The U.K. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said: “Asbestos can be found in any residential or industrial building built or refurbished before 2000”.
Asbestos was used in various products due to its incredible strength and heat resistance properties. According to the National Cancer Institute, up to 5,000 consumer products contain asbestos. Below are just some examples that can still be found in the home.
Asbestos was commonly used in home ceilings, such as Artex and textured coatings and ceiling tiles.
Between the 1920s and 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in insulation. Pipe lagging in the home often contains asbestos.
Asbestos insulation board (AIB). AIB was commonly used as firebreaks between rooms, which could be found in partition walls and ceilings. It can also be found around fireplaces, stoves and electric circuit boards.
Vinyl floor tiling and linoleum (lino) frequently used in homes may contain asbestos. The bitumen adhesive used to lay floor tiles also contained asbestos.
Asbestos cement was commonly used in various external areas of homes, including sewage and fall pipes, and for undercloaking below roof tiles. It was also used for roof cladding, windowsills, roof panels and tiles for outbuildings such as sheds and garages.
The fire-resistant properties of asbestos meant it wasn’t uncommon for asbestos to be used in window putty and mastics.