Asbestos uses

Not only is asbestos found naturally but it was also traditionally used in the manufacture of many everyday items such as oven-proof gloves, ironing boards, mattresses, floor tiles and Artex textured ceiling/wall coatings. And some of these old asbestos-containing products may still be lurking in our homes today.

Since the final UK ban of asbestos use in the late 90s, the prevalence of asbestos cotaining materials (ACMs) in household items will certainly have decreased drastically. However, it is in the very structure of our homes and properties that there is still a large amount of asbestos to be found, particularly in parts of the nation’s sheds, roofs and garages. Of course, much of it is safe as long as left alone.

Asbestos Cement

Before the UK ban of white asbestos came in to place in 1999, cement sheets were reinforced with around 15% chrysotile, a white asbestos fibre, and used as a corrugated cement material in the construction of sheds, garages and roofs. Asbestos cement was also used to form rainwater goods (pipes, bends, gutters, etc), asbestos water tanks, chimney flues, roof tiles, partitioning, celing panels, window boxes and flower pots.

Asbestos cement makes up the vast majority of asbestos use and in the main part, this type of asbestos product poses no problems because the asbestos fibres are safely sealed within the cement and the product can ideally be left undisturbed. However if there is damage to the material then this will need to be addressed sensibly and certainly sawing and drilling of the substance are ill-advised due to the increased likelihood of fibre release.

WARNING: In the past the underside of some asbestos cement roofs especially in farms and industrial storage facilities were spray-coated with a white/grey/blue rough-to-the-touch substance which - if it is asbestos sprayed coating - would contain upto 90% asbestos and is EXTREMELY hazardous.

Asbestos fibres were also used in thermoplastic floor tiles but again these pose little danger.

Insulation Products

Because of its heat resistance asbestos was commonly used for insulating heat sources particularly pipes and boilers. The sorts of products that were used were lagging and insulating board. These are far more dangerous than asbestos cement especially if damaged. Under no circumstance should you attempt to remove any product you suspect may contain asbestos.

Heatproofing and Fireproofing

As previously mentioned asbestos is heat resistant and it is was used to prevent the spread of fire. In old buildings asbestos insulation board and sprayed asbestos will be found in floor spaces, ceiling voids and firedoors where it is used as a firebreak. Other heat/fireproofing applications are theatre curtains, oven seals, ironing boards, pot stands, asbestos paper-lined boxes and fireblankets. Some old fires and fuseboxes will also contain asbestos.

Soundproofing

Asbestos is ofen used to soundproof areas. The most common example of this is the bitumen sinkpads you'll find underneath old metal sinks. Spayed coating was also used as a soundproofing agent.

Abrasion Resistance

Perhaps the final use of asbestos was to provide abrasive resistance. The most common example of this would be brake linings. Car brake pads were made from asbestos and today you'll often find them in old liftgear.