Can you identify asbestos with the naked eye?

Not reliably. Materials that look the same may contain asbestos or be asbestos-free. A laboratory analysis gives you a clear answer.

Are intact asbestos materials dangerous?

The greatest risk arises when the material is damaged and fibres get into the air. Do not drill, sand or remove a suspect material until you know what it contains.

Where is asbestos typically found?

Asbestos can be found in asbestos cement boards, tile adhesive, floor adhesive, filler, vinyl flooring, vinyl floor tiles, pipe insulation and building boards, for example.

When is an asbestos test needed?

Before you drill, sand, chisel or tear out materials that may contain asbestos – especially in buildings built or renovated before asbestos was banned in your country. You can have a single material tested yourself by sending us a sample. A full survey and the removal work are carried out by a specialist contractor under the applicable worker-protection rules.

Asbestos guide

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a collective term for six naturally occurring fibrous minerals. It was used in building materials for a long time because the fibres withstand heat, chemicals and wear. Asbestos is found above all in buildings built or renovated before it was banned – throughout the EU since 2005, and earlier in many countries.

Have a material sample analysed More about asbestos samples

Facts

recognised asbestos minerals

2005

EU-wide ban on all asbestos

JEOL SEM-EDS

the analysis instrument used by Semlab

In short

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that cannot be reliably identified with the naked eye.

In intact, undisturbed materials the fibres are usually firmly bound. The danger arises when a material containing asbestos is broken, sanded, drilled or torn out and microscopic fibres get into the air you breathe. A laboratory analysis tells you whether a material contains asbestos.

Topics

The essentials about asbestos in one place

Types of asbestos

Chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite and tremolite.

Where is asbestos found?

Asbestos cement, tile adhesive, floor adhesive, filler, vinyl floor tiles, pipe insulation and many other older materials.

Asbestos and safety

When a material becomes dangerous and what to do before a renovation.

Asbestos and the rules

What you should know about the rules on asbestos before you renovate or demolish.

Definition

Why was asbestos used in construction?

Asbestos fibres are strong, non-combustible and highly resistant to heat and chemicals, so asbestos was added to many building products. All use of asbestos has been banned throughout the EU since 1 January 2005, and many countries banned it earlier. Asbestos is therefore most often found in buildings built or renovated before the ban in your country.

Asbestos cement boards and roofing sheets
Tile adhesive and floor adhesive
Filler and joint compound
Pipe and boiler insulation
Roofing felt, vinyl flooring and vinyl floor tiles

Health

When is asbestos dangerous?

The danger comes from fibres that are breathed in. Drilling, sanding, sawing or tearing out material can release fibres. Diseases caused by asbestos often develop over many years, so dust must be avoided from the start.

Identification

You cannot see asbestos from the outside

The year of construction, the type of material and the product name help you assess the risk, but only a laboratory analysis of a representative material sample gives you certainty. Asbestos removal is carried out by a qualified contractor under the worker-protection rules, which are based on EU Directive 2009/148/EC. National rules differ, so check with the authority responsible in your country.

Do not demolish until you know
Sample different materials separately
Pack the sample dust-tight
Hire professionals for a full survey

Official sources

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

Frequently asked questions

Questions about asbestos

Asbestos sample Asbestos analysis Sampling instructions Asbestos in pipe insulation Asbestos in tile adhesive Asbestos in filler and skim coat Asbestos in vinyl flooring Asbestos in vinyl floor tiles Asbestos in roofing felt

Do you suspect asbestos in a material?

Order the analysis online and pay by card, send the sample with your national postal service and receive the result on the day the sample arrives at the laboratory.

Order an analysis Sampling instructions