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Asbestos was widely used in construction throughout the mid-20th century on residential and industrial properties to provide a range of benefits, such as insulation and fireproofing. Whilst the use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, there are still many existing buildings where it was incorporated in their construction and any building built before the year 2000 will likely contain some form of asbestos.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) asbestos materials in good condition are considered safe unless asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials become damaged. When it becomes damaged or reaches the end of its lifespan, these dangerous fibres can be released into the air, which can then be inhaled and potentially cause serious illness. If it is damaged, it will need to be removed by a specialist contractor.
Whilst removal may seem like the obvious choice, it’s often best to leave any asbestos that is in good condition as it is, as removal can cause it to become damaged and release its dangerous fibres. Removal can also be complicated, expensive and needs to be carried out by specialist teams.
As much of the asbestos used in the UK will be reaching its natural end of life, it is possible to encapsulate it rather than remove it – as long as it is still intact. As it doesn’t disturb the asbestos, the risk of dangerous airborne particles are reduced, making encapsulation a safer option that removal. Encapsulating it also keeps the asbestos out of landfill.
Encapsulation is the process of applying a protective layer to the material, which encloses the asbestos fibres within it. Not only does this help to contain the asbestos, but it also protects it from future damage.
SprayCork has now been certified for asbestos encapsulation, providing protection against dangerous asbestos fibres and preventing it from going to landfill. SprayCork comes with a 15-year product warranty for asbestos encapsulation, before it would need re–spraying to provide continued protection.
Asbestos encapsulation can be used on domestic properties as well as industrial units, but asbestos needs to be in sound condition before it is encapsulated, otherwise it will need to be removed by a specialist.
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