What should I do if I suspect asbestos?

Where it is likely to be, what to do and not do, and how to get it identified properly.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 15 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: restricted

Short answer

Stop work and do not disturb it. Asbestos was used in UK buildings until 1999, so anything older may contain it. Get it tested by a laboratory before doing anything else — you cannot identify it by looking.

Asbestos is not dangerous while it is intact and undisturbed. It becomes dangerous when it is broken, drilled or sanded and fibres are released. That means the most important response is inaction, which is the opposite of most DIY instincts.

Safety

Do not drill, cut, sand, break or otherwise disturb any material you suspect contains asbestos. Undisturbed asbestos in good condition is generally not a danger; disturbing it releases fibres that cause fatal disease decades later. Do not attempt to remove it, and do not take a sample yourself unless following proper guidance. If you have already disturbed something, stop, leave the area, and get advice.

Step by step

Stop immediately and leave it alone.Do not drill, cut, sand, scrape or break it. If you were mid-job, stop, leave the room and close the door.
Know the likely locations.Used in UK construction until 1999. Common in artex and textured coatings, garage and shed roofs, soffits, water tanks, floor tiles and their adhesive, boiler flues, and insulation board around fires and airing cupboards.
Do not try to identify it by eye.It is not possible. Asbestos-containing materials look like ordinary building materials, and laboratory analysis is the only reliable answer.
Get it tested.A sampling and analysis service. Some allow you to send a sample taken following their specific safety instructions; otherwise they attend. It is not expensive relative to the alternative.
Leave sound material in place if it is confirmed.Intact, undamaged asbestos in a place it will not be disturbed is usually best managed by leaving it, recording it and monitoring it. Removal creates the risk it currently does not pose.
Use a licensed contractor for removal.Some types legally require a licensed contractor. Even where they do not, this is not a DIY job — the disposal alone is regulated.
Never put it in household waste.Disposal is regulated and most councils have a specific procedure. Fly-tipping asbestos is a serious offence.
If you have already disturbed it, get advice.Do not clean up with a domestic vacuum, which spreads fibres. Leave the area, keep others out, and take advice on decontamination.

Tips

Assume any house built or refurbished before 2000 may contain it somewhere. That is not alarming — it is a reason to test before disturbing rather than after.
Textured ceiling coatings applied before the mid-1980s frequently contain asbestos. Never sand them.
If you are buying a house and planning work, factor a survey into the budget. Finding out mid-project is far more disruptive and expensive.

Common mistakes

Sanding textured ceiling coating — Pre-1985 artex often contains asbestos and sanding releases the maximum quantity of fibres. This is one of the most common domestic exposures.
Removing a garage roof yourself — Cement asbestos sheets release fibres when broken, and the disposal is regulated. It is a licensed job, not a weekend one.

Questions people ask

How do I know if something contains asbestos?

You cannot tell by looking. It needs laboratory analysis. Anything in a building from before 2000 should be treated as possible until tested.

Is asbestos dangerous if I leave it alone?

Intact, undisturbed and in good condition, it generally poses little risk. The danger comes from releasing fibres by breaking, drilling or sanding it.