Property Drying-Out After a Flood

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What is asbestos?

Asbestos has not only been used in a range of building materials in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s to make them more rigid and fire resistant but also used in household products such as ironing boards, oven gloves and fire blankets.

We often think of garage and shed roofs where asbestos is more likely used but other areas in our home where you may find asbestos include, eaves gutters and rainwater fall pipes, linings for walls, ceilings and doors, insulation panels in some storage heaters, bath panel, central heating flues, loose asbestos packing between floors and in partition walls even floor tiles.

Mesothelioma is a life threatening disease contracted by people who were subjected to high levels of asbestos fibres and dust over a period of time. Lung cancer can also be brought on by inhaling asbestos. The symptoms of these diseases often do not appear for between 20 -30 years after exposure to asbestos.

Do you think you have asbestos in your home?

It is difficult to identify asbestos, but if you suspect that it exists, doesn't panic just leave it alone. Despite the mention of lung cancer and Mesothelioma it is safe unless it is damaged or disturbed. Seek professional advice before thinking of removing asbestos materials and do not attempt to remove asbestos lagging, spray coatings or insulation board by yourself. These materials can only be safely removed by a licensed contractor. It may be necessary for a sample to be taken to identify the type of asbestos. Only employ a suitably trained person to sample or do a survey of the premises
If you do choose to remove the non-licensable asbestos materials yourself, do so with caution and follow these precautions:

Wear a dust mask and ensure it is approved for asbestos;
Use disposable overalls
Ensure other people are kept away from the area;
Keep dust down by wetting the material well with water containing a little washing up liquid.
Do not break up asbestos sheets, always remove whole panels or components
Bag all loose or small items in strong plastic labelled bags and seal;
Clean up all dust with a damp cloth and then seal it in a plastic bag whilst damp;
Do not use a domestic vacuum cleaner as dust may pass through the filter.

If you have removed asbestos from your home yourself, it will need to be disposed of separately from your normal household waste. You may be able to arrange to have it collected or there may be special facilities in your area you can use to dispose of hazardous waste. Contact your local council for further details.