Dealing
with Asbestos
What is asbestos ?
Asbestos can be found in all types of property, from housing and commercial to industrial property. Asbestos is a glassy rock which occurs naturally in different parts of the world. The rock is formed in strands or fibres which, when processed, can split down in size until they are invisible without a microscope.
Homes built since the mid 1980s are very likely to contain asbestos in the fabric of the building but homes built after 1990 are extremely unlikely to contain asbestos. Asbestos cement has been widely used as a cladding material and can still be found in garages and sheds.
Asbestos that is in good condition is not harmful but if it is damaged, it can release harmful fibres.
Where will you commonly find asbestos ?
Asbestos is found in many areas in the home and is commonly found in:
- Insulation - pipework
- Asbestos insulated boards
- Textured coatings - ARTEX
- Thermoplastic floor tiles and coverings
- Asbestos cement - garages, roofing soffitts, ironing boards.
How does Tees Valley Housing deal with asbestos ?
We are setting up an asbestos register for all our buildings with information from surveys carried out by specialist asbestos surveyors. This register will enable us to alert tenants, contractors and people who work in or visit our schemes.
If the asbestos is in good condition, it will not need to be removed. Disturbing these materials can cause more risk.
Seeking Advice
Our customer staff members and housing officers are trained to answer any queries you may have about asbestos in your home.
If you think you may have asbestos containing products in your home, please get advice by phoning customer services on 08000 461600.
