hidden
We have many years of experience in the industry.
We have many years of experience in the industry.
Then please contact us, we would love to hear from and give any advice that you may need. The information you supply us will be kept in the strictest confidence and will not be passed on to any third parties
Read More
Asbestos may have been banned in the UK for more than two decades, but it still lurks in thousands of buildings
constructed before 2000. Any duty-holder or property owner who manages these premises is legally required
to know exactly where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are and to keep people safe under the Control of
Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).
Below we highlight the ten building types and locations that most commonly require an asbestos management or
refurbishment & demolition (R&D) survey in 2025, explain the specific risks, and outline key compliance tips.
An estimated 80–90 % of state school buildings still contain asbestos, largely because the post-war education boom relied on quick, prefab construction that used sprayed insulation, AIB ceiling tiles and boiler lagging. Routine wear-and-tear, damage to walls in busy corridors and recent concerns over RAAC concrete mean fibres can be released without warning. As pupils and staff spend long hours in the same environment, even low-level exposure can accumulate over decades.
Compliance tip: Headteachers (or their delegated facilities managers) are duty-holders under CAR 2012. Keep a current asbestos register, train caretaking staff how to work safely and commission an R&D survey before any classroom refits or energy-efficiency upgrades.
The TUC revealed that hundreds of NHS buildings—even flagship city hospitals—still contain asbestos, with London alone recording at least 451 affected sites. Older wards can hide insulating boards in plant rooms and service ducts. High-footfall areas, heating upgrades and constant maintenance make disturbance likely, while immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable to airborne fibres.
Compliance tip: Trust estates teams should integrate asbestos monitoring into Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) systems and update permit-to-work procedures for contractors.
From libraries to civic centres—and even the Palace of Westminster—Britain’s public estate is riddled with ACMs. Experts calculate that around 87,000 public buildings still contain asbestos, driving costly remediation programmes. Budget pressures often delay full removal, increasing the importance of thorough surveys and robust management plans.
Even if individual leaseholders renovate their own flats, landlords must survey common parts—stairwells, riser cupboards and loft spaces—because these areas remain under their control. The HSE stresses that any pre-2000 block undergoing refurbishment must have an R&D survey before work begins. Historic cases show residents only discover hidden brown asbestos decades after moving in, highlighting why regular re-inspections are critical.
Mid-20th-century industrial sheds often used profiled asbestos cement roofing, sprayed wall coatings and pipe lagging. Repurposing these buildings for light-industrial or logistics uses is popular, but any change of use normally triggers structural works—making intrusive surveys mandatory under CAR 2012.
Historic shipbuilding hubs such as the Clyde, Tyne and Mersey relied heavily on asbestos for fire insulation. Decommissioned dry-docks, workshops and offices now face regeneration schemes, meaning developers must map and remove vast quantities of ACMs before construction starts. While data are patchier than for schools or hospitals, several marine-estate surveys still find high concentrations of lagging around boilers and pipework.
Large panel-system blocks and 1960s tower estates frequently incorporated asbestos spray coatings in lift shafts and service risers. Historic Hansard debates document entire estates where tenants lived for decades alongside sprayed crocidolite (“blue asbestos”).
Compliance tip: Local authorities renovating estates under Decent Homes or net-zero retrofit schemes should schedule asbestos abatement early to avoid programme delays.
Redundant coal and oil-fired stations contain kilometres of lagged pipework and asbestos cement board. High-profile redevelopments (e.g. riverside conversions) demonstrate the scale and cost of full removal. Duty-holders must therefore budget significant time for surveys, analytical air monitoring and phased strip-outs before any demolition can proceed.
Any building erected before 2000—and slated for intrusive works—must undergo an R&D survey that “locates and identifies all ACMs, including those hidden within the fabric”, per the HSE. Skipping this step can halt projects mid-build, attract HSE improvement notices or lead to hefty fines.
Suspended ceilings, service voids and older boiler rooms make post-war offices a common asbestos hotspot. Multi-tenanted sites often change fit-outs, so duty-holders must keep an up-to-date asbestos register and share it with every subcontractor.
Asbestos may be “old news”, but for anyone managing pre-2000 property it remains a live risk and a legal responsibility. By commissioning the right survey—management surveys for routine occupation and R&D surveys for any refurbishment—you protect occupants, contractors and your own organisation from prosecution or multi-million-pound claims.
Need help? 247 Asbestos Services is UKAS-accredited for management, R&D and re-inspection surveys. Contact our Midlands head office on 0330 097 3369 or email info@247asbestosservices.net for a free compliance review.