When did Artex stop using asbestos in the UK?

The textured decorative coatings often referred to as “Artex” are instantly recognisable for many people in the UK, so ubiquitous have they long been in homes and offices. These typically white internal coatings, with their distinctive stippled or swirled effects, have commonly been applied to walls and ceilings in UK properties; historically, however, they also contained asbestos.

Today, asbestos is a notorious and banned carcinogen in the UK. For much of the 20th century, however, this naturally occurring mineral had a reputation as a “wonder material”, and was incorporated into Artex coatings to help boost their physical strength.

Although Artex and “Artex-style” coatings are still manufactured in the UK, the currently made versions no longer contain asbestos. Indeed, the importation and use of asbestos in this country was banned altogether in late 1999.

Long before this date, however, non-asbestos-containing Artex had started to become available. So, when exactly did Artex cease to use asbestos in the UK? Below, we answer this common question, and plenty of others.

What is Artex and why was asbestos used in it?

It is important to emphasise that “Artex” is a brand name, albeit one that has often been used in reference to internal textured or decorative coatings in general. Other brands have long existed that provide similar products, encompassing the likes of “Suretex”, “Wondertex”, “Newtex”, “Marblecoat”, and “Pebblecoat”.

The official product called Artex has long been manufactured by the company that was formerly known as Artex Ltd, but which has recently rebranded itself to Okarno. Artex textured finish continues to be a part of the business’s product range to this day.

Artex coatings were especially widely used in the UK from the 1960s until the 1990s. For much of this time, however, asbestos was mixed into the product, to help improve its fire resistance and durability. The manufacturer has previously stated that the fibrous silicate mineral was used to promote the dewatering and curing of the product.

When did Artex start and stop using asbestos?

As we referenced in our previous guide to what various forms of asbestos-containing material (ACM) look like, the existence of asbestos decorative coatings can be traced back as far as the 1880s, long before Artex Ltd itself was founded in 1935. Indeed, the term “Artex” is believed to be short for “asbestos reinforced textured coating”.

From the perspective of looking around your own UK residential or commercial property, you need to be especially vigilant if the building was constructed or renovated at some point between the 1960s and 1999. This is because it was during this era that asbestos-containing Artex (and “Artex-style”) internal decorative coatings saw particularly frequent use.

As awareness grew of the potentially severe health risks of asbestos, an asbestos-free version of Artex became available from 1976. The asbestos-containing variant of the product was then discontinued in 1984, followed by the UK passing legislation to ban all forms of asbestos in 1999.

Did all Artex products immediately stop containing asbestos after 1999?

Although asbestos-containing Artex ceased manufacture in 1984, existing stockpiles of the product were still being installed in UK properties well into the later 1990s. So, if your property was constructed or renovated in 1985 or later, while there is a good likelihood that any Artex coatings inside won’t contain asbestos, you can’t presume this is definitely the case.

Even the 1999 legislation banning the purchase, sale, import, or export of any materials containing asbestos, did allow ACMs to be used until the end of their service life. So, there was a slight lag between the ban being imposed and builders using up their stockpiles of asbestos-containing construction materials.

It is best to presume, then, that any Artex coating applied before the year 2000 could still contain asbestos. The likelihood of asbestos being found in any UK property constructed or renovated after the year 2000 is low, but not zero.

How can you determine whether your Artex contains asbestos?

Knowing exactly when a given Artex coating in your property was installed (or is likely to have been installed) will greatly aid your efforts to determine whether it is likely to contain asbestos.

However, simply knowing the installation date – and looking at the coating – will not be enough to confirm whether asbestos is or is not present in the material. After all, the asbestos in Artex only usually accounted for around 1% to 4% of the overall product. Furthermore, such is the smallness of asbestos fibres, they are not visible to the naked eye even if they are released into the air.

So, for a definitive answer to the question of whether a given Artex coating in your building does or does not contain asbestos, our experts at Oracle Solutions recommend the use of a reputable professional asbestos testing service. Ask us about our own asbestos sample testing service, and an expert from our team can capture samples from the coating, with these then undergoing analysis at a UKAS-accredited laboratory.

