1. Asbestos Fibres are not visible to the naked eye
Asbestos fibres are so small they can only be seen by a specialist microscope. You cannot physically see asbestos with the naked eye.
2. Asbestos is a "Hidden Killer"
Even now , asbestos is responsible for thousands of deaths in the UK year on year. Worryingly , this number is not going down it is increasing. Symptoms of asbestos take up to 20-30 years to develop.
3. Asbestos is only dangerous when Airborne
Asbestos is dangerous when the fibres are inhaled. If the asbestos is in good condition , unlikely to be disturbed and showing no signs of deterioration then it is safe to be left in place.
4. Asbestos can still be found in homes in the UK today
If your property was built before the year 2000 then it is best to get any suspect material checked. Cement sheeting , Vinyl Floor Tiles , Textured Coating (Artex) and Pipes are just some of the places asbestos can be found.
For a more comprehensive guide , the HSE have produced a great tool HERE
5. There are 6 Types of Asbestos!
Many are led to believe there are only 3 types of asbestos or in some cases 1. However , there are actually 6 types. 3 commonly used for building and 3 which were rarely used (if used at all)
• Chrysotile (White Asbestos) - Commonly Used in Building Materials
• Amosite (Brown Asbestos) - Commonly Used in Building Materials
• Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) - Commonly Used in Building Materials
• Tremolite - Found in paint , sealants , insulation products and talc. Not commonly used
• Actinolite - Dark in colour , used in insulation and fire proofing. Not commonly used
• Anthophyllite - Used in limited quantities for insulation and construction materials.