Armco Asbestos Surveys
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Armco Asbestos Surveys
It has been a while since we have covered this crucial topic, so we thought it was time for a refresh. With over 20 years of experience as asbestos surveyors and consultants, we still get asked the same fundamental question: “How do I know if it’s asbestos?”
The honest answer? It is trickier than most people think, and the stakes are too high to guess wrong.
Before we dive into identification, let us get the facts straight. Asbestos still kills around 5,000 workers each year in the UK, that’s more than road traffic accidents. Around 20 tradespeople die every week from asbestos-related diseases caused by past exposure. These are not old statistics we are quoting; this is happening right now, in 2025.
The problem is that asbestos was used extensively in UK buildings right up until 2000, which means millions of properties still contain these materials. Just because asbestos has been banned from new construction for over two decades does not mean the danger has disappeared.
There are six types of asbestos, but three dominated UK construction:
Here is the thing though, when asbestos is mixed into building materials, you cannot just look at the colour and decide. It is often completely hidden within other materials.
If you are working in loft spaces, cavity walls, or under floorboards and come across loose, fluffy material that looks a bit like candyfloss, stop immediately. This loose fill insulation might appear blue-grey or whitish and is the most dangerous type of asbestos you can encounter.
When disturbed, loose fill releases massive amounts of fibres into the air. If you suspect you have found this material, leave the area immediately and call professionals. Anyone removing loose fill asbestos must hold a licence, there are no exceptions.
Pipe lagging is another high-risk material that is often hard to spot because it is frequently painted over. Look for white or grey material wrapped around pipes, especially in older heating systems. It typically has a rough surface and flakes easily when disturbed.
Sprayed asbestos coatings were commonly used on steel beams, under roofs and on building sides for fire protection. These materials can release significant amounts of fibres even with minor disturbance, making them extremely hazardous.
Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB)
This versatile material shows up everywhere; ceiling tiles, partition walls, panels below windows, lift shaft linings and fire door panels. The challenge with AIB is that it does not look dramatically different from modern materials, making visual identification unreliable.
While AIB is not as immediately dangerous as loose fill or pipe lagging, prolonged exposure still poses significant health risks.
Lower-Risk Materials (But Still Dangerous)
What Makes Identification So Difficult
The biggest challenge with asbestos identification is that manufacturers did not label products as containing asbestos. There is no handy “contains asbestos” sticker to look for. Many asbestos-containing materials look identical to non-asbestos alternatives.
Additionally, asbestos was often mixed with other materials, painted over or covered with protective coatings. You might be looking straight at asbestos-containing material without realising it.
The Age Factor
If your building was constructed before 2000, you should assume asbestos is present until proven otherwise. This includes:
Here is where we get serious: if you are planning any refurbishment, demolition or major maintenance work on a pre-2000 building, you legally need a professional asbestos survey. This is not just good practice, it is a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
We understand that projects need to keep moving. Cutting corners on identification is not worth the risk to health or the potential legal consequences.
After two decades in this industry, we have seen too many situations where “I thought it looked okay” led to serious problems. Asbestos identification is not a skill you can learn from a blog post or YouTube video, it requires training, experience and often laboratory confirmation.
Do not gamble with asbestos. If you are unsure, stop work and seek professional advice. We have built our reputation on providing reliable asbestos surveys and training because the alternative (i.e. getting it wrong) is simply not acceptable.
For professional asbestos surveys across the Northwest, contact us. We work around your timescales and provide reports very quickly because we understand that safety and efficiency need to go hand in hand.
Published Jul 22, 2025
