The Hidden Danger: Could There Be Asbestos Lurking in Your Building?

Adam Fox • 4 May 2023

As a building owner, tenant or manager, you may be unaware that there could be asbestos lurking in your building

Asbestos is a hidden danger, and its presence can be harmful to your health and those around you. In this article, I will discuss what asbestos is, why it is dangerous, where it can be found in buildings, and how you can protect yourself and others from asbestos exposure.


What is Asbestos and Why is it Dangerous?


Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in building materials during the 20th century. It was popular because of its strength, durability, and fire resistance. However, asbestos is a dangerous substance that can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos fibres are microscopic, and when they are inhaled, they can embed themselves in the lungs and cause long-term damage.


Common Places Asbestos Can be Found in Buildings


Asbestos can be found in many different building materials, including insulation, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roofing materials, and even some types of paint. Older buildings are more likely to contain asbestos, but it can still be found in newer buildings as well. Some of the most common places where asbestos can be found in buildings include:


Insulation


Asbestos was commonly used as insulation in buildings, particularly in attics and walls. It was often mixed with other materials, such as vermiculite, to create a fire-resistant barrier.


Ceiling Tiles


Asbestos was also commonly used in ceiling tiles due to its fire-resistant properties. If you have older ceiling tiles in your building, they may contain asbestos.


Floor Tiles


Asbestos was used in vinyl floor tiles and adhesives. If you have older flooring in your building, it may contain asbestos.


Roofing Materials


Asbestos was used in roofing materials, such as profile sheets, slates/shingles and felt. If you have an older roof, it may contain asbestos.


Signs of Asbestos in Your Building


It can be difficult to determine if there is asbestos in your building just by looking at it. Asbestos fibres are microscopic, and they cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, there are a few signs that may indicate that there is asbestos in your building:


Age of the Building


If your building was constructed before 2000, it is likely to contain some asbestos containing materials (ACM’s).

Previous Renovations

If your building has undergone renovations in the past, it is possible that asbestos was disturbed or even installed during the construction process.


Building Materials


If you have older building materials, such as insulation, ceiling tiles, or flooring, they may contain asbestos.


Legal Requirements for Dealing with Asbestos


Asbestos is a hazardous material, and there are strict legal requirements for dealing with it. In the United Kingdom, the HSE regulates the handling and disposal of asbestos. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are in place to protect workers from asbestos exposure. If you own or manage a building that contains asbestos, you are legally required to take certain steps to ensure the safety of those who work or live in the building. These steps include:


Asbestos Management Plan


You must legally have an asbestos management plan in place that outlines how you will identify and manage asbestos in your building.


Asbestos Survey


You must have your building inspected by a competent asbestos surveyor to determine if there is asbestos present.


Asbestos Removal


If asbestos is found in your building, it may not need to be removed, however if you are likely to disturb it as part of any works, you must have it removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor.


Notification


You must notify anyone who may come into contact with asbestos in your building, including employees, tenants, and contractors.


How to Protect Yourself and Others from Asbestos Exposure


If your building contains asbestos, it is important to take steps to protect yourself and others from exposure. Here are a few ways to do so:


Get Trained


If you work in a building that contains asbestos, you should receive asbestos awareness training. This will help you to identify asbestos-containing materials and understand how to work around them safely.


Avoid Disturbing Asbestos


If asbestos-containing materials are left undisturbed, they pose little risk. However, if they are disturbed, asbestos fibres can be released into the air. Avoid drilling, sanding, or otherwise disturbing asbestos-containing materials.


Follow Proper Procedures


If you are properly trained in removing or handling asbestos, you should follow proper procedures to minimise the risk of exposure. This includes wetting down materials to prevent fibres from becoming airborne and properly disposing of asbestos-containing materials.


What to Do if You Suspect There is Asbestos in Your Building


If you suspect there is asbestos in your building, you should take immediate action. Here are a few steps you can take:


Have Your Building Inspected


Contact ae experiences asbestos consultant like Consulo Compliance to have your building inspected for asbestos.


Develop an Asbestos Management Plan


If asbestos is found in your building, you should develop an asbestos management plan to ensure that it is properly managed and contained.


Hire a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor


If asbestos needs to be removed from your building, you should hire a licensed asbestos removal contractor to handle the removal process.


Notify Others


You should notify anyone who may come into contact with asbestos in your building, including employees, tenants, and contractors.


Conclusion


Asbestos is a hidden danger that can be present in any building constructed before 2000. It is a hazardous material that can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. If you suspect there is asbestos in your building, it is important to take immediate action to protect yourself and others from exposure. This includes having your building inspected, developing an asbestos management plan, and where necessary, hiring a licensed asbestos removal contractor to handle the removal process.


With proper precautions and procedures in place, you can help to ensure the safety of those who work or live in your building.


