Safety tip of the week: recognising asbestos and stopping in time

Asbestos can be present in homes built before 1994, for example in corrugated sheets, floor coverings, pipes and boards around the chimney. You cannot reliably recognise it by sight, so stop immediately if you suspect asbestos and have it inspected by a certified company. Below we explain where asbestos can be found and what to do.

Where can asbestos be found?

Do you live or work in a building from before 1994? Then it may contain asbestos. Think for example of:

• corrugated sheets and flat slates on the roofs of houses, sheds and garages;
• wall panels and fireproof boards, for example around a fireplace or stove;
• old floor tiles and vinyl flooring, sometimes hidden under a newer floor;
• pipes and ducts, and old applications around pipework;
• sealing rope, some sealants and sprayed asbestos;
• old appliances such as electric heaters and irons.

Can you recognise asbestos yourself?

No, not with certainty. Asbestos cannot be reliably identified with the naked eye. In doubt? Then assume it is asbestos until proven otherwise. Only a certified asbestos survey company can establish whether it really contains asbestos, and advise whether it can stay or should be removed. Renovating or buying a house? That is the moment for a survey.

What should you do if you suspect asbestos?

The most important rule is simple: stop. Leave the material alone and find out what it is first.

• Do not drill, saw, sand, grind or break material you are not sure is asbestos-free.
• Is it intact and undamaged? Leave it alone and have a survey carried out before you continue the job.
• Is it already damaged? Leave it where it is. Moving it only releases more fibres. Do not sweep, vacuum or clean up, do not go back into the room and keep housemates, children and pets away. Call in a certified company to assess the situation.
• Renting? Contact your landlord, who as owner is responsible.

Removing asbestos is almost always a job for a certified removal company. Private individuals may only do it themselves in a few limited cases, for example undamaged, screwed-on sheets up to a maximum of 35 m² per address, and only after submitting a demolition notification via the Omgevingsloket (the Dutch environment and planning portal). Even then it is often discouraged: better leave it to a professional.

Checklist: working in a home built before 1994

• Do I know how old the building is?
• Has an asbestos survey already been done, or is there a safety card in the meter cupboard?
• Have I checked which materials I am going to break open, drill through or remove?
• In doubt? Then I stop first and have it tested.
• Am I wearing the right protective equipment for ordinary demolition and sanding work?

💡 Tip: before starting a renovation, take photos of the areas you are going to tackle: the floor under the old vinyl, the boards around the fireplace, the roof of the shed. Then you can show exactly what you mean when you ask for advice.

A dust mask, gloves and safety glasses belong to every demolition and sanding job. But note: a dust mask does not make working on asbestos safe. With asbestos, stop and call in specialists. Also read our guide to safe working on the construction site and our tips on checking your roof after a storm.

What do DIYers often ask about asbestos?

Is asbestos always dangerous?

Not while it is undamaged and left alone. The danger comes when fibres are released and inhaled, for example through drilling, sawing, breaking or weathering of an old asbestos roof.

I accidentally drilled into material that may contain asbestos. What now?

Stop immediately, leave the material and the dust where they are and leave the room. Keep others away and do not clean anything up yourself. Have a certified company assess it, or call your landlord if you rent.

May I remove a few asbestos sheets myself?

Only under strict conditions: undamaged, firmly bonded, fixed with screws, removable in one piece, a maximum of 35 m² per address and after a demolition notification. In doubt about any of these points? Then call in a certified company.

Do ordinary roof tiles contain asbestos?

No, and thatched roofs don't either. It can be found in corrugated sheets, flat roof slates and sometimes bitumen.

Keep working safely with Saniso

• Browse our respiratory protection for dust during ordinary demolition, drilling and sanding work.
• Also find work gloves, eye protection and other workwear and personal protective equipment.
• Questions about your job or the right protective equipment? Get in touch with us.

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