What is Asbestos?
A Hidden Threat
There are 5000 deaths per year as a direct result of asbestos exposure.
Although asbestos is now banned in the UK, it can still be found in many buildings ranging from private housing to large industrial factories.
In the UK, any building or material manufactured or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos. Therefore, you have an increased risk of encountering it when working on properties built before the year 2000.
What exactly is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring, fibrous mineral that was predominantly used as a building material in the UK between the 1950s and 1980s. Mined in countries such as Russia, Brazil, South Africa and China, asbestos fibers were woven into fabrics or mixed in cement and used all around the world.
The three main types of asbestos common to the UK are:
Chrysotile
(White Asbestos)
Chrysotile is the most commonly used type of asbestos and is often contaminated with trace amounts of tremolite. Chrysotile fibers are usually fine in texture, possessing high flexibility and good heat resistant properties, making it ideal for use in cement, brake pads/linings and roofing materials. However exposure to these fibers can cause severe irritation to the lungs, and a greatly increased risk of cancer.
Amosite
(Brown Asbestos)
Mined mostly in Africa, amosite is a particularly strong and heat-resistant type of asbestos that was commonly used in cement sheet, plumbing insulation and electrical insulation. Though all types of asbestos are toxic, amosite asbestos exposure presents an even higher cancer risk.
Crocidolite
(Blue Asbestos)
Crocidolite has very thin fibres and, if inhaled, are easily lodged in the lungs. It’s thin fibers and brittle nature make crocidolite one of the most harmful forms of asbestos, as it easily breaks down leading to increased risk of accidental exposure.
Highly Skilled
We are qualified to locate all types of harmful asbestos and our laboratory will provide you with results you can trust.
Super Efficient
In most cases our qualified and experienced team can produce a comprehensive report in just one visit.
Fixed Price
We will provide you with a free online quotation for your project that will not change in price.