All You Need to Know About Asbestos: What It Is, Where It’s Found and How to Stay Safe
Asbestos remains one of the biggest legacy risks in UK housing and construction. Although it was banned in 1999, it’s still present in millions of homes, offices, and public buildings across the country. Knowing what it is, where it’s f ound, and how to handle it safely is essential for both homeowners and tradespeople.
This guide explains what asbestos actually is, why it was so widely used, and what steps you should take if you suspect it’s present in your property.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of microscopic fibres. These fibres are incredibly strong and highly resistant to heat, fire, and electricity — properties that made asbestos extremely popular in building materials throughout the 20th century.
There are three main types commonly found in the UK:
- Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos): The most dangerous form due to its fine, needle-like fibres.
- Amosite (Brown Asbestos): Used in insulation boards and ceiling tiles.
- Chrysotile (White Asbestos): The most widespread type, often found in cement products and textured coatings.
Although often referred to by colour, you can’t identify asbestos accurately just by looking at it — especially once it’s mixed with other materials such as plaster, cement, or insulation.
Why Asbestos Is Dangerous
Asbestos isn’t inherently dangerous when it’s sealed and undisturbed. The risk arises when materials are cut, drilled, or broken, releasing tiny airborne fibres that can be inhaled into the lungs.
Once inhaled, the fibres can cause several serious and often fatal diseases, including:
- Asbestosis: Scarring of lung tissue after long-term exposure, leading to b reathlessness and fatigue.
- Asbestos-related lung cancer: Triggered by long-term exposure, similar in symptoms to other forms of lung cancer.
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs or abdomen.
- Pleural thickening: Thickening and swelling of the lung lining, restricting breathing capacity.
These illnesses often develop decades after exposure, which is why asbestos remains a concern even today. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that around 5,000 people in the UK die each year from asbestos-related conditions — many of them tradespeople who encountered the material during work.
For anyone retraining or returning to the trade, Changing Career to Become an Electrician is worth a read — it highlights how modern training now covers asbestos awareness and other key safety standards.
Where Asbestos Is Found
If your home or workplace was built before the year 2000, there’s a reasonable chance that asbestos may still be present. It was widely used in hundreds of construction products because of its strength and fire resistance.
Some of the most common materials include:
Asbestos Cement
- Roof sheets, garage panels, guttering, downpipes, and water tanks.
Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB)
- Soffits, partition walls, fire doors, behind fuse boxes, and above ceilings.
Asbestos Textiles
- Found under vinyl floor tiles, around pipework, and in older fuse carriers.
Asbestos Composites
- Used in toilet cisterns, bath panels, and window sills.
Decorative Finishes
- Some textured coatings and plaster used in ceilings or walls before 1999 contained asbestos fibres.
Because asbestos was so widely incorporated, it can appear in unexpected places — even behind consumer units or under insulation.
If you’re unsure, don’t take chances. For homeowners, the safest approach is to treat any suspect material as asbestos until proven otherwise.
How to Identify Asbestos
It’s impossible to identify asbestos by sight alone. The only way to confirm its presence is through laboratory testing carried out by a qualified professional.
If you suspect asbestos:
- Stop work immediately.
- Avoid disturbing the area further.
- Contact your local council’s Environmental Health department for advice.
- Arrange testing through a UKAS-accredited asbestos surveyor.
The HSE also provides an interactive online tool that helps you identify potential asbestos locations by property type and age.
Types of Asbestos Work
Asbestos work falls into three main categories:
- Non-Licensed Work
This includes low-risk tasks where asbestos fibres are firmly bound, such as removing an undamaged asbestos cement roof sheet or drilling small holes in textured coatings.
- Notifiable Non-Licensed Work (NNLW)
This is work that doesn’t require a licence but must still be reported to the local authority. For example, removing asbestos cement sheets that are likely to break during removal.
- Licensed Work
This covers all higher-risk asbestos removal, such as insulation, sprayed coatings, or pipe lagging. Only contractors with an HSE asbestos licence are legally permitted to carry it out.
Understanding which category applies is essential for compliance and safety. Electricians, plumbers, and builders are among those most likely to encounter asbestos when m odifying older buildings — particularly during rewires or bathroom upgrades.
For a look at how updates to UK regulations impact safety procedures, see 18th Edition Amendment 2, which discusses the wider shift towards improved protection and compliance across the industry.
Responsibilities as a Homeowner
If asbestos materials in your home are in good condition — for example, sealed panels or roof sheets — the safest option is to leave them undisturbed. Asbestos becomes dangerous only when damaged or broken.
Homeowners should:
- Avoid drilling, sanding, or scraping surfaces that could contain asbestos.
- Inform tradespeople of any known asbestos before work begins.
- Contact your local authority for guidance before attempting any removal.
