What is asbestos paper?

The naturally occurring mineral known as asbestos was, for the bulk of the 20th century, incorporated into a variety of products that saw widespread use in the UK. Asbestos was used in the manufacture of such items as asbestos cement roof sheets, asbestos insulating board (AIB) panels, textured decorative coatings, gaskets, rope seals, and many more.

The once-high popularity of the fibrous silicate mineral was attributable to such factors as its relative affordability, easy availability, physical strength, fire resistance, and effectiveness as an insulator. However, by around the 1970s, it was becoming known among the public that inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibres posed potentially severe health risks. This culminated in the substance’s use eventually being banned altogether in the UK, in 1999.

One asbestos-containing material (ACM) that is not always as well-recalled as some of the products cited above, is asbestos paper. So, what exactly is asbestos paper, and what are the essentials of identifying, managing, and potentially removing it from a building?

Our accredited and licensed asbestos experts at Oracle Solutions have, below, set out the key things you might need to know.

An introduction to asbestos paper

With asbestos being a naturally fibrous material, it was easily moulded, woven, and spun to create a broad range of different products. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, asbestos was also sometimes woven into thin sheets of paper. The manufacturing process entailed asbestos fibre being mixed with water, and then compressed to form asbestos paper sheets.

A key characteristic of asbestos paper was its typically very high asbestos content. It usually consisted of at least 80% chrysotile asbestos – otherwise known as “white” asbestos – and in many cases, the proportion of asbestos content was 100%. In instances where the asbestos content was lower, the asbestos fibres would be mixed with cellulose or other materials.

Asbestos paper saw use across a range of applications. These encompassed the likes of:

• Paper lining for linoleum and fibreboard
• Fuse guards in electrical components
• Covers for ironing boards
• Fire blankets and other fire products

In summary, then, asbestos paper tended to be used for the lining of secondary materials. As well as its use for insulating electrical and heat equipment, it served as an effective lining for combustible materials.

So, when you are reading guides and documentation about asbestos paper products, you might also see references to such terms as “insulation paper”, “electrical insulation paper”, and “pipe wrapping”.

What does asbestos paper look like?

When you are looking around your property for signs of asbestos paper, you shouldn’t expect this product to have a smooth surface, like the paper you use to write on. Instead, asbestos paper has a fibrous, textured, and rough appearance.

Our online gallery provides a few examples of what asbestos papers and felts tend to look like. Depending on how the given product was made, it may have a woven appearance, reminiscent of wicker or basket weaving.

You can anticipate any asbestos paper on your site being thin and flexible. It is normally white in colour, although brownish-ness or flecks of grey are also possible. There can be variations in the thickness and texture of different forms of asbestos paper, depending on their intended use. For example, flat sheets tended to be used for insulation, but layered and corrugated asbestos paper variants also exist.

The tendency for asbestos paper and felt to be used as underlay might make it tricky to spot in your property. If, however, you do see a product that you suspect to be asbestos paper, you should keep an eye out for any signs of ageing or damage. If the product shows indications of disintegration, brittleness, or powdering, this might point to a higher risk of dangerous asbestos fibres being released.

Where is asbestos paper commonly found?

As we have written about in the past, asbestos papers and felts can be found in many different parts of a building. This is partly because there are various areas within a property where lining may be required, and where asbestos paper was often historically used for such purposes.

Asbestos paper, then, may be present in such locations as the following:

• Between walls, under floors, and/or wrapped around pipes and boilers, where it served as insulation
• As a backing for electrical panels, or used in fuse boxes and wiring systems
• In roofs or under floorboards, where it was sometimes used as a backing material or fireproofing layer
• In ventilation ducts as insulation or a fire-retardant lining

As we touched on above, asbestos paper can often be difficult to spot, largely because it is sometimes concealed within the structural elements of a property.

Such was the sheer versatility of asbestos paper, it can be found in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings alike.

Asbestos paper is, however, especially likely to be present in buildings constructed prior to the 1980s. This is because, by the late 1970s, public awareness of the health risks of asbestos was increasing, and pressure was intensifying on governments and businesses to restrict and phase out the mineral’s use.

What was asbestos paper used for?

The affordability, versatility, and high resistance to heat and fire that asbestos was found to offer, led to asbestos paper being used for such applications as the following:

• Heat insulation: asbestos paper was often wrapped around hot water pipes, steam pipes, and boilers to help reduce heat loss.
• Fireproofing: the material proved its usefulness as a fire-retardant layer in walls, ceilings, and floors.
• Electrical insulation: asbestos paper was also frequently provided as a non-conductive layer in electrical equipment and wiring.
• Construction materials: the product was incorporated into buildings as a backing material for vinyl flooring, ceilings, and roofing.

