Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural material which was mined, refined and used in various forms to provide insulation and fire resistance in buildings. It was used in construction from the mid-19th Century until its use in new buildings was phased out from the 1970s and banned in 1999. As a result, many churches which were built or modified between 1850 and 1999 contain asbestos. When material containing asbestos is damaged, broken, drilled or otherwise disturbed, tiny fibres of asbestos escape into the atmosphere. Invisible to the naked eye, under an electron microscope the needle-like shape of the fibres is clear. These tiny needles, when breathed in, lodge in lung tissue and can cause tremendous damage over time. For this reason, the Law requires people responsible for public buildings – including churches – to take action to protect the users of those buildings from potential harm arising from asbestos exposure. Here are our Top Ten Tips for complying with the Law and keeping your building safe from harmful asbestos: DO
DO NOT
Find Out MoreTo find out more, and to read our full guidance on managing asbestos in churches, download our FREE booklet here (in PDF format). |