Written by Tom Yates . Edited 24th April 2024
Fact Checked by William Wright, NEBOSH
Asbestos roofing sheets are natrually grey in colour, however over the years the roofing may be covered with dirt or moss giving it a darker colour.
No, newer cement sheeting with the same wavey affect doesn't contain asbestos (anything manufactured post 2000 is considered safe)
However anything pre-2000 could quite possibly contain asbestos.
Taking a sample of cement roofing sheets is relatively straight forward. You should wet the material down using a hosepipe or spray bottle to ensure the product is saturated in water (this helps suppress any dust released when the material is disturbed). Then using a pair of pliars you can snap off a small easily accessible corner or edge of a sheet. (of course its important to ensure you're wearing the relevant PPE to make sure you're protected when doing so)
Asbestos cement sheeting is usually bolted down to the roof timbers using nut a bolt. You can usually see the bolt sticking up through the sheeting.
Asbestos boarding on the other hand is usually affixed using nails or screws.
Tom Yates
03/01/2023
Whilst boarding over asbestos cement boarding may be possible it certainly isnt recommended as it will be very difficult to affix the new boards without disturbing the older asbestos containing boards (unless a free standing frame is able to be built). Even so, by boarding over asbestos you’re essentially only covering it up. One day an unsuspecting home owner or tradesman may drill through the new boarding and hit the older asbestos containg boarding behind it completely unaware of its location. As such we always recommend having cement boarding removed by qualified asbestos removal specialist.
If you are the owner of the property and it is classed as a domestic dwelling then there are no laws preventing you from removing the asbestos cement yourself, however, we would always recommend instructing professionals to carry out any removal works for you to protect your health.
If you are an employee or the property is classed as non-domestic or commercial then you are bound by the laws of the HSE. You may be able to remove them yourself providing you have relevant training and experience in doing so. It's worth checking the HSE guidance on this to ensure you're not contravening any health & safety laws.
If your asbestos cement sheeting or boarding is in good condition and not deteriorating then you are fine to keep it in situ. It won't be causing any harm as the material is heavily bonded and sealed by the cement.
As a precaution you may want to apply new coatings of paint / encapsulate it every few years to maintain its condition and keep it all sealed.
However, if you need to disturb the material then encapsulation isn't going to help.
To dispose of asbestos in line with legislation the boarding should be bagged up using UN-certified asbestos waste bags. The material should be first put into the red bag which is then sealed using heavy-duty tape to create an air-tight seal. The clear bag should then be placed inside the red bag and again sealed with tape. This technique is called double-bagging. These bags can then be taken to the hazardous waste skip at a local waste recycling facility.
Full PPE Included
He's some other interesting articles we've written:
What is AIB / Asbestos Insulation Board
Get an Asbestos Removal Quote
How Much Does Asbestos Cost To Remove?
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