Asbestos in your council home

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a general name given to natural minerals, found worldwide. There are three types, blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white asbestos (chrysotile).

Asbestos is a very strong, flexible, stable and heat-resistant material. It was used widely in building between the 1930s and mid-1980s. If your house was built or improved during this period, it is very likely that it contains Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).

Why asbestos may be an issue

Asbestos Containing Materials that are not disturbed or damaged will not present a health risk, however if the asbestos materials are damaged, drilled, sawn, scrubbed or sanded, there may be a risk.

When disturbed or damaged asbestos fibres can be released into the air, which when breathed in can remain there for a long time. The act of the fibres remaining in the lungs can cause lung diseases and cancers, and the likelihood of these increases with the number of fibres inhaled.

What does North Kesteven District Council do to manage asbestos?

North Kesteven District Council holds a record of all the locations, types and levels of asbestos that are present in your property (known as an Asbestos Management Survey). This survey is used for any planned maintenance and repair work that is carried out in, or to, your property to ensure the works are carried out in a safely. Any ACMs identified in these surveys are either dealt with (removed) or if they are considered low risk and are in good condition left in situ.

If ACMs are identified in your property, the council will write to you following your survey to explain where asbestos has been identified and will provide information on how to avoid disturbing the areas affected. Where necessary, we also make arrangements for the safe removal and disposal of the asbestos too.

Where there are planned improvements to kitchens or bathrooms, an Asbestos survey will be arranged and completed by our contractors. These contractors will contact you directly to arrange this.

Where can asbestos be found?

Typical places Asbestos Containing Materials might be found in or on your property are:

• Airbricks
• Bath panels
• Boilers and pipework
• Cold water tanks
• Corrugated cement sheeting, normally on sheds or garages
• Decorative coatings, for example artex ceilings
• Fascias
• Fire surrounds
• Flooring materials – vinyl type floor tiles; paper backing
• Flue pipes
• Pipe lagging and duct lining
• Rainwater guttering and downpipes
• Roof tiles and exterior walls
• Soffits
• Sprayed coating on steel framed buildings
• Wall boarding, for example internal partitions, airing cupboard linings, duct and pipe covers
• Waste pipes

Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Advice

Decorating and DIY

Due to the potential risks that exposure to Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials poses, extra care should always be taken while carrying out DIY and deep cleaning to your property.

Basic DIY such as painting, decorating and cleaning pose no risk but any action which requires the disturbance of any part of your home (for example drilling, sawing, hammering, cutting, sanding, removal of walls, plaster, coatings, flooring, cement or concrete) could potentially expose you to asbestos.

It is important that you do not make any big changes to your property without prior approval from North Kesteven District Council.

Here is a simple guide:

Do

• Always wear protective equipment, for example a face mask if you are doing DIY
• Soak wallpaper before removing, for example through a stripper
• Contact NKDC if you think you have disturbed any ACMs
• For large works, apply to the council for permission and use a trusted contractor

Don't

• Do major works to your property without permission
• Attempt work to any structural or external component of your property, for example the roof, guttering, windows or doors. Any repairs should be reported to NKDC Repairs Team on 01529  414155
• Sand, scrape, cut, drill, disturb ACMs before painting and decorating. You are advised to decorate over existing decorations rather than try to remove them
• Work on any ACMs
• Remove any debris or pieces of asbestos or those that may contain asbestos
• Jet wash or clean asbestos cement products (for example shed or garage roofing)
• Remove any old flooring (tiles or linoleum). Instead, put new flooring over those already in place
• Remove textured coatings from ceilings or sand flaking paint from these areas. Instead wash flaking paint if needed.

Asbestos waste

Do not place Asbestos waste in household bins. If you find any suspected asbestos outside your property or near your property, do not attempt to dispose of it yourself.

Asbestos must be removed by a licensed waste site. To arrange the removal of Asbestos or Asbestos Containing Materials, please phone 01529 414155.

Our contractors and surveyors are trained to identify and work with asbestos safely. Please ask if you have any concerns.

Contact us

If you think there is damaged Asbestos Containing Material in your home, do not try to deal with it yourself. Contact NKDC Repairs Team on 01529 414155 immediately. The council will assess the risk and take appropriate action.

To view our Management and Control of Asbestos Policy, visit our dedicated Housing strategies and policies webpage.