Armco Asbestos Surveys
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Armco Asbestos Surveys
Last Updated on 13th March 2026 by Admin
Chrysotile Asbestos (or white asbestos, as it is commonly called) is said by experts to have been the most popular type of asbestos used throughout the 20th century. This mineral has curly, flexible fibres and makes up a huge majority of all the asbestos used before we fully understood how dangerous it was.
What set chrysotile apart from other asbestos types were its curly, bendy fibres, completely different from the straight, needle-sharp fibres of other varieties. This made it incredibly useful for all sorts of industrial jobs: insulation, fireproofing, cement products and common car parts. Its ability to resist heat and last for decades made it the go-to material for construction work.
You will find chrysotile in lots of British buildings built between, but not exclusive to, the 1950s and 1980s especially in pipe insulation, boiler coverings, ceiling tiles and those textured coatings that were sprayed on. Public buildings, schools and houses from that time still contain materials made with chrysotile.
It was believed at the time that chrysotile was the “safer” option compared to other asbestos types, but that turned out not to be true. When these fibres get into the air and you breathe them in, they can cause serious lung problems including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The scary thing is these diseases often do not show up until 20 to 40 years after you have been exposed, which makes spotting them early really difficult.
Getting an expert to identify it is vital because you cannot tell chrysotile from other asbestos types just by looking, you need laboratory tests. If the materials are still in good condition and nobody is disturbing them, you can often leave them alone and monitor them regularly.
Armco Asbestos Consultants know asbestos inside out. We can identify chrysotile, assess the risks, and remove it safely when needed. Our qualified team helps property owners stay on the right side of all the laws and regulations, while keeping everyone safe from asbestos exposure.
We have been helping the UK identify chrysotile for well over 20 years now and have the ability to provide you with any information you may need regarding chrysotile or any other type of asbestos from asbestos surveys in Manchester to asbestos surveys in London, Armco is your first call.
Testing for asbestos is a highly regulated process in the UK, primarily governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Because asbestos fibres are invisible to the naked eye and extremely hazardous when disturbed, “testing” is not just a single action but a three-stage professional process: Surveying, Sampling, and Laboratory Analysis. Here is a breakdown of how the professional testing process works.
1. The Asbestos Survey (Identification). Before any physical samples are taken, a qualified surveyor conducts an inspection. There are two main types of surveys: Management Survey: A standard inspection to locate asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that could be disturbed during normal occupancy or routine maintenance. Refurbishment and Demolition (R&D) Survey: A much more intrusive, “destructive” survey is required before any construction work. It involves looking inside walls, under floorboards, and within structural voids.
2. The Sampling Process (Collection)If a material is suspected of containing asbestos, a physical sample must be taken. The HSE strongly recommends that only trained professionals do this, as breaking a piece of material can release millions of microscopic fibres. How a professional takes a sample:
Preparation: The area is cordoned off. The surveyor wears PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and a fitted RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) mask.
Suppression: The material is sprayed with a “wetting agent” (often water mixed with a small amount of detergent) to prevent fibres from becoming airborne during the cut.
Extraction: A small piece (about the size of a 50p coin) is carefully removed using hand tools.
Sealing: The sample is placed into two separate, airtight “grip-lock” bags (double-bagged) and labelled with a unique ID.Clean-up: The area where the sample was taken is sealed with “shadow vacuuming” (using an H-Class vacuum) or sealed with a specialised sealant (like PVA) to ensure no raw edges are left exposed.
3. Laboratory Analysis (Verification)The samples are sent to a laboratory accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service). This is the only way to confirm 100% whether asbestos is present. The lab uses several techniques:
Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM): Analysts look at the fibres under a specialised microscope. Different types of asbestos (Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite) react differently to polarised light, allowing the analyst to identify the specific mineral type.
Water Absorption Test: Often used to distinguish between Asbestos Cement (lower risk) and Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB – higher risk) by measuring how porous the material is.
4. The Result: The Asbestos Register. Once analysis is complete, you receive a certificate of analysis. If it is a commercial premise, you will need to add it to the Asbestos Register.
This document tells you:
The Type: (e.g., Chrysotile/White Asbestos).
The Condition: (e.g., Good, Damaged, or Friable/Crumbly).
The Recommendation: Whether it should be removed, encapsulated (sealed), or simply monitored annually.
Can I test it myself?
While “DIY asbestos kits” are available online, they are generally discouraged for several reasons:
Safety: You risk contaminating your home if you don’t use proper suppression and RPE.Legal
Validity: For commercial properties or when selling a home, a DIY test is usually not legally sufficient.
Accuracy: A surveyor knows where to look (e.g., the bitumen under floor tiles or the paper lining behind a radiator), whereas a homeowner might miss hidden materials.
Summary Advice: If you suspect you have asbestos, do not touch it. Leave it undisturbed and contact a UKAS-accredited surveying firm to take a safe sample.
Published Aug 22, 2025
