The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is the best place to find this information:
- Asbestos Containing Materials should be looked at by an expert
- Dealing with asbestos is the responsibility of the homeowner.
- Home improvements can disturb asbestos-containing materials and cause major health and safety concerns.
Asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) become dangerous to health if they are damaged, disturbed or deteriorating. Scientists are now expressing that asbestos in situ does have an expiration date of approximately 60 years. So even if the ACM has not been disturbed, the fibres may eventually release due to age.
An asbestos assessment (also known as an asbestos survey, asbestos audit, or asbestos inspection) should provide the information you need to prevent unnecessary exposure to asbestos fibres.
An asbestos assessment should always be carried out before starting any renovation work. Further information is available on the ASSEA Asbestos in the home Webpage and on their fact sheet Arranging a residential asbestos assessment