Asbestos Cement

Is it safe to handle asbestos cement?

Most forms of asbestos can, by law only be handled by contractors who are trained and licensed for working with the material. These laws do not apply to asbestos cement as the material is only considered potentially hazardous when it is damaged in some way and the fibres released but nevertheless the material should be treated with care. Where the material is in bad condition or where there is a lot of work involved then it would be worth considering employing a specialist contractor - look in the Yellow Pages under Asbestos Removal for a list of licensed contractors.

In general if asbestos cement is in good condition (not breaking up or crumbling) then it is best to leave it alone. Lichens and mosses which often grow on asbestos cement roofs do not affect it and should not generally be disturbed. However when it is necessary to cut or drill the material or where garages or other buildings made of asbestos cement are taken down the following precautions should be taken:

  • Only people doing the work should go near the area
  • Protective clothing (disposable if possible) and an approved type of dust mask suitable for asbestos should be worn
  • The materials should be well wetted beforehand to reduce dust and any waste should be cleaned up with a damp cloth rather than a vacuum cleaner or brush
  • Hand tools should be used rather than power tools
  • Where sheets are to be removed they should be taken down carefully in one piece and should not be broken or smashed. Where possible the bolts holding the sheets together should be cut rather than the sheets themselves
  • Waste should be kept in a safe place awaiting disposal and any small pieces should be collected together whilst damp and should be placed immediately in sealed double bags together with the used disposable clothing
  • People who have handled the asbestos cement should wash thoroughly (including their hair) immediately after the work is completed

Where asbestos cement has been used out of doors it will weather slowly but the rate of fibre release is so low that it presents no significant hazard. It is possible, however that fibres may build up in areas such as gutters draining asbestos cement roofs and care needs to be taken on cleaning out such areas if dry.

Disposing of asbestos cement waste

Any waste which contains asbestos can only be disposed of at sites which are licensed by the Environment Agency to receive special waste.

If you live within Darlington Council's area you can take household asbestos cement waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.   Opening times are between 8am and 8pm. You must contact the Waste Minimisation Officer on (01325) 388777 beforehand with the date and approximate time you intend to be at the site and the registration of your vehicle. We will then make the arrangements with the site to accept the waste.

You must also ensure that the waste is in sealed double bags or completely wrapped in plastic as the Household Waste Recycling Centre will not accept it otherwise. Please note that there is no assistance available at the site and so if the material is heavy you will need to take someone with you who can help put the waste into the skip.

What is asbestos cement?

Asbestos is a natural mineral which is mined mainly in the Russia, Canada and South Africa. Once mined the asbestos rock is crushed producing fibres which can then be woven into fabrics and used to reinforce cement and plastics.

There are three common types of asbestos: Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Chrysotile (white asbestos) and they each have different characteristics. All forms can cause lung problems because the tiny fibres, invisible to the naked eye are easily breathed into the lung but blue and brown asbestos are thought to be the more dangerous because white asbestos fibres are curly and are therefore less able to enter the deep part of the lungs. The different types of asbestos must be identified under a microscope and cannot be determined visually.

Asbestos cement is a product used widely in the past as a building material. It generally contains 10-15% asbestos fibres which are bound in portland cement or calcium silicate and the uncoated sheets are light grey in colour (some sheets may have been painted or have a factory applied coating).

All three forms of asbestos have been used to make asbestos cement but the majority was made with white asbestos. The material may be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets and have been used as roof and wall claddings and for making a range of other products such as drains, guttering, conduits, tanks and even flower boxes.

Many houses, particularly those built between the 1940s and the mid 1970s have asbestos cement garages.