corrosion Resistant
With chemically stable materials, asbestos does not react easily with acids, alkalis, or chemicals, preventing fibres from corroding. Additionally, asbestos fibres are bound in Portland cement, an alkaline that’s resistant to chemicals.
Friable Material
When disturbed, asbestos sheets release tiny, respirable fibres into the air. These friable asbestos containing materials (ACMS) are hazardous.
Where Are Asbestos Sheets Commonly-Found?
To understand how to identify asbestos sheets, you first need to know that they’re commonly-found in older buildings, particularly those constructed in the between the 1940s and the 1970s and are prevalent in the roofing and wall cladding, downpipes, and gutters. Below is a more detailed overview of where you’ll find asbestos sheets.
- Roofing: corrugated asbestos cement sheets were widely used for roofs, especially on sheds, garages, and industrial buildings.
- Wall Cladding: like roofing sheets, flat asbestos cement panels were used for cladding on buildings with asbestos roofs.
- Gutters and Downpipes: asbestos cement was also a common material for rainwater systems, including gutters and downpipes.
- Soffits: asbestos cement or asbestos insulating board (AIB) could be found in soffit materials.
- Water Tanks: asbestos cement was frequently used for constructing water tanks, particularly in pre-1980 properties.
- AIB (Asbestos Insulating Board): AIB was used for various purposes, including partition walls, fire doors, ceiling tiles, and around boilers.
- Additional Areas: asbestos can also be found in ceiling tiles, textured coatings (like Artex), floor tiles, insulation, and even paper products.
The Risks of Asbestos Sheets
As we’ve already outlined briefly, the risks of asbestos sheets are clear and well-documented, the primary risk being the health hazards when ingesting fibres. This can lead to serious and potentially fatal diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis – inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue, making lungs stiff and compromising air intake.
Should I disturb asbestos sheets? Absolutely not.
Do so, and you’ll risk your health. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the risks of asbestos sheets.
- Fibres Release: When asbestos-containing materials are damaged, disturbed, or deteriorate, fibres are released. This can happen through cutting, drilling, breaking, sanding, or even simply aging and weathering of the material.
- Inhalation: Airborne fibres can be easily inhaled. These fibres are small and can become trapped in the lungs, leading to inflammation and scarring (as mentioned above.)
- Disease Development: Over time, the accumulation of asbestos fibres in the lungs can lead to the development of serious diseases, including:
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
- Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer: Like lung cancer caused by smoking and other factors.
- Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease that causes shortness of breath and can be debilitating.
- Latency Period: The time between exposure to asbestos and the development of symptoms can be long, ranging from 15 to 60 years. This means that diseases may not appear until years after the initial exposure.
- Collective Effect: The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases is related to collective asbestos fibres inhaled over time.
What to Do if Asbestos is Found
Should I disturb asbestos sheets? No. Stop working immediately.
This prevents further disturbance to the area and the release of hazardous fibres into air.
You’re then immediately obliged to notify the building manager or owner and follow established asbestos management procedures. Unsure exactly what to do? We’ve outlined a step-by-step guide below, outlining what you need to do.
Step One: Immediately Stop Working and Secure the Area
Halt any work that could disturb the suspected asbestos. Isolate the area by erecting barriers and posting warning signs to prevent accidental exposure.
Step Two: Notify the Responsible Party
Inform your employer, building owner or manager, or the person responsible for asbestos management, in the building about the discovery.
Step Three: Determine the Extent of the Issue
A professional asbestos survey should be conducted to identify the type and location of the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Step Four: Assess the Risk and Develop a Plan
Based on the survey, assess the risk of exposure and determine the appropriate course of action, which might include:
- Encapsulation: Covering the asbestos with a sealant to prevent fibres from being released.
- Removal: A licensed contractor can safely remove the ACMs.
- Management: If the asbestos is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, it may be managed in place with regular inspections and maintenance.
Step Five: Follow Legal Obligations
Comply with all relevant regulations, such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which may require notifying authorities and taking specific actions.
Step Six: Communicate with Those Potentially Affected
Inform anyone who may be working in or near the area about the presence of asbestos and the precautions they should take.
Step Seven: Consider Further Training and Education
Anyone who encounters asbestos, especially during maintenance or repair work, should receive asbestos awareness training.
Can Asbestos Sheets be Covered?
Yes. Asbestos sheets can be covered.
The process involves applying a protective sealant which, when completed correctly, prevents the release of harmful fibres. Below are the methods for covering asbestos sheets.
- Encapsulation: a sealant, often sprayed on, is applied to the asbestos material. This creates a barrier that prevents the release of asbestos fibres into the air.
- Overcladding: installing new roofing material, such as steel sheets, over the existing asbestos sheets. This encapsulates the protecting and weatherproofing surface areas, like roofs.
- Repainting: specialist asbestos roof coatings can be applied to the asbestos sheets, providing a protective layer and improving the appearance.
- Professional Assessment: before undertaking any work, it’s crucial to have a professional asbestos surveyor assess the condition of the asbestos and determine the most appropriate method for covering it.
- Safety Regulations: all work involving asbestos must be conducted according to strict safety regulations and by qualified professionals.
- Long-Term Management: covering or encapsulating asbestos is often a long-term solution. However, it’s important to regularly inspect the covered area to ensure the sealant or overcladding remains intact.
Contact Fibre Safe for Asbestos Sheets Testing & Removal
If you recognise asbestos sheets in any building on the Wirral, Merseyside, or across the North West, Fibre Safe can help.
At Fibre Safe, we offer expert asbestos surveys, sampling and training services across the North West and North Wales. Whether you’re managing a commercial building, social housing stock or residential property, we can help you stay safe and compliant.
Don’t take risks with asbestos. Contact Fibre Safe today for expert guidance, a free quote, or to book a survey on 0800 458 4136 or send a message here.
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