Jul 2012 - Issue 5 - National Federation of Fish Friers

If you are a Duty holder, you must:
Find out whether your building contains asbestos and what condition it is in.
Assess the risk, e.g. if it is likely to release fibres?
Make a plan to manage that risk.
Where is asbestos found in buildings?
Corrugated sheets (Shed/garage roofs)
Rainwater goods (gutters, pipes etc.)
Roofing tiles
Flue pipes, cisterns
Door facings
Fire surrounds
Textured ceiling coating
Bath panels
Window boxes
Bitumen roof felt
Fire protection on (or in) doors
Fire partitions in loft spaces
Sandwiched in internal walls & partitions
Lining porches, canopies, soffits
Behind radiators
Airing cupboards
Behind cookers
Possible locations of asbestos material – appliances.
Fan & radiant electric heaters
Irons, toasters, washing machines, tumble driers, dish washers, refrigerators
etc.
Cookers
Iron stands
Catalytic gas heaters, gas warm air heaters, boilers
Storage heaters (‘Caposil’ blocks)
Possible locations of asbestos material in insulation boarding.
Fire protection on (or in) doors
Fire partitions in loft spaces
Sandwiched in internal walls & partitions
Lining porches, canopies, sofitts
Behind radiators
Airing cupboards
Behind cookers
Boiler casings
Issue 5 July 2012
Possible locations of asbestos material – other materials
Flooring – thermoplastic floor tiles and asbestos-paper backed PVC floors
Pipe lagging, tape, wadding
Sprayed coatings
Ropes & yarns – Caulking brickwork, jointing & packing, gaskets & seals
Fire blankets
Textured wall & ceiling coatings
Mastics, sealants, putties & adhesives
Reinforced PVC & plastics
Where do I start?
Do a desktop study to check out what you already know about your buildings,
e.g. look at plans and other documents.
Contact anyone else who may already have useful information about the
building, e.g. a surveyor, architect or contractor who knows the building.
Carry out an inspection of the building. You can do this in house, especially
if you simply assume materials contain asbestos. Or use an independent
expert if samples have to be analysed.
Record the results of the inspection, identifying the parts of the building where
asbestos may be located.
Assess the risk of asbestos fibres being released into the air from the materials
in those areas. Take into account the materials’ condition and how likely they
are to be damaged or disturbed.
Draw up a management plan. State which areas, if any, need asbestos to be
sealed, encapsulated or, as a last resort, removed.
What shouldn’t I do?
Don’t panic – asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed. If it is safely
managed and contained it doesn’t present a health hazard.
Don’t remove asbestos unnecessarily. Removing it can be more dangerous
than simply containing it.
Don’t treat all asbestos materials the same. You only need to use a licensed
contractor to work on high risk materials, such as pipe insulation or asbestos
insulating panels – not on asbestos cement which is much less dangerous.
Don’t assume you need to bring in a specialist in every case. The regulation
allows you to inspect your own building and assume materials contain
asbestos.
Don’t forget that the regulation is all about protecting maintenance workers
and others from asbestos fibres, so concentrate on practical steps to achieve
this.
Next steps:
For further information, free advice or to enquire about having a survey done
please call ASI Environmental on 0800 161 33 84 or go to our website
www.asi-surveys.co.uk.
Special discounted rates
for NFFF Members!
ASI Environmental is pleased to offer all members of the NFFF a
specially discounted price for all our services.
A. Business premises (shop) Asbestos Management Survey:
£249.00, to include all samples.
Normally anything from £350 upwards + £15.00 per sample.
B. Entire building (including living accommodation) Asbestos
Management Survey: £349.00, to include all samples.
Normally anything from £450 upwards + £15.00 per sample.
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