#ASBESTOS ROOF TILES HOW TO#
#ASBESTOS ROOF TILES PROFESSIONAL#

In order to protect your health and that of your loved ones, you should be aware of potential sources of asbestos in your home and learn how to get rid of them properly. Unfortunately, this miracle material poses many health risks and is still one of the leading causes of work-related illnesses to date.

#ASBESTOS ROOF TILES PROFESSIONAL#

Informed by our years of experience in professional testing of the material, we’ll fill you in on how to safely identify and get rid of asbestos tiling for good. However, once considerable testing proved that it was a killer, the miracle became a nightmare to deal with and remove. Make sure that the quotes include all costs of stripping, carting away and disposing of the existing roof coverings, as well as protective measures to isolate the house during the works.Asbestos was once considered a “miracle material”, used in everything from paint and pipe insulation to even tiling. Experienced roofers with the appropriate level of asbestos training (minimum of Non-Licensed training) will be able to assess the level of risk, which can normally be managed on site without undue drama and expense. The simplest option for replacing roofs clad with asbestos slates or tiles is to get quotes as normal from reputable roofing contractors. In the meantime, if you suspect you’ve got asbestos roofing of any kind, as a precaution don’t allow anyone to climb on the roof or enter the loft without suitable PPE. Alternatively, an Asbestos Management Survey can be carried out by a UKAS-accredited company. However, only around 1 in 20 tiles were marked, so multiple tiles may need to be removed.Ī better option might be to send a single tile off to a lab to be tested. There will be an ‘AC’ where asbestos is present or a ‘NT’ for non-asbestos tiles. The first thing to check is whether there’s a manufacturer’s identification mark stamped on the undersides. Where you suspect that slates or tiles contain asbestos, confirming the existence of ACMs isn’t straightforward. (Image credit: getty images) What Should I Do if I Suspect I Have Asbestos Roof Tiles? However, in roofs without any underlay beneath defective tiles there is a potential risk that accumulated dust in lofts could test positive for ACMs.

This also means that any released fibres should be dispersed into open air reducing the potential for harm. Because roof coverings are exposed to the elements they are more susceptible to localised storm damage, such as chipped corners. The risk comes about when tiles get damaged or degrade and the cement starts to weaken, potentially releasing fibres into the air. This is because the asbestos is held in place by the cement, so as long as they’re intact they can normally be left in place. Materials like asbestos cement used for roofing are defined as ‘non-friable’ because the asbestos is bonded within the material.Īsbestos roof tiles in good condition are generally considered not to pose any immediate risk. The worst offenders are classed as ‘friable’ which means they can easily be crumbled or reduced to powder by touch, releasing harmful fibres into the air, like some older types of insulation and pipe lagging. However, not all ACMs are equally dangerous.

It wasn’t until the mid 1980s that the most dangerous forms of asbestos were banned by the UK government, with the manufacture and supply of all asbestos finally outlawed in late 1999.Īs far back as the 1920s doctors had suspected that inhalation of asbestos fibres was a root cause of pulmonary lung disease and breathing problems, ultimately resulting in cancers such as mesothelioma.

Asbestos roof tiles