Where is asbestos found?

How is asbestos made?

A common misconception when it comes to how asbestos is made, is that asbestos can form or grow in a house. This isn’t the case. Asbestos refers to a group of minerals which were previously used in manufacturing and construction due to their fireproofing and durability benefits.

Asbestos is formed underground in a complex process, where it can then be mined as a crystal-like substance and used as a mineral.

What does asbestos insulation look like?

Our asbestos experts often speak with people who are unsure whether or not they have asbestos in their property. It can be difficult to conclusively identify asbestos without specialist testing, as the materials can appear much the same as other safe alternatives.

If you’re worried about the presence of asbestos in your home and struggling to identify it, or are looking to carry out work on the property which might disturb asbestos materials, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that you should test for asbestos.

Where is asbestos found in a home?

Asbestos can be found in several different places around the home, including roof shingles and flooring adhesive. One of the most common places where asbestos is used in a home are fibres in wall and attic insulation, as well as garden sheds.

According to the HSE, asbestos can most often be found in the following materials and places:

• Loose asbestos in ceiling or floor cavities
• Sprayed coating on ceilings and walls
• Insulating boards
• Floor tiles
• Textures coatings
• Roofing felt
• Rope seals

For more guidance on where asbestos is found, see this here.

When was asbestos used in homes?

The use of asbestos was popular in construction from around the 1930s until the mid-1980s. The supply and use of asbestos was later banned in 1999 due to the associated health risks. This means that homes built before November 1999 could still contain asbestos.

How do you know if you have asbestos?

One thing that our asbestos experts often discuss with clients is how to tell if your home has asbestos. Around 13 people die every day in the UK from conditions linked to asbestos exposure, so it’s important to identify any asbestos in your home that could pose a health risk to you and your family.

The HSE has suggested that all buildings constructed before the year 2000 could contain asbestos. With it being used in such a wide range of materials around the home, it can be concerning to know the potential of asbestos being present in your home.

If you’re concerned about asbestos in your home, the best thing you can do is not disturb it in any way, and instead make contact with your local council and ask them to send out a specialist to test the material.

How we can help

Asbestos exposure’s extremely dangerous, and even minor exposure can lead to illnesses such as mesothelioma. If you think that you’ve suffered in any way due to asbestos exposure, then our expert lawyers are here for you.

We offer all our clients funding on a No Win No Fee basis, and our asbestos solicitors don’t charge our clients suffering from an asbestos related illness any costs if you win your case, so you’ll get to keep 100% of your compensation.

Contact us on 0330 041 5869 or online here to speak to a specialist asbestos solicitor.

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