Consulo Compliance can help you comply with The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012


Contact Us
by Adam Fox 9 April 2025
Asbestos and the Circular Economy: Why It's Time to Stop Burying the Problem Twenty-five years after asbestos was banned in the UK, we’re still digging a hole—literally and metaphorically. Every day, across the country, asbestos waste is double-bagged, labelled, loaded into skips, and driven to landfill, where it will sit indefinitely, taking up valuable space, creating ongoing liability, and adding to our already bloated environmental burden. And yet, 2025 presents a different path. A smarter one. One that replaces disposal with repurposing, and turns a dangerous waste product into a useful, circular resource. The technology exists. So the question we should be asking isn’t “Can we recycle asbestos?” It’s “Why the hell aren’t we doing it already?” Landfill is Failing Us—But We’re Still Relying On It Let’s start with the basics. There are still over 1.5 million buildings in the UK that contain asbestos, most of them now approaching the end of their useful life. As these structures age or undergo refurbishment, the volume of asbestos waste is only going to increase. Right now, we handle that waste the same way we did decades ago: • Identify it • Remove it (usually under fully controlled conditions) • Seal it in heavy-duty plastic • Drive it to landfill • Bury it • Forget about it Except we don’t forget, do we? Because landfill space is running out. Disposal costs are going up. And the environmental cost? We’re only just starting to count it. There’s a Better Way—and It Already Works Here’s what most duty holders don’t realise: We no longer have to bury asbestos. Thanks to recent advances in thermal treatment technology, we now have a method that can safely denature asbestos, breaking down its fibrous structure and rendering it harmless. Companies like Thermal Recycling in the UK are already proving this is not science fiction. They’re using high temperatures to transform asbestos cement products—like corrugated roofing sheets—into an inert ceramic material that’s completely safe. But here's the best bit: That material isn’t just neutral. It’s useful. It can be crushed and graded into aggregate, which can be used in road construction, paving, and concrete mixes. Instead of creating a waste burden for the next generation, we’re creating a valuable, low-carbon building material. Why Aggregate Matters in the Carbon Equation The production of virgin aggregates—through mining and quarrying—is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. It contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions and destroys natural landscapes. So by replacing some of that demand with recycled aggregate from denatured asbestos, we: • Cut carbon emissions • Reduce dependence on extraction • Shrink the environmental footprint of infrastructure projects • Extend the life of quarries and reduce waste tonnage That’s not just a win for waste management. That’s a win for the entire construction supply chain. And yet most people in the industry don’t even know it’s possible. Why Are We Still Burying What Could Be Reused? As someone who’s worked in asbestos compliance for over 20 years—and now helps business leaders manage risk more intelligently—I’ve seen the same patterns play out time and time again: • “We’ll just do what we’ve always done.” • “This project’s tight on budget—landfill’s cheaper, right?” • “We’re just following the usual route—it’s less risky.” Let’s be honest. That mindset is outdated, short-sighted, and lazy. Cost may always be a factor, but the belief that landfill is “cheaper” needs to be challenged. Once you factor in: • Long-term environmental costs • Reputational risk • Rising disposal fees • And the public pressure for sustainable practices Thermal recycling is already starting to make sense. Especially when the output is something usable, not something buried. Licensed Contractors: You Don’t Get a Free Pass Either This isn’t just about clients or duty holders. Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors (LARC’s) have a moral obligation here too. And I say that not from a place of opinion—but from first-hand experience, day in and day out for over two decades. Too often, LARCs put profits over progress. They default to landfill because it’s faster, easier to price up, and keeps their margins clean. They know the alternatives exist—but they don’t explore them, let alone offer them to their clients. When you hold a licence from the HSE, you’re not just a business—you’re a guardian of public health. That comes with responsibility. Choosing the most sustainable, forward-thinking disposal route should be part of that. Especially when the technology is available, proven, and legal. It’s time for the industry to stop hiding behind what’s convenient and start leading from the front. A Moral Obligation for Everyone Involved Whether you’re a: • Local authority managing public buildings • Developer under pressure to go green • Commercial landlord looking to reduce liability • Or a licensed contractor with influence over disposal routes —you have a responsibility to look beyond the cheapest or fastest option. If there’s a proven, safe, and more sustainable way to manage asbestos, you have a duty to understand it before choosing to ignore it. Because let’s be honest: “We didn’t know” isn’t going to wash when the public starts asking why we’re still filling landfill sites with a problem we already have the technology to eliminate. So What Can You Do Differently? No one’s asking you to overhaul your entire waste strategy overnight. But you can—and should—start asking better questions: • “Is landfill our only option here?” • “Could this waste stream be recycled instead of buried?” • “What suppliers, contractors, or experts do we know who can help us explore this?” You don’t have to be a global pioneer. But if you’re in a position of responsibility, you should at least be aware that the old way isn’t the only way anymore. Final Thought: The Future Is Circular—Whether You Join In or Not Asbestos will be with us for decades to come. That’s a fact. But how we handle it—and whether we choose to keep repeating the past or do something smarter—is up to us. Thermal recycling and other denaturing technologies offer a rare opportunity to do something that actually moves the industry forward. Not just ticking the compliance box. Not just burying the problem. But solving it—and turning it into something useful in the process. If you’re involved in asbestos management in even the slightest way, ask yourself this: Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?
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