FAQ

Why is Asbestos Still a Hazard?

There are no official estimates of the number of British buildings which contain asbestos. Asbestos products were used on a large scale for fireproofing, acoustic and thermal insulation, condensation protection and reinforcement in asbestos-cement products from about 1900 to the late 1970s.

Asbestos-containing materials used in British buildings include:

sprayed asbestos coatings,
asbestos lagging,
insulation partition boards,
ropes and yarns,
cloth,
millboard and paper,
asbestos cement sheets and partition boards,
flooring,
textured coating,
mastics,
sealants,
putties,
adhesives,
wall plugging compound,
pipework and so on.

The problems with products which contain asbestos become most severe when they are disturbed, damaged, weathered or old: when this happens, fibres are released into the atmosphere and contamination can occur. In answer to the question: is there still a risk, the answer is a most definite: yes!

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