If you plan renovations in an older property, a refurbishment and demolition survey can help identify potential risks in advance.
Responsibilities as a Tradesperson
For electricians, plumbers, and general builders, asbestos awareness is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Anyone likely to disturb building materials during their work must receive basic awareness training.
Tradespeople have a duty to:
- Identify potential asbestos risks before starting work.
- Stop work immediately if asbestos is suspected.
- Notify the correct authority if work falls under the Notifiable Non-Licensed category.
- Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and disposal procedures.
Every year, around 20 tradespeople die each week from asbestos-related illnesses — many of which could have been prevented with proper awareness. Modern training now ensures electricians understand how to recognise asbestos-containing materials during installations or inspections.
If you’re considering upskilling or retraining in the electrical field, Petrol Shortage Sparks Surge in Electric Vehicle Interest explores how evolving technologies — like EV charger installations — are reshaping safety and environmental standards for today’s trades.
What to Do if You Find Asbestos
If you discover or suspect asbestos while working or renovating:
- Stop immediately. Don’t drill, cut, or handle the material.
- Evacuate the area and prevent others from entering.
- Avoid sweeping or vacuuming — this spreads fibres.
- Contact your local authority or an asbestos specialist for testing and safe removal.
Never attempt to dispose of asbestos yourself. It must be handled, transported, and disposed of at approved facilities following strict regulations.
Staying Safe and Informed
Whether you’re a homeowner or a working electrician, understanding asbestos is about prevention as much as compliance. Even a small awareness check before drilling into a wall or replacing a fuse board can prevent exposure that causes life-changing illness years later.
Elec Training encourages everyone working in the trades to stay up to date with best practice, from asbestos safety to the latest electrical regulations. You can see how our learners rate their experience and outcomes by visiting our reviews.
Asbestos may be part of the UK’s construction past, but it still poses a real danger today. The key is awareness — knowing where it hides, how to recognise potential risks, and when to call a professional.
With proper training, responsible work habits, and regular safety checks, we can continue to protect both the public and those working on the tools.
To learn more about electrical safety, regulations, and career development for tradespeople, visit https://elec.training/.
FAQs
What exactly is asbestos, and why was it used so widely in UK buildings?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that crystallize to form strong, heat-resistant fibers. It was widely used in UK buildings from the mid-19th century until the late 20th century due to its durability, fire resistance, heat insulation, sound absorption, and low cost, appearing in materials like insulation, roofing, and cement products.
When was asbestos officially banned in the UK?
Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in November 1999, with earlier partial bans: blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos prohibited in 1985, and white (chrysotile) added in 1999 under the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations.
What are the main types of asbestos found in older properties?
The main types of asbestos in older UK properties are chrysotile (white asbestos, the most common, accounting for about 90%), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue), with less common types like tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite.
Why is asbestos dangerous, and what health conditions can it cause?
Asbestos is dangerous because when disturbed, it releases fibers into the air that can be inhaled, leading to serious diseases years later. It can cause asbestosis (lung scarring), lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the lung or abdominal lining), laryngeal and ovarian cancer, and pleural disorders.
Where is asbestos most commonly found in homes and workplaces?
Asbestos is commonly found in roofing (tiles, felt, slates), insulation (pipe lagging, loose-fill), cement products (water tanks, panels), floor coverings, textured coatings (e.g., Artex), soffits/fascias, AIB (asbestos insulating board), and sprayed coatings in older buildings.
How can you tell if a material contains asbestos?
Asbestos cannot be reliably identified by visual inspection alone, as it often resembles non-asbestos materials; professional sampling and lab testing are required.
What should you do if you suspect asbestos while working or renovating?
If asbestos is suspected, stop work immediately, seal off the area, avoid disturbing the material, and contact a professional surveyor or licensed contractor for assessment and safe handling; do not attempt removal yourself.
What are the differences between non-licensed, notifiable, and licensed asbestos work?
Non-licensed work involves lower-risk materials (e.g., asbestos cement) that do not require HSE notification or a license but still needs training. Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) requires HSE notification for slightly higher-risk tasks but no license. Licensed work is for high-risk materials (e.g., insulation, sprayed coatings) and requires an HSE license, strict controls, and trained professionals.
What are a homeowner’s legal responsibilities if asbestos is found on their property?
Homeowners must identify potential asbestos, conduct surveys if disturbing materials, maintain an asbestos register, assess risks, and create a management plan; for non-domestic or common areas, comply with the duty to manage under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Do electricians and other tradespeople need specific asbestos awareness training?
Yes, electricians and other tradespeople who may disturb asbestos require specific asbestos awareness training (Category A) to recognize risks, avoid exposure, and comply with regulations, often through accredited online or in-person courses from providers like UKATA or IATP.
