Unusual Asbestos Finds

Part of the challenge for an asbestos surveyor is identifying asbestos in strange places, where you would not normally expect the material to be. An asbestos surveyor is already a building archeologist with the 'strata' of layers of a building having to be peeled away during the survey (generally in a refurbishment or demolition type rather than management), so that the building can be assessed correctly for asbestos content.  This occurs because a building originally constructed at x date then may have alterations and changes made throughout its lifetime until the date of the survey.

For instance, a Victorian mid terraced dwelling of 1870 - 1890 originally would likely have no asbestos present when built, but you will often find them now with textured coatings on walls or ceilings when added to in the 1960's onwards. Similarly, an industrial building such as a steel portal frame warehouse unit of 1950's construction will now have had a number of internal refurbishments and those of a certain time would add materials like asbestos insulating board (AIB) to structural elements, or overclad externally to hide asbestos cement wall or roof sheeting.

So the challenge can make the job of an asbestos surveyor more difficult, but the identification of asbestos materials where they are not expected to be can certainly provide satisfaction for the surveyor!

The AIB on the parapet under the felt roof covering but over a concrete structure was one such material, as was the medicine cabinet found in a 1920's dwelling which had a back panel to the metal cabinet with all 6 types of hazardous asbestos! The Rayburn cooker  also has asbestos present, but its not where you think in the hood rope or the flue pipe but the panels forming the boxing around the unit covering the original brick from the 17th Century fireplace. Back To List