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Contact Information
Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council
Tel: 024 7637 6376
Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
One Stop Shops:
Nuneaton Town Hall
Coton Road, Nuneaton,
Warwickshire, CV11 5AA
Bedworth Area Office
High Street, Bedworth,
Warwickshire, CV12 8NF
Contact Us
Maps and Directions
Tel: 024 7637 6376
Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
One Stop Shops:
Nuneaton Town Hall
Coton Road, Nuneaton,
Warwickshire, CV11 5AA
Bedworth Area Office
High Street, Bedworth,
Warwickshire, CV12 8NF
Contact Us
Maps and Directions
Asbestos
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council owns around 6000 housing properties of all kinds and is committed to making sure they are looked after properly and are comfortable and safe homes. The Council therefore needs to be aware of any asbestos in their properties. With this in mind, the Council is carrying out surveys to establish whether asbestos may be present, along with the type, location and condition of any material identified. This process is ongoing and all Council properties will be completed by the end of March 2014.
In the past different forms of asbestos were used in the construction of buildings. If asbestos is present, it will have been there for many years. Whilst asbestos remains undisturbed and in good condition, it does not present a hazard. This leaflet aims to give you some general information on types of asbestos and areas where it might be present. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. What is asbestosAsbestos is a natural mineral made up of many small fibres. There are three main types commonly known as: Brown, Blue and White. In the past, asbestos has been used in buildings, particularly to resist heat and for fire protection. Asbestos in buildings is not necessarily dangerous, but once damaged, it can release dust containing fine fibres which may become airborne and then poses a threat. Asbestos in good condition does not present a hazard. What is the Council doing about asbestos?The Council has established a register of asbestos containing materials in individual properties. This means that anyone carrying out any work to properties can be advised where asbestos is likely to be present and the Council can take the necessary precautions to ensure its safe treatment or removal. The Council are committed to managing known asbestos safely and providing information regarding asbestos to its contractors and tenants. Where asbestos is in a safe and sound condition, it will not be automatically removed, but managed appropriately. Where might asbestos be found?Asbestos has been used in a number of ways, the most common being:
Asbestos CementThis has low levels of asbestos. It consists of asbestos bonded into cement and has been used in some garage and shed roofs and walls. Moulded asbestos cement might also be found in external rainwater pipes, gutterings and roof tiles.
Asbestos Insulating BoardThis has a low to medium level of asbestos and is a sheet material commonly used for fire protection and heat insulation. Since 1980, all insulating board made in the UK has been asbestos free. Sprayed AsbestosThis has higher levels of asbestos and is a soft material, vulnerable to damage used for protecting structural steel work and for insulation. It may be found in some steel framed houses and in communal areas of flats.
Other asbestos materialsSome plastic floor tiles, textured plasters (such as artex) and paints can contain a small amount of asbestos. Warm air heating systems, storage heaters and boilers mainly have components made from asbestos containing materials. How can you identify asbestos containing materials?Generally, it is not possible to identify asbestos containing materials simply by looking at them. Where the Council suspects the presence of asbestos, it will undertake the necessary testing and treatment or removal. All Council employees, and Contractors, who undertake maintenance and repair work in Council properties have been trained and issued with guidance on where asbestos might be present, to ensure that the appropriate precautions are taken. Additional InformationIf you intend to carry out any works on your home, you must seek permission in accordance with your tenancy agreement. Before we grant any permission, we will check whether asbestos is present in your property and arrange a survey if one hasn’t already been carried out. This service is free of charge. If your intended works require work on, or involves the removal of asbestos containing materials, you must tell us before starting work. The cost of removal/making safe will not be paid by the Council, but should be included as part of your costs. |
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