The simplest and most reliable method to identify the presence of asbestos in a building is to have an asbestos survey.
This document provides an overview of all asbestos-containing materials in the building, notes their condition, and gives recommendations on how to manage or remove them safely.

What should you do if there is no survey?

  • If there is no official survey, you can carry out a few checks yourself, for example using the alertvoorasbest app (available on Google Play or the Apple Store) or by paying attention to some key indicators:

    Year of Manufacture

    By consulting building plans, invoices, technical datasheets, or other documents from the manufacturer, you can determine the production year of materials or the building.

    • Materials produced between 1945 and 1998 may contain asbestos, with a peak between 1955 and 1985, when asbestos was widely used.

    • Artificial slates installed before 1990 and corrugated sheets before 1992 almost always contain asbestos.

    • Asbestos-free versions are usually marked with the label “N” or “NT” (New Technology) and may have a reinforcement strip on corrugated sheets.

    Year of Installation

    The production of asbestos cement was banned in 1998, but many companies continued to use existing stock.
    Buildings constructed between 1998 and 2001 may still contain asbestos-containing materials.
    It is therefore safer to check the production year rather than relying solely on the installation date.

    Structure and Appearance

    Certain visual clues can indicate the presence of asbestos:

    • Asbestos cement materials with a honeycomb structure, often in multiple layers.

    • Presence of “asbestos flowers” (white spots or patterns) on asbestos cement surfaces.

    • Broken or damaged materials where a fibrous structure is visible to the naked eye.

    Flame Test (Not Recommended for Private Individuals)

    If you apply a flame to a suspected material:

    • Asbestos fibers do not burn; they only glow or light up under heat.

    • Non-asbestos fibers will burn or disintegrate.

    Warning: This test should only be performed safely by professionals, as it can release dangerous fibers.

    Consulting a Certified Laboratory

    If in doubt, it is advisable to hire an expert or a certified laboratory (a list is available via the Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue).

    • A trained professional can often visually identify whether asbestos is present without laboratory analysis.

    • If necessary, they will safely take a sample of the suspected material for laboratory testing.

    • The cost of analysis is usually around €50.

  • The Main Uses of Asbestos

    Asbestos was widely used in many products and materials, mainly because of its insulating properties, heat resistance, and durability.

    Broadly speaking, there are two main categories of applications, depending on how the asbestos fibers are bound within the material: bonded (strongly bound) forms and loose or weakly bound forms

    Bonded Forms of Asbestos

    In these materials, asbestos fibers are firmly trapped in a binder (such as cement or plastic). The risk of fibers being released is therefore low, except when the material is damaged or altered (cutting, drilling, sanding, etc.).

    Common examples:

    Asbestos cement (fibrocement): used in slates, roof tiles, corrugated sheets, baseboards, window sills, marble-effect door thresholds, false ceiling panels, rigid roof insulation, chimney caps, flower boxes, posts, water and drainage pipes, columns, floors, etc.

     

     

    Enameled asbestos cement sheets: found on window sills, facades, walls of damp rooms, interior walls — sometimes even in old chalkboards.

     


     

    Plastics containing asbestos: in rigid panels (for example, in electrical cabinets), but also in everyday objects such as door thresholds, baseboards, window sills, toilet seats, flaps, or ashtrays.

     

     

    Menuiserite: composite panels made of cement, asbestos fibers, and wood, often used under roofs or for walls.

     

     

     

    Sealing and finishing products: joints, caulks, paints, and varnishes.

     

     

     

    Floor coverings: vinyl-asbestos tiles, adhesives, or tiles containing asbestos.
     

     


     

    Plasters and stucco: plaster layers, drywall, or wall coverings with asbestos, used indoors or on facades.

     

     

    Friction materials: brake pads, clutch plates for vehicles, lifts, or machinery.

     

    Loose or Weakly Bound Forms of Asbestos

    In these materials, asbestos fibers are not firmly bound and can easily be released into the air, posing a much greater health risk.

    Common examples:

    Fiberboard: rigid panels for ventilation ducts, false ceilings, kitchens, around heating appliances, or in electrical cabinets.

     

     

     

    Thermal insulation: around pipes or boilers, often a mix of loose fibers, cardboard, and white asbestos plaster.



     

     

     

    • Panels for false ceilings.
    • Insulation in old electrical appliances: toasters, hair dryers, irons, etc.

    • Filters: in some extractor hoods, liquid filters, or burner fabrics.

    • Woven asbestos textiles: fire blankets, fireproof curtains (for example, in theaters), protective clothing (gloves, aprons, jackets).

    • Ropes, braids, and mats: used for seals in boilers, ovens, or stoves.

    • Sprayed asbestos (flocking): fine fibers on metal or concrete structures to make them fire-resistant.

    • Loose asbestos: previously used as mats, cushions, or loose insulation in buildings.

    Don’t hesitate to visit our Asbestos House. Explore the different rooms of our virtual house to see where asbestos can be found and learn what you can and cannot safely handle yourself.