It can be a tricky task to capture a representative sample of an asbestos-containing Artex coating, given that the exact concentration of asbestos can vary throughout the coating. This, alongside the health risks the process of trying to take a sample can present, means you should be arranging for a certified professional to carry it out, instead of attempting to do it yourself.

What are your options if your Artex contains asbestos?

In the event of samples from your property’s Artex coating testing positive for asbestos, you will need to decide on the appropriate action to take in light of this. Depending on the exact situation at your building, you might consider one of the below steps:

Leave the Artex undisturbed

ACMs – such as asbestos-containing Artex – are believed to pose negligible risk to health if they are in good condition and undisturbed. So, if the given Artex coating in your property shows no signs of damage and is in a location where future disturbance is unlikely, the most sensible course of action might be to leave it in place.

It is important to be aware in this regard of the “duty to manage” asbestos under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012). This provision is applicable to those responsible for repairing non-domestic premises, as well as the “common areas” of certain domestic premises, such as the foyers, staircases, and lifts in blocks of flats.

Arranging to regularly inspect and document the condition of the Artex coating in your property – whether it is a residential or commercial building – will enable you to take swift and appropriate action in the event of damage or deterioration being noticed.

You should also inform on-site staff or contractors about any ACMs, to help ensure they do not inadvertently disturb these materials.

Arrange for encapsulation of the Artex

The encapsulation of asbestos-containing Artex entails the application of a sealant or protective coating to the material. This has the effect of containing the fibres in place, so that even if accidental disturbance does occur to the Artex in the future, potentially dangerous asbestos particles won’t be released into the air.

You might have your Artex coating encapsulated if it is slightly damaged, or if it is in an area of the property that presents a risk of disturbance. If you are a “dutyholder” under CAR 2012, you should continue to monitor any encapsulated ACMs in your building, in addition to keeping the asbestos management plan (AMP) up to date.

Manage and monitor the Artex

You might determine – with the assistance and advice of a professional asbestos consultant – that a given Artex coating at your site doesn’t require immediate action but will need to be checked regularly. In this case, it will be important to schedule routine inspections to assess the material’s condition.

If any changes become apparent through this management and monitoring process, you will need to keep a record of these. In the event of deterioration being detected, taking suitable action will be crucial for addressing the risk.

Have the Artex professionally removed

The professional removal of your building’s asbestos coating will be necessary if it is highly damaged, or if you plan renovation work at the property that will disturb the material.

By hiring licensed asbestos removal contractors that have a good industry reputation, you can ensure the Artex removal at your property will be undertaken in a safe and compliant manner.

Following the licensed removal of asbestos at a building for which you are legally responsible in accordance with CAR 2012, you will also need to ensure a fastidious four-stage asbestos clearance process is followed. On completion of this process, an asbestos clearance certificate will be issued.

Restrict access to the Artex

An asbestos-containing Artex coating may be situated in a high-risk area of your property where immediate removal isn’t possible. In these circumstances, it may be necessary to secure the given area with warning signs, while limiting access to only trained personnel.

What are your legal responsibilities if asbestos is found in Artex?

We have made several references in this article to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, also commonly referred to as CAR 2012. This is the overarching legislation for asbestos management in Great Britain.

You may be interested in reading our previous guide to what exactly constitutes a “dutyholder” in accordance with CAR 2012, and what responsibilities such individuals have under UK law.

If you are classed as a dutyholder for your building where an Artex coating is suspected or confirmed to contain asbestos, you will be expected to take reasonable steps to determine the asbestos situation at your property.

Furthermore, you will be obliged to prepare a plan outlining how the risks from ACMs at your premises will be managed, in addition to taking the necessary steps to implement the plan.

Where can you get further information and support?

The website of the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides further in-depth information and advice on how you can ensure responsible, safe, and compliant asbestos management at your property.

For more in-depth and specific advice, please feel free to contact our accredited and licensed asbestos surveyors at Oracle Solutions. It is a quick and straightforward process to request a free quote from our team for any of our highly regarded asbestos services.