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ASBESTOS – Keep your Family Safe 
Nottingham Community Housing Association has a responsibility to manage the risk of exposure to asbestos, for staff, you the tenant, or any visitors to your property.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral which has masses of strong, flexible fibres. The asbestos fibres are not affected by heat or chemicals and they do not conduct electricity. They are stronger than steel and are resilient. It was for these reasons that asbestos was widely used in building materials particularly just after the Second World War when bricks were in short supply. There are a number of different types of asbestos. Some are more dangerous than others. There are also a number of products that look like asbestos but aren’t. You cannot tell from look, touch or smell which type of asbestos something is or if it is asbestos. The only way you can find out is with a professional test in a laboratory.
Risk of exposure to Asbestos fibres
Depending upon the type of asbestos containing material (ACM), the hazards range from very low risk to high risk. The ACM and the condition will determine whether it needs to be removed or left in place but made safe. The Health and Safety Executive advice is that if the material is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed which could cause fibre release, then leave it in place. NCHA has and will continue
to gather information through surveys to determine the presence or non-presence of ACM to all of its properties. Currently we class homes into one of four categories for ACM’s. Where we know asbestos has been present we have ether removed it or sealed it to make it safe – providing it is not drilled or removed from its current fixings. If information changes you would be provided with details of any asbestos materials in your property.
What can you do to protect yourself from the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres? We have put together this guide to asbestos materials to indicate where they could be found in a property and the risk of exposure.
Where is asbestos most commonly found?
Outside your home
• Eaves soffit on the roof
• Rainwater gutter
• Rain water pipe, and soil vent pipe
• Flue pipes & terminals
• Hip, ridge and roof tiles
• Corrugated cements sheeting (usually found on sheds and garages)
Inside your home
• Fire stop panels (inside heater cupboard doors or near heat source)
• Ceilings and wallboards
• WC cisterns made from composite materials
• Flue pipes (cement)
• Electric main fuse cupboard
• Inside panel, fibre gaskets to gas fires or Parkray solid fuel fires
• Bath panels (cement)
General Advice
If you are concerned about any suspect material in your home, consider that it may contain asbestos until proven otherwise.
There is nothing to worry about providing you follow the simple rule – if something is fixed to your home or came as part of the property then don’t drill it, hit it with a hammer, unscrew it or otherwise interfere with it.
You must not carry out structural alterations, drilling or removing panels, doors, cupboards, walls etc or other improvements to your home unless permission has been given by NCHA. This is for you’re your own safety. You may not get permission where there is a likelihood of removing or disturbing asbestos products.
Internal or external structural damage that may occur to your property may contribute to the exposure of asbestos products and therefore must be reported to a NCHA office, e.g. if asbestos cement guttering falls into the garden due to extreme weather and breaks. For more information on asbestos contact us for a copy of our leaflet ‘A Tenant’s Guide to Asbestos.’ If you need advice you should get in touch with NCHA, who will arrange for a qualified person to contact you.
Nottingham Community Housing Association has a responsibility to manage the risk of exposure to asbestos, for staff, you the tenant, or any visitors to your property.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral which has masses of strong, flexible fibres. The asbestos fibres are not affected by heat or chemicals and they do not conduct electricity. They are stronger than steel and are resilient. It was for these reasons that asbestos was widely used in building materials particularly just after the Second World War when bricks were in short supply. There are a number of different types of asbestos. Some are more dangerous than others. There are also a number of products that look like asbestos but aren’t. You cannot tell from look, touch or smell which type of asbestos something is or if it is asbestos. The only way you can find out is with a professional test in a laboratory.
Risk of exposure to Asbestos fibres
Depending upon the type of asbestos containing material (ACM), the hazards range from very low risk to high risk. The ACM and the condition will determine whether it needs to be removed or left in place but made safe. The Health and Safety Executive advice is that if the material is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed which could cause fibre release, then leave it in place. NCHA has and will continue
to gather information through surveys to determine the presence or non-presence of ACM to all of its properties. Currently we class homes into one of four categories for ACM’s. Where we know asbestos has been present we have ether removed it or sealed it to make it safe – providing it is not drilled or removed from its current fixings. If information changes you would be provided with details of any asbestos materials in your property.
What can you do to protect yourself from the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres? We have put together this guide to asbestos materials to indicate where they could be found in a property and the risk of exposure.
Where is asbestos most commonly found?
Outside your home
• Eaves soffit on the roof
• Rainwater gutter
• Rain water pipe, and soil vent pipe
• Flue pipes & terminals
• Hip, ridge and roof tiles
• Corrugated cements sheeting (usually found on sheds and garages)
Inside your home
• Fire stop panels (inside heater cupboard doors or near heat source)
• Ceilings and wallboards
• WC cisterns made from composite materials
• Flue pipes (cement)
• Electric main fuse cupboard
• Inside panel, fibre gaskets to gas fires or Parkray solid fuel fires
• Bath panels (cement)
General Advice
If you are concerned about any suspect material in your home, consider that it may contain asbestos until proven otherwise.
There is nothing to worry about providing you follow the simple rule – if something is fixed to your home or came as part of the property then don’t drill it, hit it with a hammer, unscrew it or otherwise interfere with it.
You must not carry out structural alterations, drilling or removing panels, doors, cupboards, walls etc or other improvements to your home unless permission has been given by NCHA. This is for you’re your own safety. You may not get permission where there is a likelihood of removing or disturbing asbestos products.
Internal or external structural damage that may occur to your property may contribute to the exposure of asbestos products and therefore must be reported to a NCHA office, e.g. if asbestos cement guttering falls into the garden due to extreme weather and breaks. For more information on asbestos contact us for a copy of our leaflet ‘A Tenant’s Guide to Asbestos.’ If you need advice you should get in touch with NCHA, who will arrange for a qualified person to contact you.
