Whilst asbestos may sound like a 20th Century
problem, its effects are still being felt today, as
Rob Bettinson, Development Manager at the
United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
illustrates. “Many years ago, asbestos was
considered to be the latest wonder material for
its high resistance to heat and other chemicals.
Consequently it was added to thousands of
different products, ranging from wall panels and
tiles to lagging and painting materials. It was
only several years later that its adverse effects
were first identified, and it took until 1999 to
finally ban it from being used in building
materials. This means that any building
constructed prior to that ban could contain
asbestos somewhere in it.”
Despite being a hazardous substance, the
presence of asbestos in a building isn’t
necessarily a problem, as Bettinson goes on to
explain. “Provided the asbestos is identified,
monitored, maintained and removed where
necessary, the potential risks can be properly
managed.” The regulations governing asbestos
in buildings stipulate that anyone who is in
control of the maintenance of an industrial
facility has a duty to manage asbestos.
A necessary part of that process involves having
a survey carried out, and the materials tested
and analysed.
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