Is this asbestos cement sheet?

[Edwin Strohacker]

Is there any telling from pictures? Garage roof's had it & while I'm comfortable replacing it, I'm not so keen getting stuck in if it is asbestos.

[Little Lofty]

If I had to guess I'd say yes it does contain asbestos, but you'll have to get it tested, as there is no way you can tell just by looking.

[Tom_C76]

Only way to tell is under a high power microscope. But in the absence of evidence otherwise and if it could be pre 1990 I'd assume it is.

If it is asbestos cement, cut the nail heads off, remove the sheets intact and place in a covered skip for appropriate disposal.

[silvagod]

There is one way to tell. The non-asbestos sheets are stamped (embossed) with a code starting NT (for new technology) and they are fibre cement but non-asbestos.

If you see them on a daily basis (as I do) you 'may' be able to tell without the stamp but if you're unsure, get it tested. Quite often the embossed code has worn away though making it next to impossible for the casual viewer to see a difference.

I can't really tell from pictures, only from close up viewing.

The lighter grey sheets looks like it may be NT though.

Sorry I can't be any more helpful!

[55palfers]

To err on the safe side, assume is it asbestos and follow the guidance here

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a14.pdf

[roofer]

silvagod said:

There is one way to tell. The non-asbestos sheets are stamped (embossed) with a code starting NT (for new technology) and they are fibre cement but non-asbestos.

If you see them on a daily basis (as I do) you 'may' be able to tell without the stamp but if you're unsure, get it tested. Quite often the embossed code has worn away though making it next to impossible for the casual viewer to see a difference.

I can't really tell from pictures, only from close up viewing.

The lighter grey sheets looks like it may be NT though.

Sorry I can't be any more helpful!

Exactly this.

[thebraketester]

Any doubt and get it tested. Costs about 45 quid last time I had it done.

[Edwin Strohacker]

Alright, cheers chaps. I'll have it tested before anything else, seems the sensible way to proceed.

[CaptainJohn2011]

Hi,

Sorry to hijack the thread a little. How does one test asbestos and stay safe? Surely it would require me to cut a small section of Asbestos which I thought was the only time the material is actually dangerous.

I had a similar problem i.e. Roof I wasn't sure about. It was very stable so I simply Bought a mask, sprayed it with a lot of water, wore some old clothes.

Cut nail heads off from underneath by cutting into the wood. Then I took it whole to local tip.

I have a similar problem with a planned extension. Which requires removal of old porch. This time I have some material I'm suspicious of in a porch which I need to get rid of.

[Tom_C76]

If it's cement board, removing a small piece outdoors to test really isn't dangerous. If you have anything that could be sprayed asbestos or board in an enclosed space it may be best to get a pro to inspect and remove.

[Hayek]

CaptainJohn2011 said:

Hi,

Sorry to hijack the thread a little. How does one test asbestos and stay safe? Surely it would require me to cut a small section of Asbestos which I thought was the only time the material is actually dangerous.

I had a similar problem i.e. Roof I wasn't sure about. It was very stable so I simply Bought a mask, sprayed it with a lot of water, wore some old clothes.

Cut nail heads off from underneath by cutting into the wood. Then I took it whole to local tip.

I have a similar problem with a planned extension. Which requires removal of old porch. This time I have some material I'm suspicious of in a porch which I need to get rid of.

If you get the ~£50 kit from people online that I did, it came with disposable white suit and a face mask. Additionally I held my breath until I got back outside with with small piece. Also you wet the area you're breaking off.

[andy43]

Yeah, just google asbestos test. They're even on ebay. I paid £60-odd for two recently, I took and delivered the samples (only 5mm chips) to a local tester in freezer bags, double bagged and taped as they requested.

[CaptainJohn2011]

Hayek said:

If you get the ~£50 kit from people online that I did, it came with disposable white suit and a face mask. Additionally I held my breath until I got back outside with with small piece. Also you wet the area you're breaking off.

HeHe! I'd bound to end up passed out in a pile of asbestos!!

[blade runner]

Looks very similar to my old garage roof. I wasn't sure if it contained asbestos or not, but just to be safe I assumed it did and treated accordingly. Our local tip had a special container just for asbestos sheets - we had to make an appointment to get access, but it was pretty straight forward. I carefully cut off all the screw heads first and then myself and a mate, dressed in some disposable body suits, gloves and masks, simply lifted the sheets off and double-wrapped in poly before taking to the tip. As long as you are sensible and handle carefully, there should be no real danger/risk. Even if there is any asbestos in them, I recall from the research I did that these type of sheets contain the least dangerous type and also in quite small amounts. The main thing is to try and not break any of the sheets when you remove them - keep them all intact and you should be fine.

[Wings]

Hayek said:

If you get the ~£50 kit from people online that I did, it came with disposable white suit and a face mask. Additionally I held my breath until I got back outside with with small piece. Also you wet the area you're breaking off.

I recently had an asbestos check carried out on a Cornish holiday property, following receipt of the report, i now have to make a 14 day notification notice to HSE, prior to the commencement of works to remove the same. The asbestos licensable material is mainly the soffits of the property, and now requires a licensable contractor (adults in white suits and face masks) to remove.

Following the inspection, I took some (less than 10) floor tiles, to the local council's recycle center, and due to possible asbestos contents, was charged £10.75 to tip the same.