Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Asbestos
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What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a strong fibrous mineral, which can resist heat and chemicals. It was commonly used in building materials between the 1950's and 1980's. Almost all buildings constructed or altered during this period are likely to contain asbestos.
Products containing asbestos can look the same as those that do not. Often the difference can only be found under a microscope by a specialist laboratory.
Am I at risk?
You will not be at risk if products that contain asbestos are undisturbed and undamaged. If they do become damaged or deteriorate, t
hen you and others may be at risk as asbestos fibres may be released into the air.
Current scientific advice tells us that if materials are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, then the risk presented is minimal.
DIY activities such as sanding or drilling may disturb and possibly damage products containing asbestos. So that you do not put yourself at risk, please seek advice from the Woking Repairs Service before carrying out such work.
We can arrange to have a sample taken and tested to establish if it contains asbestos. We will tell you and further work will be carried out if necessary. This service is provided free for our tenants, but leaseholders are, as always, responsible for their own fixtures and fittings.
It should be emphasised that asbestos does not present a hazard to health provided it is in good condition, however where asbestos is damaged we will deal with it in a safe and appropriate way.
The Council assures tenants and leaseholders that it follows all the rules and regulations concerning asbestos very strictly, and that your health and safety is our most important consideration.
Where could asbestos be found in my home?
The following is a list of the typical places where asbestos containing materials have been found within properties. This list is not exhaustive.
Exterior of building
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roof sheets and tiles
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fascia boards
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exterior cladding
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guttering and drain pipes.
Boilers
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insulation to boilers
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boiler flue pipes
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storage radiators.
Interior surfaces
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textured wall and ceiling coatings (e.g. artex)
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duct panels (access to pipe work)
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infill panels (above, below or next to doorways/windows)
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panels behind radiators/heaters
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floor tiles
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suspended ceiling panels
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underside of stairs.
Other items
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bath panels
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fireplace panels
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panels to underside of sink
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water tank
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pipe lagging
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garage and shed roofs
All these items may contain asbestos and should be treated as such unless you know otherwise, e.g. you know it has been removed and replaced by a non-asbestos product.
What is the Council doing?
The Council will reduce the exposure of asbestos (as far as possible), for its tenants, their visitors and contractors working on the properties.
The Council has done this by:
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Carrying out surveys to identify asbestos containing material in all Council homes and other buildings (e.g. garages).
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Compiling and maintaining a comprehensive asbestos register.
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Assessing the risk from materials containing asbestos in all of its properties.
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Developing and implementing arrangements to manage the risk arising from materials containing asbestos.
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Ensuring that the arrangements put in place are carried out.
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Providing information about the presence, location and condition of materials containing asbestos to tenants and any other persons who will potentially be exposed to asbestos within the Council's properties.
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Ensuring that the appropriate actions are taken by any persons who are likely to disturb materials containing asbestos including staff, contractors and tenants.
I am a leaseholder - what should I do?
Under the terms of your lease you are responsible for all fixtures and fittings within your property which includes artex and floor tiles. Woking Borough Council remains responsible for the building structure.
Items you suspect contain asbestos are best left in place if in good condition. For example, if you wish to lay carpet instead of floor tiles, lay it directly on top, but use tape to hold it down instead of carpet grippers.
If you want to remove ceiling artex then you are advised to seek a specialist contractor for advice.
If items become damaged it is possible to do a limited amount of removal yourself. The Environmental Health Service or the Health and Safety Executive can provide essential advice on safety precautions.
If you do remove or seal asbestos as described, we ask you to inform future owners and our Housing Enabling team so that this information can be passed on.
Seeking advice
Woking Repairs Service can, if you are a Tenant or Leaseholder of Woking |Borough Council, answer queries you may have regarding the presence of asbestos in your home. The telephone number is 0800 521555.
Take care when doing DIY
If you have asbestos materials in your home, extra care should be taken when doing DIY. Do not attempt to carry out work before contacting the Council for advice.
Contact us
If you think you have an asbestos problem in your home or would like further information on asbestos, please contact Woking Repairs Service at:
Monument Way East
Unit 14a
Woking
Surrey
GU21 5LY
Tel: 0800 521555