Is Asbestos Cement Dangerous?

Yes, asbestos cement can be dangerous because it contains asbestos. However, it is generally considered a lower-risk asbestos-containing material because the asbestos fibres are tightly bound within the cement. The risk of asbestos exposure increases significantly when the material is damaged, broken, drilled, cut or otherwise disturbed.

Call Removerr on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk for a quotation.

What is asbestos cement?

Asbestos cement is a building material that was widely used throughout the UK before asbestos products were banned. It was made by mixing asbestos fibres with cement and water to produce a strong, durable material that could be formed into products such as corrugated roofing sheets, cement boards, soffit and fascia boards, guttering, downpipes, soil pipes and flue pipes.

Typically, asbestos cement contains around 10–15% asbestos, with chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, being the type most often found. The asbestos fibres are bound within the hardened cement, which makes them less easily released than fibres in some other asbestos-containing materials.

This is why asbestos cement is generally regarded as a lower-risk form of asbestos, although it is certainly not risk-free. The risk of exposure increases when asbestos cement is damaged, broken or otherwise disturbed.

Asbestos cement products containing asbestos are no longer manufactured in the UK, with modern fibre-cement products now using alternative fibres.

When Does Asbestos Cement Become Dangerous?

Asbestos cement becomes more dangerous when it is damaged or disturbed, allowing asbestos fibres that were previously bound within the cement to be released. This can happen when asbestos cement is broken, drilled, cut, sanded or smashed into smaller pieces, particularly if power tools are used.

The problem is that asbestos fibres are extremely small and cannot normally be seen with the naked eye. If you accidentally break an asbestos cement sheet, for example, you cannot simply look around and determine whether asbestos fibres have been released into the air. What may appear to be ordinary dust can contain microscopic asbestos fibres that can be breathed into the lungs.

This is one of the reasons it is important to identify asbestos-containing materials before carrying out building, renovation or demolition work. If asbestos cement is in good condition, keeping it intact and avoiding unnecessary disturbance significantly reduces the likelihood of fibres being released.

Related guide: Are Asbestos Fibres Visible to the Human Eye?

Can You Tell Asbestos Cement by Looking at It?

For the average homeowner, identifying asbestos cement just by looking at it can be difficult. Many asbestos cement products have a distinctive appearance, but there are also modern fibre-cement products that can look very similar.

From experience, I receive plenty of enquiries from homeowners who are unsure whether a soil pipe, guttering, flue pipe, garage roof or corrugated boiler house roof contains asbestos. In many cases, the appearance of the material, together with information such as the age of the property or when the building was constructed, can give a good indication of whether it is likely to be asbestos cement.

However, appearance alone cannot provide a definite identification. If you are unsure about a material, particularly before cutting, drilling, breaking or removing it, the safest approach is to treat it as potentially containing asbestos until it has been properly identified.

Is Asbestos Cement Safe if Left Undisturbed?

In most cases, asbestos cement that is in good condition and left undisturbed presents a low risk. For example, an asbestos cement garage roof that remains intact, with no significant cracks or damage, does not necessarily need to be removed simply because it contains asbestos. Asbestos cement is a hard-wearing material and the fibres remain tightly bound within the cement when it is in good condition.

In my experience, asbestos cement is often removed because of changes being made to a property rather than because the material has suddenly become dangerous. A garage or outbuilding may be demolished, an old roof replaced, or asbestos may be identified during renovation work. Some homeowners also simply prefer to have known asbestos-containing materials removed from their property.

The same applies to other asbestos cement products. An old asbestos soil pipe may have remained undisturbed for decades but need replacing during a bathroom renovation when new waste pipes need to be installed. Asbestos guttering is often removed when old brackets and fittings begin to fail, while asbestos cement flue pipes commonly become redundant when an old heating system is replaced.

The important point is that the presence of asbestos cement does not automatically mean it needs to be removed. If it is in good condition and can remain undisturbed, leaving it in place may be perfectly appropriate. Removal often becomes necessary when the material deteriorates or when renovation, demolition or other work means it can no longer be left alone.

Does Asbestos Cement Deteriorate With Age?

Asbestos cement can deteriorate with age, although the age of the material alone doesn’t necessarily tell you what condition it will be in. I have removed asbestos cement products that have been in place for 50 or 60 years and are still remarkably solid, while others of a similar age have shown much more obvious signs of deterioration.

The environment in which the asbestos cement has been installed can make a significant difference. External products such as corrugated roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes are continually exposed to rain, frost, wind and changes in temperature. Over many years, this weathering can gradually affect the surface of the cement and, in some circumstances, cause it to become more brittle.

Asbestos cement that has been protected from the elements can remain in surprisingly good condition for decades. This is why condition is generally more important than age when assessing an asbestos cement product. Cracking, broken edges, significant surface deterioration or material that has become noticeably brittle are more useful indicators that its condition is beginning to change.

How Should Asbestos Cement Waste Be Disposed Of?

Although asbestos cement is considered a lower-risk asbestos-containing material, it still contains asbestos and must be handled and disposed of correctly. The fact that the fibres are bound within the cement does not mean that the material is risk-free, particularly once it has been removed, damaged or broken.

From experience, I regularly receive calls from homeowners and contractors after asbestos cement has already been removed and is sitting on the property awaiting disposal. This could be an old soil pipe, guttering and downpipes, asbestos cement roof slates or corrugated roofing sheets from a garage, shed or boiler house.

One of the difficulties is that asbestos cement cannot simply be taken to your local recycling centre or disposed of with normal household or construction waste. There are only a limited number of authorised waste facilities in Northern Ireland that accept asbestos waste.

Removerr provides asbestos cement removal and collection services throughout Northern Ireland, including corrugated roofing sheets, soil pipes, guttering and downpipes, flue pipes and other asbestos cement waste.

Before any asbestos is removed from the property, we submit the required waste documentation to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The asbestos is appropriately double-bagged or double-wrapped before being transported for disposal, and once it has been accepted and signed off at the disposal facility, both homeowners and contractors receive a copy of the completed paperwork for their records.

For asbestos cement removal and collection in Northern Ireland, contact Removerr for a quotation. Call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.