FAQ’s

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring silicate mineral fibres that were widely used across the UK until 1999. The three most common types are Chrysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite; also known as ‘White’, ‘Brown’ and ‘Blue’ respectively.

Asbestos comes from mines in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Australia and Cyprus. While no asbestos was mined in the UK, over 6 Million tonnes of it was imported for use in over 18,000 products.

1. Spray asbestos coatings (fire protection) and pipework insulation lagging.
2. Low density, soft surfaced, thermal insulation board – ‘asbestolux’ (A.I.B) and millboard..
3. High density, hard surface materials – asbestos cement products – this is by far the most common use – containing Chrysotile.
4. Shipbuilding – asbestos was considered ideal for use aboard ships until the 1980s. Asbestos could be found in the engine and boiler rooms, as well as in the walls, floors and ceilings of rooms such as the sleeping quarters and the galley.
5. Ropes, yarns, cloths, gaskets, plastic, paper, textured coatings, vinyl floor tiles and stair nosings.

Although 5 out of the 6 fibrous types (amphibole asbestos) of asbestos were banned 1985, and Chrysotile (serpentine asbestos or ‘White asbestos’) being banned in 1999, asbestos is still the highest workplace killer in the UK, accounting for over 5,000 deaths per year – more people than are killed in road traffic accidents. Due to the latency period between exposure and the onset of asbestos related disease, it is estimated that this figure will remain at a similar level for approximately the next 10 years before starting to slowly decline.

However, when asbestos is in good condition/sealed, there is no health risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres – the danger occurs when an asbestos containing material (ACM) is damaged or removed unsafely and airborne asbestos fibres are released. This is why the safe identification and management of asbestos within properties is of key importance.

While some asbestos containing products are more likely to release fibres than others and are therefore more dangerous, it is the product type that defines the level of danger (e.g. Asbestos Vinyl Floor Tiles, if disturbed, will release significantly less fibres than Asbestos Pipe Insulation).

All types, or colours, of asbestos are Group One Carcinogens.
Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause several conditions, but the three most well known and most problematic are asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The first step would be to identify all areas of asbestos within the building, typically through an Asbestos Management Survey, which you can arrange through our website or over the phone.

Following completion of this survey, the Asbestos Management Report will contain an Asbestos Register that will highlight all identified or presumed asbestos within the property, and the risk profile associated with each item. This can then be used to develop an Asbestos Management Plan to allow the Dutyholder to protect those in or around the property and prevent any potential exposure.

Depending on the size of the property and hierarchy of responsibility, the Asbestos Management Plan will also highlight emergency procedures, key roles/responsibilities, and approved suppliers to be used in the future management of identified asbestos.

Asbestos removals are highly technical, and remains the second most regulated industry in the UK. It is important to utilise the services of licensed professionals – such as Damada Group – to ensure the safe and thorough removal of asbestos.

You can visit our sister site ask-abs.co.uk for more information.

Land remediation is the process of removing ground contaminants such as oil, chemicals, asbestos or harmful and invasive plants (e.g. Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed) to leave your site in prime condition for future development. This process is important, as leaving poor ground conditions as they are is harmful to humans, ecosystems and groundwater.

In general, site remediation is carried out under three main circumstances: 

• as a result of requirements from Planning and Development Control;3 
• if a site is identified as requiring remediation in terms of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA)4 (known as the Contaminated Land Regime); 
• voluntary remediation and permitted development, i.e. where there is no planning application or where the site is not formally identified as “contaminated land” under Part IIA

(as per SEPA guidelines)

The restoration of contaminated sites should be considered when redevelopment is anticipated to take place. For redevelopment to occur, any potential contamination on the land must be removed and any new material imported must meet specific regulatory criteria.