How to take a sample of Artex for asbestos testing

The name “Artex” has long been synonymous with a certain kind of white, textured decorative coating. These coatings – made from the Artex product itself, as well as other, similar products that didn’t carry the Artex branding – were once commonly used in the construction of buildings across the UK, reaching their peak popularity from around the 1960s until the 1990s.

Since then, the patterned, textured surfaces widely referred to as “Artex” have largely fallen out of favour for both domestic and non-domestic properties in the UK. Today, there tends to be a preference for plain, smooth ceilings and walls.

Still, the product known as Artex does still exist – the company Artex Ltd, now rebranded as Okarno, continuing to offer a non-asbestos-containing version. But there’s another reason why Artex is still relevant in the UK today: the considerably high number of buildings up and down the country that still have asbestos containing Artex.

Why is it important to test Artex for asbestos?

As we referenced above, not all forms of Artex ever made contain asbestos; a non-asbestos-containing version became available from 1976, and asbestos-containing Artex ceased production in the UK in 1984.

The use of asbestos-containing Artex was formally prohibited by legislation in the EU and the UK in 1992, and the use of asbestos in UK construction was eventually banned altogether in 1999. However, leftover stocks of asbestos-containing Artex are believed to have still been used well into the 1990s.

In any case, it is impossible to tell whether any given Artex coating contains asbestos, simply by looking at it. This is largely because even the asbestos-containing version of Artex only tended to have quite a low percentage of asbestos content – typically around 3% to 5%, but sometimes as low as 1%.

These factors, combined with the dangers that asbestos can pose to health if its fibres are released, underscore why it is so important to test for asbestos in Artex.

This is before one even considers the legal dimension behind managing asbestos risks in UK buildings. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) put in place a legal “duty to manage” asbestos across non-domestic premises, as well as for the ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic buildings such as purpose-built flats.

What should you know before taking a sample of Artex?

The aforementioned uncertainty as to when asbestos-containing Artex ceased to be used in the construction of UK properties, means you can’t be absolutely sure whether your building’s Artex coating has asbestos fibres inside it, unless testing is carried out on the material.

However, it can still be useful to know when your property was built (or when a given Artex coating is likely to have been applied). This is because, as a general rule:

• If your property was built prior to 1985, there is a strong chance of the textured coating containing asbestos
• If your property was built from 1985 to 1999, the textured coating shouldn’t contain asbestos, but you should still bear it in mind as a possibility
• If your property was built after the year 2000, the textured coating shouldn’t contain any traces of asbestos at all.

We cited above that there is a legal aspect to consider when it comes to determining whether Artex in your property contains asbestos, and what to do next. We have previously written about what the “duty to manage” asbestos is under CAR 2012, and the implications for those who are classed as “dutyholders” in accordance with this legislation.

Then, there is the all-important matter of safety. Unlike some other asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) such as cement roofing sheets, board, and rope, Artex is a difficult product to capture a sample of; it is a hard material that is not easily “broken off”. Indeed, sampling requires pieces of the coating to be physically scraped or chiselled off.

This underlines why, although you may have seen references to DIY sampling kits for asbestos Artex online, you should instead engage the services of certified asbestos professionals to take this sample for you. This will greatly help ensure you stay on the right side of the law, in addition to protecting yourself and anyone who uses your building.

What equipment do you need to safely take a sample of Artex?

To reiterate our earlier statement: if you are looking to have your Artex ceiling or wall coating tested for asbestos, we strongly advise you to arrange for suitably qualified professionals to take a sample of it, instead of trying to do so yourself.

However, in light of the fact that DIY asbestos sampling kits do exist – and we have written in the past about what you should consider if you’re thinking about using one – you might be interested in knowing more about the process of taking a sample.

The essential tools and materials for safely capturing a sample of potentially asbestos-containing Artex, can be summed up as follows:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable gloves, overalls, and a P3 mask
• Polythene sheeting, water spray, and duct tape
• Sample containers, consisting of airtight bags or containers with clear labelling
• Cleaning materials and disposal bags for asbestos waste.

As we referenced in our above-mentioned article on asbestos DIY sampling kits, there isn’t a single, standardised list of items that such a kit “should” include.

