What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the collective name for several naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Its fibres are strong and resist heat, fire and chemical damage, which is why asbestos was used in insulation, fire protection, cement products and other materials. In Great Britain, its use was completely banned in 1999, but asbestos-containing materials may still be present in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals, not one product
Asbestos is a general name for several naturally occurring minerals that crystallise into fibres. The fibres do not dissolve in water or evaporate, and they are resistant to heat, fire, chemicals and biological breakdown; these properties made the material commercially useful. The UK Health Security Agency describes two broad mineral groups: serpentine asbestos, including chrysotile, and amphibole asbestos, which includes amosite and crocidolite. UKHSA’s asbestos general information explains the classification and the properties that led to its use.
The word asbestos can refer to the mineral fibres or to an asbestos-containing material (ACM), meaning a manufactured product in which asbestos was incorporated. That distinction matters because the visible product, its condition and the work proposed affect how it should be assessed. For a short comparison of the names commonly called white, brown and blue asbestos, see types of asbestos: white, brown and blue.
- Mineral fibres: asbestos itself is a family of naturally occurring fibrous minerals.
- Asbestos-containing materials: building or industrial products made with asbestos fibres.
- Risk context: fibres are a concern when an ACM is damaged or disturbed and fibres can become airborne.
A name is not a diagnosis
Terms such as ‘white’, ‘brown’ and ‘blue’ asbestos are historical labels, not a safe way to identify a material in a building. The material needs appropriate assessment and, where confirmation is needed, laboratory analysis.
Why asbestos was used in buildings and products
Before the ban, manufacturers used asbestos because its fibres added heat resistance, fire protection, strength and durability. Official guidance lists historic uses including insulation for buildings, boilers and pipes; car brakes; floor tiles; insulating board; and asbestos cement roofing sheets and pipes. HSE’s guide to why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found also identifies pipe and plant lagging, fireproof panels, cement roofing and sprayed coatings as examples of past building uses.
A historic use does not establish that a particular item contains asbestos. Nor does a building’s age prove that it does. HSE says asbestos may be present in a building built or refurbished before 2000, while buildings constructed after 2000 are unlikely to contain it. If you are trying to understand common places rather than confirm a material, use the room-by-room guide to where asbestos can be found in the home.
- Thermal insulation: pipes, boilers and some building components needed heat resistance.
- Fire protection: boards and sprayed coatings could be used to improve fire performance.
- Construction products: asbestos cement, tiles and other durable products were used in a range of settings.
What the 1999 UK asbestos ban changed – and what it did not
The final stage of the UK ban came in 1999. The Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 came into force on 24 November 1999 and extended prohibitions to chrysotile, often called white asbestos. UKHSA records that blue and brown asbestos had been banned since 1985 and that the ban was extended to white asbestos in 1999; HSE therefore describes asbestos as completely banned in Great Britain in 1999.
The ban did not mean that asbestos already installed in a building had to disappear immediately. HSE explains that much of it remains in place and that, when an ACM is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged, it may be managed in place. The relevant question is not simply whether a building predates 2000, but whether a material is present, what condition it is in and whether planned work could disturb it. For the current legal framework, including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, see UK asbestos regulations explained.
| Question | What the ban tells you | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Can new asbestos materials be used in building construction or refurbishment? | HSE states that using asbestos in construction or refurbishment has been illegal since 1999. | It does not confirm whether a material already in an older building contains asbestos. |
| Does a pre-2000 building have asbestos? | It may contain asbestos because it was used widely before the ban. | Age alone cannot confirm its presence, type or condition. |
| Must every existing ACM be removed? | The ban stopped use; current management duties address existing material. | It does not create an automatic removal rule for every intact material. |
| Does material type alone decide the work category? | The type is relevant to risk assessment. | Condition and work method also matter, and some work requires an HSE-licensed contractor. |
Ban history and current duties are different questions
The 1999 ban is a historical fact. Decisions about an existing material are governed by current asbestos law and HSE guidance, not by the building’s age alone.
