Understanding Where Asbestos Still Hides
If you work in property maintenance, construction, or facilities management, knowing where asbestos may still be present protects you, your team, and your clients. At TLC Environmental Services LTD, we see daily how asbestos management and asbestos removal remain essential for older UK buildings. Even though asbestos use was banned in 1999, thousands of structures built before then still contain this hazardous material.
This list outlines the types of buildings across the UK most likely to contain asbestos and why you should be aware of them.
1. Schools and Educational Buildings
Many UK schools built or renovated between the 1950s and 1980s used asbestos for insulation, ceiling tiles, and pipe lagging. Older classrooms, boiler rooms, and corridors are common risk areas. Regular asbestos surveys are vital to keep students and staff safe.
2. Hospitals and Health Centres
Public health buildings often contain asbestos in floor tiles, walls, and ceiling panels. Because hospitals operate continuously, asbestos removal here requires careful planning and containment to avoid contamination.
3. Council Housing and Social Housing Estates
Local authorities built large numbers of council homes before the asbestos ban. It can appear in roofs, insulation boards, and garage walls. Before any refurbishment, you should request an asbestos survey to avoid disturbing hidden materials.
4. Office Blocks from the Mid-20th Century
Older office blocks used asbestos to control heat and noise. It’s often found in textured coatings and fireproofing materials around lift shafts or ceiling voids. Any office renovation project should include a management plan for asbestos.
5. Factories and Industrial Units
Factories built before 1999 commonly used asbestos in roofing sheets and pipework insulation. Workers in maintenance or demolition face higher exposure risks if asbestos management procedures are ignored.
6. Public Buildings such as Libraries and Civic Halls
Community buildings often contain asbestos within suspended ceilings, boiler rooms, and decorative finishes. These spaces may appear safe until refurbishment starts, making early testing critical.
7. Retail Buildings and Shopping Centres
Many retail units and shopping centres constructed before the 1990s included asbestos in vinyl flooring and sprayed coatings for fire resistance. Any refurbishment or change of use should trigger a professional asbestos survey.
8. Railway Stations and Transport Depots
Asbestos was widely used in older train stations and depots across the UK, particularly in brake linings, insulation material, and roofing. Large transport buildings built during the post-war period remain high-risk locations.
9. Military and MOD Buildings
Barracks, workshops, and accommodation blocks built before the ban often contain asbestos materials. Maintenance teams working in Ministry of Defence sites should always assume asbestos may be present until surveys confirm otherwise.
10. Private Homes Built Before 2000
Domestic properties are one of the most common places asbestos still exists. You might find it in old floor tiles, soffits, or insulation boards around heaters. Homeowners planning extensions or loft conversions should always check for asbestos before starting work.