So, if you do decide to attempt the Artex sampling process yourself instead of entrusting a professional with this task, it is of the utmost importance to use only high-quality equipment, designed with asbestos materials specifically in mind.

How do you prepare the area for sampling?

The thorough preparation of the part of your building where you will be taking the Artex sample, will greatly help minimise the scope for any loose fibres to be released (which could, of course, contain dangerous asbestos).

This process involves:

• Isolating the area, and making sure there is a good standard of ventilation
• Covering nearby surfaces with polythene sheeting
• Preventing other people or pets from entering the sampling area.

What are the steps to take a safe sample of Artex?

We referenced above how difficult Artex can be to take a sample of. So, you will need to be highly vigilant, careful, and patient with this process.

The capturing of the Artex sample will essentially need to involve the following:

• Dampening the area where the sample will be taken from, using a mix of water and detergent
• Using a clean, sharp tool to scrape a small sample of the textured coating – it only needs to be approximately the size of a 50p coin
• Placing the sample immediately into an airtight container or sample bag, before placing the sealed sample bag into another, outer sample bag (double bagging)
• Cleaning the tools that have been used, and sealing waste into labelled asbestos waste bags.

When you are attempting to take an Artex sample, it is advisable to take a sample from multiple different locations on the same surface, placing them into one bag. This helps to ensure the result of the testing accurately reflects the concentration of any asbestos that may be contained within the coating.

What should you do after collecting the sample?

Getting the labelling and documentation aspect right will be crucial for making the testing laboratory’s job easier. The aforementioned outer sample bag should have a label on it, and you will need to fill this in. You can expect to need to provide such details as the date and location of the sample.

Once you have taken the sample, it will be necessary to have it sent to, and analysed by, a laboratory that is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

As explained by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), if anyone intends to commission analysis by an asbestos analyst/laboratory, they will need to ensure they are accredited to International Standard ISO/IEC 17025. The HSE only recognises one such accreditation in Great Britain – the one that UKAS provides.

With the sampling process done, it will also be vital to clean the workspace thoroughly, dispose of asbestos waste in a responsible manner, and undertake a fastidious decontamination process for the PPE and tools used.

What are the common mistakes to avoid when sampling Artex?

One of the reasons why we urge against the use of DIY sampling methods here at Oracle Solutions, is because there can be such strong scope for mistakes to happen during this difficult and sensitive process.

Those errors or oversights can include:

• Unsafe practices, such as “dry scraping” (not dampening the surface prior to scraping) or failing to wear PPE
• Mistakes that could invalidate the sample, such as contamination or not capturing enough of the Artex material to give a representative result
• Contravening the UK’s regulations or guidelines for managing asbestos, which could bring serious legal and financial consequences.

Should you consider professional help for sampling?

Again, our accredited and licensed asbestos experts at Oracle Solutions would always recommend that, regardless of the exact situation at your property, you leave the Artex sampling (as well as the subsequent testing and analysis) to the professionals.

Indeed, you might be even likelier to do so in the following circumstances:

• You have especially large areas of suspected asbestos Artex that you would like to test
• You aren’t confident in your ability to take a “DIY” Artex sample
• The sample needs to be taken in a building with especially vulnerable occupants, such as elderly individuals or children.

In scenarios like these, professional and accredited asbestos sampling specialists – with their in-depth expertise and liability coverage – will help give you the greatest possible peace of mind.

What happens after testing confirms asbestos in Artex?

If it becomes apparent from the testing process that your building does have asbestos-containing Artex, there is a range of courses of action you could take to manage it.

Your options here include:

• Leaving the Artex in place and undisturbed, if it is in good condition
• Arranging to have the coating encapsulated or removed by licensed contractors.

Conclusion: how can you ensure peace of mind about Artex in your property?

As we have sought to highlight in this article, you do not have to attempt capturing a sample of your building’s Artex coating yourself. In the event that you do try to do this, the strongest possible emphasis must be placed on working safely and ensuring legal compliance at every stage.

Above all else, if you are the owner, dutyholder, or another responsible person for a particular property, it is hugely important to act responsibly so that you can protect health and safety.

To learn more about Oracle Solutions’ asbestos knowhow and management services – including sample testing and analysis – and to request a free quote, please contact us.