Asbestos

Guidance for the removal and disposal of household cement bonded asbestos

The Risks
Cement bonded asbestos is commonly found in sheet form as grey, corrugated or flat sheets. It is thin and brittle and has a clean edge when broken. This material contains a small amount of asbestos encapsulated within cement, which in good condition, does not normally present a health risk. However, if it is broken, drilled, sawn, sanded or scrubbed, fibres are released and become airborne. These fibres can be inhaled causing lung damage and possible cancer.

Many older garages are made from asbestos cement sheeting which can be removed and disposed of with minimum risk if done correctly. Advice on how to do this can be found on the Health & Safety Executive website (see useful links) or contact this authority and we will send you some written guidance.

Other Forms of Asbestos
Asbestos can also be found inside the home in the form of insulation board, other wall boards, ceiling tiles, pipe lagging and is a constituent of some textured coat finishes. There is a greater risk when handling asbestos indoors therefore we recommend you seek the advice of a specialist contractor or trade association - see useful links (see also no.1 below).

Disposal
Please note that the information regarding the disposal of asbestos is currently being updated. If you require immediate information regarding this, please speak to our Environmental Health Team on: 01493 846 478

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