Asbestos Advice
Residents regularly contact the Council for advice about dealing with asbestos, which is still common in some type of houses.
There are several types and forms of asbestos, and it is very important to be careful when considering any type of work that may disturb it. Some types and forms must only be handled by specialist contractors.
To help residents, the Council's Environmental Health Department has produced the following guidelines.
Asbestos Insulation and Lagging
Some older properties with their original heating systems still in place may have lagging that contains asbestos around the pipework.
And asbestos insulation board that looks like plasterboard but is thinner and softer and was commonly used in the 1960 ‘s and 1970’ s.
On no account should you disturb lagging or insulation board and removal must always be undertaken by specialist contractors.
Asbestos Sheeting
This is a grey, hard, brittle material containing asbestos fibre, having been used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Corrugated sheets for roofing and cladding.
- Gutters and downpipes.
- Flat sheeting for partitioning, cladding and door facings.
- Flue pipes.
The most common asbestos related DIY job is the removal or replacement of asbestos cement sheets on garages and outbuildings. The following simple precautions will ensure the work is carried out safely:
- Plan the work carefully so as not to produce any dust.
- Thoroughly wet the material.
- Remove panels and sheets whole, by removing fixings first.
- Place the material into plastic bags or wrap it in polythene sheeting.
- Do not drill or saw! Do not use power tools-hand tools produce less dust.
- Close adjacent windows and doors.
- Wear disposable respirator and gloves.
The advice on demolition and working with asbestos cement are still valid.
The first question to ask however is do they need to demolish or replace etc. If they do, follow original advice and because it is classed as ‘special waste’ they will need to contact a specialist firm to collect and dispose of the asbestos.
Before starting any work, advice should be sort as to how the material can be disposed of and how much it will cost.
Advice on asbestos waste disposal can be found on the refuse and cleansing section of the website
For more advice on asbestos contact Health and Safety Executive
Small amounts of asbestos may be removed by our Cleansing Section
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