Facilities Manager's Desk Reference, 3rd Edition

21Asbestos

21.1 Introduction

Asbestos is a natural mineral used primarily for insulation and fireproofing. There are six main types of asbestos:

• Chrysotile (white).
• Asbestos grunerite (brown).
• Crocidolite (blue).
• Anthophyllite (grey, green or white).
• Tremolite (brown, white, green, grey or transparent).
• Actinolite (clear, grey, green or white).

Although the types of asbestos are listed by their colours, they cannot be identified purely by their colour. At one time, only blue asbestos was deemed to be dangerous, but today, all types are banned in the UK and about 50 other countries. Asbestos‐containing materials (ACMs) may be found in buildings, machinery and equipment in many places and in many forms. It is now illegal in the UK to use asbestos in new buildings and refurbishment; however, it is still mined and used elsewhere in the world. The latest UK Regulations (see Section 21.2) also state that second‐hand asbestos materials are banned. It will, however, be found in buildings that were built or refurbished between 1945 and 1985.

Asbestos was used extensively in buildings due to its thermal insulation properties. It is estimated that it is present in 50% of residential buildings and a higher percentage of school buildings in the UK. Asbestos is a problem when it becomes friable or damaged, releasing fibres into the air. When breathed in by people, these fibres damage the lung tissue. The body’s natural immune system cannot deal with the fibres.

Asbestos may be found in ...