What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined and turned into fibres. These fibres are strong and resistant to heat and chemicals. These qualities have led to asbestos being used in building material as it provides fire resistance, heat insulation, and bonding properties. The fibres are microscopic and it is not possible to tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it.
Where is asbestos found?
Asbestos is most likely to be found in homes built between the 1950s and the 1990s but any buildings constructed prior to the year 2000 have the potential to contain asbestos materials. As asbestos can be present in many different building materials there is the potential for it to be present in many different locations within a building, for example – internally within ceilings, floors and internal fittings such as tanks and pipes, and externally within roof material, soffits and gutters.
The building materials that can contain asbestos are varied. Some of the most common materials include asbestos insulation board (AIB); ceiling and floor tiles; insulation; textured wall and ceiling coatings (commonly known as Artex); cement roofing, gutters and downpipes; and pipe lagging.
This is a list of the most common uses and locations of asbestos in housing. It is not a definitive list.
What is the risk?
The dangers of exposure to asbestos are well documented. Asbestos fibres can penetrate deep into the lung and this can cause respiratory disease, and/or some types of cancer. Health and safety regulations are now in place to help protect people against asbestos. The use of asbestos was banned in 1999 because of its danger to health but buildings constructed before this time may still contain asbestos.
When is there a risk?
Asbestos materials that are in good condition and that are not easily damaged present little risk. Generally, asbestos is only a risk if you disturb or damage it and cause fibres to be released into the air.
Activities like sawing, drilling, sanding, or scrubbing can release microscopic asbestos fibres, posing a health risk. DIY work involving materials containing asbestos may lead to exposure. If you are planning to undertake DIY work in your home, you should first seek advice from Viewpoint. In addition, you MUST get our written permission before you carry out any improvements or alterations to the property.
What is Viewpoint doing to manage Asbestos?
We have an Asbestos Policy and Management plan in place. A specialist asbestos contractor carries out asbestos surveys in our properties. The Asset Management Team coordinates all asbestos related issues and holds a register with details of where asbestos has been found or is presumed to be present.
Where necessary, we will carry out a survey to determine whether there are any materials that contain asbestos in your home and, if so, what condition they are in. If any are in a dangerous condition, we will arrange for them to be encapsulated or removed as soon as possible. However, materials that are not in a dangerous condition will not always be removed. This is because, often, it is a greater risk to remove asbestos containing material than for them to remain in place.
What should I do if I suspect there is asbestos in my home?
Any asbestos materials that are in good condition and that cannot be easily damaged are best left where they are as their removal can lead to higher levels of fibres in the air. Any Viewpoint tenant who thinks there may be asbestos in their home and/or is concerned about its condition should contact us and we will arrange to have an inspection made of the area.
Please refer the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos for further guidance
Contact us if you are in any doubt about asbestos in your home.