What exactly is asbestos and how do you recognize it?

Asbestos, a once-ubiquitous building material, poses significant health risks due to its microscopic fibers that can lead to severe diseases like asbestosis and cancer. Understanding the dangers and identifying the presence of asbestos in older homes is crucial for ensuring safety, and our blog post reveals everything you need to know about this hazardous material and how to manage it.

Asbestos is known as an unhealthy substance, but why exactly? Since 1993, it has been illegal to use asbestos in house construction. According to Wikipedia, asbestos is "a collective name for a number of naturally occurring minerals composed of fine, microscopic fibers." We researched what asbestos actually is for you, and you can read about it in this blog post!

Asbestos: a hidden danger

Asbestos is often still found in homes built before the 1980s. Back then, asbestos was a cheap material for insulating houses and buildings. It was used in corrugated iron, roofing, vinyl flooring, and chimney pipes. Asbestos is made up of microscopic fibers. If these fibers are released, for example, during a fire or renovation, they can enter the respiratory tract and the body. This increases the risk of asbestosis (asbestos-related disease) and cancer, diseases that usually don't develop until 20-40 years after exposure.

Two types of asbestos

Asbestos comes in two types: bonded (solid asbestos) and loose (loose asbestos). With bonded asbestos, the fibers are firmly anchored in the material. If this asbestos is in good condition and is not handled carelessly, hardly any fibers are released. Loose asbestos is more dangerous. In this type, the fibers are more or less loose. They are therefore easily released, especially if the material is damaged or being processed. These released fibers often have a very high asbestos content, which can vary from 75 to 100%.

How do I recognize asbestos-containing material?

Asbestos isn't always easy to identify. If you see the "AT" designation on corrugated sheeting or roof tiles, you can be sure it contains asbestos. The "NT" designation, on the other hand, stands for asbestos-free sheeting. If you can't find a code, only a laboratory can determine with 100% certainty whether the material contains asbestos. Worldwide, there are no fewer than 3,500 different types of products that contain asbestos.

What to do in case of asbestos?

Do you have or suspect the presence of asbestos in your home ? Removing asbestos yourself is subject to strict regulations. In principle, you may only remove it if no loose fibers can be released. In all other cases, you must report the asbestos to the municipality, and it must be professionally removed.

Buying a house

Thinking of buying an older home and wondering if it contains asbestos? Choose the peace of mind of a building inspection . Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation!

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