Asbestos Survey Tunbridge Wells

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral long known for its heat resistance and its ability to serve as an effective insulation. It has been used by humans on a small scale for thousands of years but did not see widespread use as a building material until the mid-20th century.

As large-scale mining of asbestos became routine in the mid-20th century the health hazard it presented gradually became apparent. Nonetheless, it was not until 1999 that its use was finally banned in the UK. But by then asbestos-related products had already been installed in countless homes nationwide.

Unlike most other potentially dangerous materials the threat from asbestos typically takes years to manifest. That's because it is not until the asbestos product begins to degrade over time that asbestos fibres are finally released into the air and breathed in by the unsuspecting. As a result it is not unusual for serious health problems to arise decades after an asbestos-based product was first installed.

If you have asbestos insulation, tiles or other products in your home they can still pose a lethal threat, even if they were installed 50 or more years ago. For proof of that look no further than government statistics that indicate every year some 5,000 people in the UK still die from asbestos-related conditions.

Before the asbestos in your home can be effectively removed it must be rooted out and its condition assessed. This is the purpose of the asbestos survey.