Asbestos

​

It's one of those subjects that we are all aware of, know that its dangerous, but on the other hand its something we still know little about. Remarkably its been around for thousands of years becoming commercially used as we know it today and used extensively just after the second world war until its ultimate ban in 1999.

​

Once hailed as the architects dream, a material with incredible properties, such as heat proof, fire retardant, acid resistant, incredible strength when added to other materials, a non conductor of electricity and an anti-condensate barrier to name but a few. Asbestos can be found in products that were never expected.

But here we are today, left by our ancestors unknowingly with products containing asbestos which we now know to be human carcinogens. Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) and causes around 5000 deaths every year in the UK alone.

​

Asbestos was mined from the earth in pretty much the same way as copper, coal and iron and processed and added to products for varying reasons. Asbestos products as we know them have been around for years and will remain so whilst they fulfill the job that they were designed for and remain in good condition.

​

The UK government recognise the dangers associated with asbestos, and advise that

​

• Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is  more than the number of people killed on the road.

• Around 20 tradesman die each week as a result of past exposure

• However, asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.​

​

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases.

​

These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now

​

At Ferncroft, we understand asbestos better than most, with our founder having worked for the last 40 years or so in the asbestos removal, management and remediation sector dealing with its safe removal, disposal, education and management.

​

Its difficult to know what contains asbestos, so to be sure we have developed over the years our surveying and testing service. Samples are sent to a network of UKAS accredited laboratories for determination and presence of asbestos. 

​

Below we have added some resource buttons, that will take you to further available information, alternately if you are concerned or require some additional information, feel free to give us a call.