What makes asbestos-containing material a concern
Asbestos fibres are too small to see, smell or feel in the air. HSE explains that the main concern arises when an ACM is damaged or disturbed and fibres are released into the air, where they can be breathed in; material in good condition that is not disturbed presents an extremely low risk of exposure. This is why seemingly ordinary work on an older building should not begin with a visual guess or a DIY test. HSE’s asbestos safety overview sets out the distinction between intact material and material likely to be disturbed.
This page does not assess health effects in detail. The key point is that potential exposure is linked to released fibres, not merely to knowing that an intact material exists. For a sober explanation of asbestos-related disease and why effects can take a long time to develop, read asbestos health risks.
- Intact and protected: an ACM that is in good condition and not likely to be disturbed can often be managed rather than automatically removed.
- Damaged or likely to be disturbed: the situation needs appropriate professional assessment because fibre release is the concern.
- Higher-risk materials: work on sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and most work on asbestos insulation board must be done by an HSE-licensed contractor; HSE’s licence decision guidance makes clear that risk depends on the material and work involved.
Why appearance cannot confirm asbestos
Some ACMs have familiar forms, but appearance is not proof. HSE states that the only way to confirm whether a suspect material contains asbestos fibres is to obtain and analyse a sample, and that sampling should be carried out by a suitably trained person; where there is doubt, HSE advises using a competent surveyor. The laboratory carrying out analysis must be accredited. HSE’s survey guidance explains the role of sampling and analysis.
An appearance check can still help someone recognise that a material needs caution, but it must stop short of a conclusion. The guide to what asbestos can look like explains why common visual cues are only prompts for further assessment, not a confirmation method.
| Approach | What it can establish | What it cannot establish | Appropriate next route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual observation | That a material resembles a product historically associated with asbestos. | Whether the material contains asbestos, its fibre type or the work category. | Treat it as suspect and seek competent advice before any disturbance. |
| Laboratory analysis of a properly obtained sample | Whether the sample contains asbestos fibres. | Whether every part of a building is asbestos-free or whether a particular work plan is licensable without wider assessment. | Use a competent surveyor or suitably trained sampler and an accredited laboratory. |
| Survey and risk assessment | The location, amount and condition of ACMs within the agreed survey scope, and information for management or planned work. | A guarantee about areas outside the agreed scope or future changes in condition. | Use the survey type that fits normal occupation, refurbishment or demolition work. |
How Diamond Asbestos Services routes an asbestos enquiry
Diamond Asbestos Services handles non-licensed asbestos work. Where a sample is tested, it may be analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory; UKAS accredits asbestos-testing laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025 for activities such as bulk-material identification and fibre counting. UKAS’s asbestos testing accreditation guidance describes that accreditation scope.
The boundary is deliberate: where the material, its condition and the work method mean an HSE licence is required, Diamond refers the work to an HSE-licensed asbestos contractor. HSE states that higher-risk work on sprayed asbestos, most repair or removal of asbestos insulation such as pipe lagging, and most work on asbestos insulation board must only be done by a licensed contractor. HSE’s licence-decision guidance should guide the classification; no material should be treated as automatically non-licensed simply because of its product name.
The safe route depends on the whole situation
A label such as ‘asbestos cement’ or ‘textured coating’ is not a blanket instruction. The material, its condition and the proposed work must be considered together before deciding the lawful route.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Asbestos is a collective name for several naturally occurring fibrous minerals, rather than one single substance. The fibres were valued for strength and resistance to heat and fire, which led to their use in many products. In a building, the practical concern is usually the asbestos-containing material made with those fibres and whether it may be damaged or disturbed.
Sources and further reading
- 1. Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Introduction to asbestos safety: Overview Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 2. Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 3. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Asbestos: general information Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 4. legislation.gov.uk. The Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 5. Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Arrange an asbestos survey Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 6. United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). Laboratory Accreditation | Asbestos testing Accessed 24 September 2026.
- 7. Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Deciding if the work must be done by a licensed contractor Accessed 24 September 2026.