Asbestos in the homeA guide for tenants.

This is an important document. Please keep it in a safe place.

This guide is all about asbestosWhat it is, its health effects, where it may be in your home,and what you can do about it.  If there is asbestos in your home, it is usually NOT a serious problem. Asbestos is not itself dangerous. Asbestos only becomes dangerous when itgets damaged over time or is disturbedduring maintenance work in your home. When damaged, asbestos releasesfibres that can cause serious lung disease.

Index:3. What is asbestos? 3. When is asbestos a problem? 3. What are the health risks? 4. How can asbestos affect your health? 4. Where asbestos may be found? 5 How can I identify asbestos materials?

6. How does Havebury manage asbestos in properties? 7. What are my responsibilities? 8. Fly-tipped or dumped asbestos 9. Contact numbers and additionalinformation

What is asbestos?

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Asbestos is a natural  mineral (a fibrous silicate) found in rocks all over theworld. It has been used commercially for about 150 years because it isstrong, flexible and stable. The three types of asbestos used in the UK are:crocidolite (blue asbestos); amosite (brown asbestos) and chrysotile (whiteasbestos).

When is asbestos a problem? When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or deteriorate with age,they can release tiny fibres into the air. These fibres can penetrate deep intothe lungs. They can stay there a long time and can’t be coughed out. Blueand brown asbestos are probably the most dangerous types.

What are the health risks? There are asbestos-containing materials in about 5.5 million buildings in theUK and, because asbestos has been so widely used, there is a low level ofasbestos fibres in the air everywhere and therefore the risk to the publicfrom asbestos in the home is low. When asbestos is damaged, drilled, sawn, scrubbed or sanded during DIYwork it can result in brief but high levels of exposure. If you think a materialmight contain asbestos, don’t work on it - get expert advice. There is no “safe level” of exposure to asbestos! Asbestos remains the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in theUK. It probably kills up to 3,000 people per year. You must assume that anyasbestos is potentially deadly and handle it accordingly.

How can asbestos affect your health?

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Asbestos fibres in the lungs can cause cancer and thickening of the lungs.One type of cancer, mesothelioma, is always fatal, and asbestosis is acrippling lung disease.

Where asbestos may be found? Building materials containing asbestos were widely used from 1930 to themid 1980s, but particularly from the 1960s onwards. So houses and flatsbuilt or refurbished during this period may contain asbestos. However,identical properties may not contain the same materials. Differentcontractors may have used different materials at different times.

Here are some of the asbestos- containing products that may befound in a home: External: Roofing felt made with bitumen

Corrugated roofing sheets – for shedsand garagesFlat cladding sheets - with or without anaggregate finishFlat roof decking tiles – modular tilesused as a walking surface to spread theload on flat roofsProfiled metal sheeting –coated withasbestos fibres in bitumen Rainwater downpipesRainwater gutteringRoof cladding – numerous brands andtypesRoof slatesRoof tilesSoil and vent pipes

Undercloak – board supporting roof tileswherethey overhang beyond brickwork.Usually found on the end of the houseWall cladding sheets (double) – to earlypre-fabricationbuildings, both plain and decorativeWall claddingsheets (single) - both plain anddecorative Window boxes – for flowersSoffit boards – horizontal board beneaththe roof overhang. They bridge the gapbetween brickwork and fascia board withthe guttering attachedWindow sills (external)

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Internal: Airbricks Bath panels

Bituminous paper lining to the roofBituminous acoustic pad fitted Beneathstainless steel sinksChimney breasts – Cement panels usedto form mock chimney breasts in timber-framed homesCold water tanks – in the loft spaceDecorative ceiling tilesFloor finish – Cushion floor sheet vinylFloor tiles – rigid vinylFloor tiles – thermoplastic vinyl Fire surrounds – heat and fire proof Flue pipes to heating systemsInsulation of warm air heating systemsInsulation – to central heating systemsPartition sheets or wallboard – rarelyused in domestic property Lagging– to pipes and boilers

