Asbestos Insulation

Asbestos Fibre

High Risk

In the world of asbestos, there is a word professionals use: Friable. All it means is “crumbly.”

While Artex or cement is hard and solid, thermal insulation is often soft. If you poked it with your finger, it would turn to dust. Because it’s so soft and contains a massive amount of asbestos (sometimes up to 85%), it is incredibly easy to inhale. Even a heavy vibration or a gust of wind in a loft can knock fibres loose.

Where might I find it?

On your pipes: It often looks like a thick, chalky white “shell” or plaster wrapped around hot water pipes. Sometimes it’s covered in a fabric “bandage” or painted over.
On old boilers: Big, old-fashioned boilers or water tanks were often coated in a thick, hand-applied asbestos “mud” to keep them hot.
In the loft: You might occasionally find “loose-fill” insulation. This looks like greyish-blue, fluffy wool, or “dirty” snow, poured between the wooden beams in your attic.

How to tell it apart from the safe stuff

It’s easy to get spooked by any pipe insulation, but most modern stuff is fine.

The Safe Stuff: If it’s bright yellow or pink “glass wool,” or grey foam that feels like a pool noodle, it is modern and safe.
The Red Flags: Look for anything that looks like corrugated paper, white chalk, or grey plaster. If the “bandage” wrapping is torn and you can see a dusty, fibrous material inside, stay away from it

What is asbestos insulation?

It comes in different forms and varies in looks.

Common throughout the 1950s and 1960s in homes and commercial properties.

It can contain 80% to 100% asbestos fibre.

Asbestos fibres have a cotton-like consistency, and the gaps between the fibres reduce the transfer of heat, giving it excellent thermal properties (resistant to heat)

Most commonly found on heating pipes and boilers and frequently found in roof spaces, wall and floors cavities. Heating Engineers would insulate boilers and heating pipes with this material in the 1950s and 1960s

For more information on asbestos or if your looking for an asbestos survey

Contact HSG Surveys 07703 203930 – 01274 959994 or fill in the contact form.

Picture showing asbestos insulation on an heating pipe

Asbestos pipe insulation

Sprayed Coating

Sprayed coating was developed to spray asbestos insulation onto steel beams and ceilings for fire protection and can be found in many older factories.

Loose Fill

For insulating lofts but can also be found where insulation would be required, such as wall and floor cavities.

Loose Fill Insulation