Asbestos in the home

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of fibrous minerals which evolve naturally in the earth; these are found in many parts of the world.  

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Why was asbestos used in the past? 

Asbestos fibres are strong, durable, resistant to heat and chemicals and provide thermal insulation; these properties are what led to its widespread use in the construction industry prior to the mid 1980’s.

It was also used in vehicles, domestic goods and industrial items.

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Where is asbestos likely to be found?

Asbestos is most likely to be found in buildings constructed before the mid 1980’s.

Typical places inside your home where asbestos may be found are:

• Artex / textured coatings
• Floor tiles & Linoleum products
• Pipe boxing
• Bath panels
• Fire / Heater panels
• Service ducting panels
• Heating and Fuse board cupboards
• Sink Pad ( Bitumen based product)
• WC Cisterns

Typical areas outside your home where asbestos may be found are:

• Roof tiles
• Rainwater pipes and gutters
• Soffits & Fascias
• Garage / Outbuilding roofs


Asbestos may also be found in some household goods such as oven gloves, ironing boards, fire blankets.
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What does asbestos containing material look like? 

It is difficult to tell if something contains asbestos just by looking at it, unless it is labelled, if in doubt you should assume that a material does contain asbestos until it is confirmed otherwise, the only way to be absolutely sure is by getting it tested in a laboratory.

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Am I at risk? 

Asbestos is only a risk to health if the fibres become airborne and are breathed into the lungs. The fibres breathed in, could lead to asbestos-related diseases, although the body’s natural defences can break some of these particles down, others may stay in the lungs a long time.

Asbestos containing products that are in good condition do not represent a significant risk unless they are damaged or abraded, and should be left undisturbed. People who have worked with asbestos for many years as part of their job are most likely to be affected.

Most occurrences of asbestos in housing are of low risk and unlikely to harm your health.

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What should I do if I think there may be asbestos in my home?

You don’t need to do anything unless you suspect the asbestos may have been damaged, disturbed or is in a poor condition, generally if it is in good condition and cannot be easily damaged or disturbed it is best to leave it alone, as removal can lead to the release of higher levels of fibres in the air for some time.

If you suspect you have an asbestos containing material in your home in a poor condition please contact the call centres on North call centre 293 0000 or South call centre 205 3333 for further advice.

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What are Sheffield Homes doing to manage asbestos?

We are carrying out asbestos surveys to all our properties and recording all the information, this includes the type of asbestos found, the location and condition and any recommended actions, i.e. to remove the asbestos containing material or to leave it in place with and manage it.
Where asbestos is identified as requiring removal we will use specialist contractors to carry out this work.

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Will you remove asbestos if it is found in my property?

We will only remove asbestos from your home where it is found to be in poor condition or damaged, as generally it is best practice to leave it in place and manage it if it is in a good condition, as removal creates a risk of the release of fibres into the air and possible exposure.

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Why do I need an asbestos survey?

We need to carry out a survey to identify any asbestos containing materials within your home as we have a legal duty to provide this information to the contractors we use to carry out repairs or modernisation works to your home.  

The survey also helps us to keep accurate records of where asbestos is located within our home.

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What shall I do if I'm still worried?

If you have any further concerns please contact Sheffield Homes call centres on North call centre 293 0000 or South call centre 205 3333 and we will try to answer any queries or concerns you may have.

Further information on asbestos may also be found on the Health and Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk

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What should I do if I want to carry out works to my property?

If you are planning home improvements and think you may have asbestos in your home, always talk to us first. We can check our records and tell you if any asbestos is present or arrange for an asbestos survey to be carried out.

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General things to remember before carrying out DIY 

•  Do not drill, saw, scrub or sand anything you think may contain asbestos.
•   Keep activities to a minimum in any areas where material may contain asbestos.
•  Do not dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos
•  Take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos material or asbestos-containing products.
•  Always wear a protective face mask if you are doing any DIY work
•   Soak wallpaper before removing, if possible use a steam stripper and gently peel away the paper before re-decorating
•   Don’t try to remove old floor tiles or linoleum. Leave them in place and lay new floor coverings over them.

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