Asbestos is regulated at two levels in the European Union. EU law sets common minimum rules – a ban on asbestos and requirements for protecting workers who may come into contact with it – and each member state turns these into its own national legislation, often with stricter or more detailed requirements. Enforcement is handled by national authorities, typically the labour or occupational safety inspectorate. In this article we give an overview of what the rules mean in practice when you are planning a renovation. The article does not replace the official regulations, and national rules differ – if you are unsure what applies in your case, check with your country's occupational safety authority or your local municipality.
The EU asbestos ban
The use and placing on the market of all types of asbestos has been banned throughout the EU since 1 January 2005 under Directive 1999/77/EC. Many member states had already banned asbestos earlier through national law. This means that materials in buildings constructed or renovated before the national ban – 2005 at the latest, and often much earlier – may contain asbestos. In buildings constructed after that, there should generally be no asbestos, unless older materials have remained in the structures.
The ban concerns the use of new asbestos materials. Asbestos that is already built into a home does not have to be removed for that reason alone, as long as the material is not demolished or worked on. Intact material that is left undisturbed poses no risk in everyday life.
Protecting workers: Directive 2009/148/EC
Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos at work sets the EU-wide framework for work involving asbestos. Among other things, it requires that before demolition or maintenance work, the presence of asbestos is identified, that exposure is kept as low as possible, and that asbestos removal is carried out by companies with the necessary competence and trained staff. It also sets an occupational exposure limit value for asbestos fibres in the air.
The directive was amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2668, which lowers the limit value considerably and requires more sensitive fibre counting methods. Member states are transposing the amendment into national law over a transition period, so the exact requirements and dates in your country depend on national legislation.
Find out whether there is asbestos before demolition
Before you demolish, chisel, sand or drill a material that may contain asbestos, you should know what it contains. This applies to large and small projects alike. Even for a smaller home renovation – for example removing tiles, floor coverings or filler – it makes sense to check beforehand.
For a limited renovation, a sample of the material to be removed, analysed in a laboratory, is often enough. For larger renovations or demolitions, an asbestos survey is often carried out, in which an expert inspects the building, takes samples and records where asbestos is present. Whether a survey is mandatory, and who may carry it out, depends on national rules. If you plan to demolish a building or a larger part of one, ask your municipality or the competent authority what requirements apply to your project and to hazardous waste.
Who is responsible for what?
Whoever commissions a renovation should make sure that it is clear before work begins whether the materials contain asbestos. If you hire a contractor, they need to know which materials contain asbestos in order to plan the work safely – so pass on sample results and any earlier surveys to them. In an apartment building, the housing association or the building owner is usually responsible for common areas and shared pipework.
Exactly how responsibility is divided depends on the project, on who carries out the work and on national law. If you are unsure, contact your country's occupational safety authority.
Asbestos removal
If the materials to be removed contain asbestos, the work must be carried out as asbestos removal. Under the occupational safety rules, it is done by a company that has the competence required for asbestos work and whose staff are trained to handle asbestos. Many countries require such companies to hold a specific permit or registration. The work is done with enclosure and negative pressure, and the workers wear special protective equipment.
If the rules are not followed, the authorities can impose requirements and stop the work. Cleaning up rooms where asbestos dust has spread afterwards is also far more expensive than testing the materials in advance and demolishing them in a controlled way.
Asbestos waste
Under EU waste law, asbestos waste is hazardous waste and must not go in ordinary household rubbish. It must be packed tightly, for example in tear-resistant plastic sacks, and labelled. If a removal contractor does the work, they usually take care of the waste as well. If you have a small amount of asbestos waste yourself, ask your municipality or local waste service where and how you can hand it in, and follow your national rules for hazardous waste.
What do the rules mean in practice?
In practice, the rules mean that you find out whether asbestos is present before demolition. The simplest way is to take a sample of the material to be removed and send it to a laboratory for analysis. Once you have the result, you know how the demolition must be carried out.
Complying with the rules does not have to be complicated or expensive. Analysing a single sample costs a fraction of the renovation budget and ensures that the work is carried out safely and correctly. This article does not replace the official regulations – national rules differ, so always check what applies in your country – but it gives you a practical picture of what they mean for you as someone planning a renovation.