Is asbestos paper dangerous?

Like other ACMs, asbestos paper presents the risk of releasing loose asbestos fibres if it is damaged, disturbed, or deteriorated. Asbestos in general is hazardous, and if loose asbestos particles are released into the air, they can be easily breathed in or ingested by someone nearby.

Such ingestion or inhalation, in turn, can greatly heighten the likelihood of the exposed individual going on to develop a potentially fatal asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer.

In this regard, yes, asbestos paper is certainly potentially dangerous. As we referenced in our previous guide to what asbestos looks like, the product itself may be thin and low in density, but the proportion of asbestos making up the product is high – typically 80% or above. It presents a medium potential of asbestos fibre release.

As is the case for other ACMs, asbestos paper is believed to pose negligible risk to health if it is in good condition and undisturbed. However, there are certain scenarios in which asbestos paper may be especially likely to become a health hazard due to disturbance or damage. These include during renovations, when old pipes are being removed, and when the material is deteriorating.

The dangers to health, then, principally arise from any airborne asbestos fibres that may emerge from the asbestos paper. This underscores the importance of ensuring this material is only handled with proper precautions.

Does asbestos paper require immediate removal?

The short answer to this question is: no, not necessarily. However, there might be certain circumstances that create a need for some form of immediate action.

Consideration of the below factors will enable you to determine whether such swift steps to remove or otherwise manage asbestos paper will be necessary at your site:

• Condition assessment: such aspects as damage, deterioration, or planned renovation work, may present the need for the asbestos paper to be taken out of the property.
• Exposure risks: if the identified asbestos paper at your premises is in poor condition, crumbling, or disturbed, the immediate removal or encapsulation of the material will be necessary.
• Encapsulation vs removal: as we have written about in the past, the encapsulation of asbestos tends to be a lot cheaper than removal. It may be an acceptable temporary solution in certain circumstances, such as if the ACMs are in good condition and in a low-risk part of the building. Otherwise, full removal of the asbestos paper might be recommended.

If you are unsure about the exact condition and risk level that asbestos paper presents in your building, or even whether there may be other ACMs at your site that need to be managed, arranging for a professional asbestos survey will greatly help with this. Following the asbestos surveying process, a detailed asbestos report will be issued, setting out the asbestos situation in your property.

Indeed, if you are an individual or organisation with clear responsibility for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises (or the “common areas” of certain domestic premises), you will be subject to the “duty to manage” asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012). A key element of this “duty” is taking reasonable steps to determine the existence, amount, location, and condition of ACMs in a given building.

An asbestos survey is often effectively mandatory for building owners and managers who seek to ensure their compliance with this “duty” set out by Regulation 4 of CAR 2012.

How can I safely manage asbestos in my building?

If the building or site for which you are responsible was constructed or renovated prior to 1999 – in other words, before all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK – there is a strong likelihood that asbestos paper won’t be the only ACM at your premises.

So, you will need to ensure your general asbestos management practices at your property are of the highest possible standards. This will encompass such elements as the following:

• Surveying and risk assessment. Such measures as having the right asbestos surveys conducted at the necessary times, as well as keeping your asbestos register and asbestos management plan updated, will be fundamental to the management of any ACMs at your site.
• Safe management practices. You can help minimise any safety risks associated with ACMs discovered at your site, through such measures as keeping asbestos paper undisturbed if it is in good condition, as well as ensuring its location is clearly labelled, and monitoring for any signs of wear.
• Regulatory compliance. As we referenced earlier in this article, building owners and managers are subject to certain asbestos management responsibilities under UK law. These include, but are not limited to, the “duty to manage” asbestos.
• Managing the impacts of planned renovation and/or demolition work. Disruptive works can present a high likelihood of ACMs, such as asbestos paper, being disturbed. It will be a legal requirement in such circumstances for you to have a refurbishment or demolition survey carried out at your site, potentially followed by the removal of certain ACMs.

Conclusion: should I be concerned about asbestos paper in my building?

The mere existence of asbestos paper at your site is not necessarily a reason to be greatly concerned. However, you should still ensure you take actions proportionate to the risk.

The better-informed you are about how to identify asbestos paper, as well as what risks it can present, and the steps you may need to take to manage and/or remove it from your premises, the better-placed you will be to deal with it in a safe and legally compliant manner.

If you are concerned about the potential presence of asbestos paper and/or other ACMs at your property, please contact Oracle Solutions’ asbestos consultants for advice and guidance.

When you do, we will be able to provide specialist services – not least professional asbestos surveying – so that you can manage on-site ACMs in a responsible way, while protecting the safety of everyone who uses your building.