Sprayed asbestos coatings – used for thefire protection of steel beams and othercentral services in system-built flatsSprayed insulation coatings – rarely usedin standard domestic properties, morelikely to be found in large blocks of flatsor steel framed buildingsTextured decorative finish – to ceilingsand occasionally walls, Artex is a well-known brandTextured decorative paintWindow sill – black cast resin sheet fromthe manufacturer EternitWall boarding to internal partitions,airingcupboard linings, shelving, duct and pipecovers

How can I identify materials containingasbestos? You cannot tell whether a product contains asbestos simply by looking at it.Often asbestos is masked by other materials or is dyed, which disguises itstrue colour. Usually, it is older products that contain asbestos. If in doubt, itcan be analysed by a laboratory. Remember, products that contain asbestoscan look identical to those that don’t. If you are in doubt, call us on 0300 3300 900 Since 1976 British asbestos manufacturers have put labels on most of theirproducts to show they contain asbestos, but labels are often removed afterpurchase or concealed when the products are put in position. From early1986 all products have had to carry the European label.

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How does Havebury manage asbestos inits properties? Some asbestos-containing materials will remain in social housing for aboutthe next 25-30 years. This is fully in line with the law and with central government policy.Havebury’s criteria for dealing with asbestos is to gather information onasbestos in your home. Havebury has commissioned a survey of all itsproperties by a specialist contractor. 

After receiving a survey result,Havebury Housing Partnershipwill take one of these four actions,depending on the risk:

Type of risk Action

If the type of asbestos, location or conditionhas a high risk, Havebury will take immediate

action to have the material removed

If the risks are much lower but it would bemore practical to remove the material as

part of a larger maintenance plan on anumber of homes at the same time

Certain asbestos materials are used in thebare state, and sealing and bonding will

reduce or stop the release of fibres

Items that are generally in good condition,sealed and not in a vulnerable position

Remove Immediatley

Remove as part of a maintenance plan

Seal/record and manage

Record and manage

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We maintain an Asbestos Register showing all the survey results forour homes and this is updated regularly. If you are planning homeimprovements or maintenance and you have or think you haveasbestos in your home, always ask our permission in the first instanceso we can check our records and advise if any asbestos is present, orarrange for a survey to be carried out.  Havebury insists that all asbestos must be removed, sealed or repaired bycontractors with a special licence issued by the government. These licensedcontractors have to follow strict regulations to ensure asbestos is safely handled.

What are my responsibilities as a tenant? Please remember that changes to the structure or the fabric of your homeare not permitted under your tenancy agreement with Havebury withoutprior approval in writing. Soft asbestos, asbestos insulating board (similar to plasterboard), sprayedasbestos coatings and Artex (a decorative textured coating to ceilings andwalls) must be removed by a professional stripping company licensedby the Health and Safety Executive. The work  must be undertaken inaccordance with a strict code of practice involving use of specialisedequipment and protective clothing.

Irresponsible or inappropriate work(commercial or DIY) on asbestosmaterials in the home can lead to:

People’s health being put at riskContamination to the homeContamination of the familyvacuum cleaner Asbestos materials in the domesticdustbin Fly-tipping

 

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Carrying out any work to any form of asbestos without knowledge, expertiseand the appropriate protection will put people’s health at risk. Fly-tipping puts others at serious risk especially children. Your local wastecollection service may compress or grind waste, thereby putting the refusecollectors at risk. Also the standard domestic vacuum cleaner allows thevery fine needle-like asbestos fibres to pass straight through the machine tobe spread all over the house, thereby endangering the whole family. If you suspect you have any household asbestos products for disposal,please phone Havebury for more advice

Fly-tipped or dumped asbestos? If you see what you think may be asbestos fly-tipped or dumped anywhere,do not touch it. Please contact the Environmental Health Department on 01284 757053They can then arrange to have the material inspected and will take theappropriate action. For more informationHavebury    0300 3300 900  www.havebury.com H&S Executive www.hse.gov.ukEnvironmental Health       01284 757053 env.health@stedsbc.gov.uk

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AsbestosLeaflet. Do you need a copy in largeprint, on audio or a translation? To

receive this information in large print,on audio or a translation, please

call: 0300 3300 900 (low call rateapplies)