CART What Does Asbestos Look and Smell Like?
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What Does Asbestos Look and Smell Like?
Asbestos is a mineral that was once commonly used in building materials such as insulation, roofing shingles and floor tiles. This means that there is a good chance your house may contain some form of asbestos if it was built before 1999. However, asbestos is very difficult to identify, especially if you have no idea what you are looking for. In this article, HSE Docs will show you how to identify the different types of asbestos and find out whether it has an odour.
So, what does asbestos look and smell like? Whilst asbestos appears differently, it usually comes in different shades of blue, green, white and brown. It comes in many different forms, sizes and finishes and has no distinguishable smell. This makes it very difficult to identify asbestos.
Keep reading to learn more about identifying asbestos in your property and where to find any important information about this material.
If you’re still struggling to identify the different types of asbestos, it’s worth taking a look at The Health and Safety Executive’s asbestos image gallery.
To learn more about asbestos safety, take a look at our blog, ‘Asbestos Regulations: Everything You Need To Know’.
In its most natural form, asbestos can be found in various hues, including blue, green, white and brown. Whilst asbestos found in buildings is not easily identifiable, in some cases, you can spot asbestos fibres in damaged asbestos-containing products.
Tiny asbestos fibres are commonly found in building materials if the asbestos gets mixed into other substances like cement or plastic. It is possible to find asbestos in various forms, sizes and finishes but it can be even more difficult to identify asbestos when it is in a damaged state. Bear in mind that when asbestos is processed, it splits into soft fibres, which can be very dangerous if inhaled.
Below, we will explore the most popular asbestos-based building and construction materials, giving you an overview of the materials and properties for each. We’ll also highlight the particular characteristics to be aware of and include images to help you identify the different types of asbestos.
If you have encountered signs of asbestos in your property, you may want to take a look at our insightful article, ‘Is Asbestos Awareness Training Mandatory?’.
Asbestos boards differ in asbestos content and contain different types of fibres. They can be found in a variety of colours, in particular pink. Asbestos insulation boards can resemble polystyrene or general plaster/insulation boarding at first glance, but it’s vital not to confuse the two. When disturbed, asbestos fibres can become airborne, which is dangerous for anyone in the vicinity.
Here is everything you need to know:
| Asbestos content | 15-25% |
| Main asbestos type | Amosite (brown) asbestos |
| Main colours | Pink, Light/dark grey |
| Density | Medium to soft |
| Damage potential | Easy, high |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | High |
Asbestos thermal insulation comes in various shades and finishes, combining a mixture of asbestos-based substances. Here is everything you need to know about how to recognise this type of asbestos:
| Asbestos content | 6-85% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown), Crocidolite (blue) |
| Main colours | White, brown, grey and pink |
| Density | Very low and soft |
| Damage potential | Easy, high |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | High |
Asbestos-sprayed insulation differs in asbestos content and contains different types of fibres. It appears in many different colours and finishes.
| Asbestos content | 55-85% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown), Crocidolite (blue) |
| Main colours | White, brown, grey and pink |
| Density | Medium and soft |
| Damage potential | Very low and soft |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | High |
Asbestos textiles have been known to contain all types of asbestos fibres and appear differently in various forms. Here is everything you need to know about this type of asbestos:
| Asbestos content | Nearing 100% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white) asbestos |
| Main colours | White |
| Density | Medium and soft |
| Damage potential | Easy, high |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | Medium |
Asbestos paper comes in many different finishes and products. Its paper-like covering usually appears white or light brown. Here is everything you need to understand this type of asbestos:
| Asbestos content | 100% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white) asbestos |
| Main colours | White, light brown |
| Density | Low |
| Damage potential | High |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | Medium |
Generally, asbestos vinyl looks like linoleum and plastic floor tiles. Asbestos tiles on the vinyl’s surface can be any colour or design. Beneath the vinyl, flooring can sometimes have an oily or dark discoloration.
| Asbestos content | 2-20% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white) asbestos |
| Main colours | N/A |
| Density | Low |
| Damage potential | Low |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | Low |
Usually, we depend upon our sense of smell to avoid potentially harmful chemicals and substances however, asbestos does not have a smell. This means that rooms with asbestos built into the floors, walls and ceiling do not have a detectable odour. Even heavy amounts of asbestos dust are odourless or smell like normal dust.
So, you may be wondering how you would identify asbestos without an associated smell? Whilst asbestos has no particular smell, manufacturers deliberately made their asbestos-containing materials with a distinct look and feel. For example, asbestos insulation has many different distinguishable appearances:
- Loose-fill insulation - loose, lumpy form and fluffy consistency
- Vermiculite insulation - looks like pebbles and is typically grey-brown or silver-gold in colour
- Zonolite insulation - silver-gold or grey-brown colour with accordion-style texture particles
To find out more about the history of asbestos, take a look at our blog, ‘Why Was Asbestos Banned In The UK?’
Also known as Artex or Popcorn Ceiling, asbestos-textured coatings tend to look like a textured paint finish. Their specific appearance depends on the decorative finish required e.g. peaks or patterns. Here’s everything you need to know:
| Asbestos content | 3-5% |
| Main asbestos type | Chrysotile (white) asbestos |
| Main colours | Mainly white |
| Density | Low |
| Damage potential | Low |
| Asbestos fibre release potential | Low |
At HSEDocs, our online course provides a UK-based guide to spotting asbestos in British buildings. Learn about the historic uses of asbestos across the British Isles and how to identify this potentially dangerous material.
Contact HSEDocs today to get your team up to speed with asbestos awareness, helping reduce risk should they ever come into contact with this material. Follow the links below for access to the courses, risk assessments and further information.