Asbestos in my Home - Hyde Housing Association

Asbestos
in my Home
A Guide for Residents

What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a very hard wearing mineral which is resistant to heat, fire,
electrical currents and chemicals; so it used to be used in all sorts of
building materials, particularly during the 1960s and 70s.
Is asbestos still used in building materials?
No. It was found that it could cause serious health problems, so its use
in building materials was banned. Since 1976 British manufacturers
have had to display labels on any of their products with asbestos in
them and since 1999, no materials with asbestos in them have been
used at all, so properties built from1999 onwards definitely don’t have
asbestos in them.
Why can asbestos cause health problems?
Asbestos is made up of tiny fibres, many of which are too small for us
to see. They only cause health problems when building materials that
have asbestos in them start to crumble with age or the material that
the fibres are in is disturbed. Then, the tiny asbestos fibres start to float
about in the air and when we breathe in, they can go down into our
lungs. This can lead to lung diseases such as asbestosis or lung cancer.
Can I tell if I’ve got asbestos in my home?
No, it’s very hard to tell the difference between materials with asbestos
in from those that haven’t got it in. Many modern products that are now
used instead of materials with asbestos in them look very similar. This
is why specially trained people need to come in and check for asbestos.
There’s no need to panic though, because even if there’s asbestos in
any materials in your home, as long as these materials are left in a
sealed condition and aren’t disturbed, there’s no risk of harm being
caused to anyone.
What about if I want to do some DIY work?
If we’ve told you that you have asbestos in your home, we’ll have let
you know where it is. Always contact us first before starting any DIY that
might disturb materials that have asbestos in them.
Also, contact us if you’re not sure whether there might be asbestos in
any of the materials that will be disturbed by your DIY.
Who shall I contact if I’m worried or have any
more questions?
Call our Customer Services on 0800 389 6646
For text relay from a text relay phone add 18001 before the
number you want to call or to use Text phone dial 020 8297 7501
or email customerservices@hyde-housing.co.uk
Where can I find out more detailed information about
asbestos?
The Environment Agency on 03708 506 506
The Health & Safety Executive at www.hse.gov.uk
Your local Environmental Health Department at the Council
What should I do if I damage any materials with
asbestos in them?
Keep calm and call 0800 389 6646 immediately
For text relay from a text relay phone add 18001 before the number
you want to call or to use Text phone dial 020 8297 7501
Don’t try to repair the damage or clean it up at all – this includes trying
to brush or hoover it up.
What about if I want to have some changes made to
my property?
Any major changes that you’re thinking of having done must be
approved by Hyde, whether or not your property has materials in it
that have asbestos in them.
Remember...
You need to contact Hyde before
carrying out any work on your
property
Materials containing asbestos
which are in good condition and
which aren’t disturbed, are safe
and don’t put your health at risk
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Materials which may contain asbestos
Here are some of the many different
places that asbestos can be found
in materials used in homes built up
until 1999.
Facia and soffit boards
Roof felt or lining
panels
Roof sheets or tiles
Hot pipe insulation
Garage roofs
Panels beneath
window frames
Bath panels
Soil (toilet) ventilation
pipes
Textured coatings and
ceiling panels
Garage facia boards
Window linings
Panels behind
fires or heaters
Partition walls
Floor tiles and linoleum
products in kitchens and
bathrooms
Service ducting
Rainwater downpipes
Fire door panels
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Notes
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The Hyde Group
The Hyde Group, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ
0800 389 3576 www.hyde-housing.co.uk
facebook.com/hydegroup twitter.com/hydehousing