The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory. The result of the test will lead you to the next step. Accordingly, if the material contains less than 1% asbestos, it is safe and does not require removal.
Manufacturers previously commonly printed batch codes on the underside of roofing panels. So it may be worth checking to see whether you can notice any. The batch code identifying asbestos is AC, while for cement fibres it's C or CE.
1989: Asbestos Ban and Phaseout Rule
The rule would have been effective August 25, 1989, but the asbestos lobby successfully fought the ban in court.
What does asbestos cement roofing look like? The roof panels are normally a cloudy grey colour and look like a blend of different materials. They are most commonly corrugated (wavy) sheeting like the attached picture.
If you see wood grain behind the peeled paint, it's wood. The varying shingle sizes are another clue that it's wood; asbestos shingles are manufactured and generally a standard (and wider) width. If you see an off-white material with slightly ``fuzzy'' (it's a very fine grit) edges, it's more likely to be asbestos.
How can I check for asbestos in a pitched or flat roof? If you are the property owner, you have several options available to you. Firstly, you could arrange a survey with a specialist asbestos professional, or, you could sample the asbestos roof yourself using an asbestos testing kit.
The three most common asbestos colours that you're most likely to come across whilst working are chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos).
The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA only recommends testing suspect materials if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if you are planning a renovation that would disturb the suspect material.
Whether it is asphalt, concrete, or other materials, almost all petroleum-based roofing materials once contained asbestos fiber. While we now understand the true life-threatening risk of using asbestos, it was once one of the most popular additives for roofing materials.
Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk. The chances of your ceiling containing asbestos are low for any installations in the late 1980s or after. Newly constructed ceilings don't use asbestos.
For instance, many schools were built during the 1950s and 1960s when asbestos was very commonly used for building materials. Most old asbestos ceiling tiles look light colored, slightly textured and powdery white. They often have small dotted indentations.
Asbestos shingles, which are no longer made, can last at most 30 years but aesthetic and performance deterioration is evident much earlier. At this point, it can not be repaired, so it must be replaced and removing them requires special asbestos remediation.
Asbestos Roof Felt. Asbestos roofing felt provided a fire-resistant underlayment for roofs from the 1940s until well into the 1980s. Uncoated roofing felt was comprised of up to 87 percent asbestos. Roofers may have consequently been exposed to significant levels of asbestos almost daily when it was in popular use.
One-time exposure to asbestos can cause diseases, including mesothelioma cancer. Researchers have found repeated exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing asbestos-related cancers. The risk to individuals who have a one-time exposure to asbestos is generally lower compared to long-term or repeated exposure.
Taking samples yourself is not recommended. If building materials in your home aren't damaged and won't be disturbed, you do not need to have your home tested for asbestos. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed (by remodeling, for example) should be left alone.
Homes built before the 1980s likely have asbestos in them. For instance, if these homes have popcorn ceilings or vinyl flooring, they may contain asbestos. A simple rule is the newer a home is, the less likely it has asbestos materials. Homes built before the 1980s are likely to contain the mineral somewhere.
When was asbestos used in homes? Because of its fire resistant and insulating properties, asbestos was commonly used between 1900 and 1980. Many homes built before the 1980s still contain asbestos ceiling tiles, insulation, piping, and flooring that must be professionally encapsulated or removed for health reasons.
Before building, repair or maintenance work starts
If no records are available, or you are unsure about their accuracy, you may need to arrange a survey and analysis of representative samples to determine the presence, type and condition of asbestos.
The only way to know for sure whether your roof contains asbestos is to have a sample tested by professionals in a certified laboratory. The result of the test will lead you to the next step.
What do asbestos roof tiles and slates look like? Roofing tiles that contain asbestos often have a white, grey, or blue-white colour, however, as previously mentioned, other tiles made from safe materials also share these colours.
Asphalt roofing products, which may contain asbestos, include built-up roofing; asphalt-containing single ply membrane systems; asphalt shingles; asphalt-containing underlayment felts; asphalt-containing roof coatings and mastics; and asphalt-containing base flashings.