Asbestos safety

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that are found naturally in many parts of the world. It is mined and processed into small fibres that are strong, flexible, and resistant to both fire and chemicals. For these reasons it has been used in a wide range of building materials and products, particularly during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

As long as asbestos is in good condition and isn’t disturbed or damaged, there is little risk. However, if it is disturbed or damaged it can become a danger to health because asbestos fibres are released into the air and can be breathed in.

Asbestos in the home

The use of asbestos in the manufacturing of products has been banned since 1999. However, most of our properties were built before then. This means building materials and other products containing asbestos may have been used.

As asbestos has been used widely and is a natural substance, there are very low levels of fibres in the air everywhere. This is unlikely to harm your health. The risk that any asbestos found in the home will be harmful is low.

Take extra care when doing DIY

DIY work can disturb asbestos containing materials causing brief, but high levels of exposure. If you think a material might contain asbestos - don’t disturb it.

This is why you must request permission from Berneslai Homes before carrying out work on your home.

If you’re planning to carry out any DIY home improvements within your home, or employing your own contractor to carry out work, it’s essential that you know, and share, the location of any asbestos first. The asbestos register for your home can be requested from us by emailing asbestos@berneslaihomes.co.uk

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly encourages the use of trained professionals to repair or remove asbestos containing materials.

Asbestos materials that are in good condition are usually best left where they are. Removing them can lead to fibres being released into the air. Check the condition of asbestos materials from time to time and make sure they have not become damaged or have started to deteriorate.

If you think you may have products that contain asbestos in your home, get advice from your housing management officer before taking any action.

The list below shows some of the places where asbestos can be found in a home. This list isn’t exhaustive and there may be other areas where it could be located.

Exterior

  • Gutters and downpipes
  • Soffits and facias
  • Exterior window panels
  • Roof sheets
  • Wall panels
  • Roofing felt

Interior

  • Water tank
  • Pipe lagging
  • Loose fill insulation
  • Textured decorative coatings (Artex)
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Bath panel
  • Toilet seat and cistern
  • Panel behind fuse box
  • Panels within airing cupboard
  • Partition walls
  • Interior window panels
  • Boxing around boiler
  • Vinyl floor tiles
  • Panels behind fire

Requesting an asbestos survey or further information

If you would like to request any existing asbestos information for your property we have on file, such as previous surveys or related documentation, please email Asbestos@Berneslaihomes.co.uk.

Please note that we do not book surveys ourselves. Bookings for surveys are typically arranged directly by the surveying contractor (such as Pennington Choices) prior to any planned works.

Refurbishment works and asbestos surveys

Before any refurbishment works, such as kitchen or bathroom refits and rewiring can be carried out in your home, an asbestos survey must be conducted. Progress on these works cannot continue until the survey is complete, so to avoid any potential delays in works please allow or contractors to conduct relevant surveys.

External contractors for asbestos services

To assist you further, below is a list of our registered external contractors:

For asbestos surveys:

  • Pennington Choices: In addition to asbestos surveys, they also conduct fire risk assessments and stock condition surveys.
  • Acorn Environmental
  • Leeds Environmental

For asbestos removal works:

  • MCP Environmental
  • Rilmac

All contractors will attend the site with appropriate and formal identification.

If you have any further questions or need additional information, don't hesitate to contact us.

Asbestos factsheet

Read our asbestos factsheet for more information.