Asbestos in your home

Prior to 1999 asbestos was used widely in construction throughout industrial and domestic installations and its still the leading cause of death in tradesmen and women. 

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals that separate into long fibres, are chemically inert and heat resistant. 

Before its dangers were know, these properties make it an excellent material to be used in buildings for insulation, roof tiles, pipe lagging, fuse box fuses and Artex to hold it together. 

A lot of the houses in Highbridge and Burnham on sea were built long before the complete ban of asbestos in the UK.

If asbestos inside buildings remains intact, it poses no risk. It only if its either broken apart, drilled into or it’s breaking apart with age. This releases fibres into the air that once breathed in, can lead to a number of severe heath issues. 

Keeping yourself safe

You can never be 100% sure that what you’re looking at is asbestos unless you get it tested. Self-test kits are inexpensive and can provide results fast.

In situations like having new spot lights installed, a fuse-box upgrade, your local Electrician may suspect your ceiling may have asbestos and request a test is done before the works carried out. This is only in the best interest of you and your family as well as the Electrician. 

What do I do if I find asbestos?

If the test is positive. There are a few things you can do. Remember, it's only dangerous if it’s being disturbed. So with the likes of old roof tiles, or Artex ceilings you may just decide to leave alone. But if you want your local electrician to install your spotlights, or upgrade your fuse box, you will need an approved contractor to remove the asbestos before any electrical work is carried out. This is at the best interest of health and safety.