If you’ve ever asked the question how do I spot Asbestos, hopefully this blog entry will help you answer that question and many others that you may have as a homeowner in the UAE. Whether your property is in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or the Northern Emirates, we will answer your Asbestos management queries.
Since Asbestos is such a versatile material, it has been found in over 3000 different types of building product and material, it can be found in a whole host of different types of ACM or Asbestos Containing Materials. The main properties of Asbestos are that it is:
Fire and heat resistant;
Chemically resistant; and
Excellent at sound attenuation/deafening.
For those reasons, the most likely places you are to find Asbestos in your home are anywhere you have requirements for fire proofing (emergency exits, heating systems etc.), anywhere where you need chemically resistant material (for example within pipework/plant/boilers) and anywhere you have a noisy area next to a quiet area (a plant room or utility room next to a bedroom/office).
Asbestos was banned (with a few exceptions) in the UAE in November 2006 (Cabinet resolution 39 of 2006), so theoretically properties built after this date should not have Asbestos in the property. Sadly, there have been reports of Asbestos being found in new properties built after this date (google Asbestos found in new buildings).
Asbestos comes in 3 main fiber types (commercially used) – Blue, Brown and White. Unfortunately, it is not possible for the untrained eye or without Asbestos testing and analysis to tell 100% whether a material contains Asbestos or not. The only way to conclusively identify whether there is Asbestos in your home is to have an Asbestos assessment of your property.
Asbestos Survey
An Asbestos survey consists of a visual inspection of a property, conducted with a torch/flashlight by a trained and qualified professional. The inspection will be accompanied by Asbestos sampling and analysis. The surveyors will collect small (1cm by 1cm) samples of suspected ACMs using a safe technique and protective equipment, and they will be analyzed by an accredited laboratory. Once the samples have been processed the consultant will provide you with an Asbestos survey report which will detail the risk rating of any Asbestos materials identified and recommendations on what you need to do as the property owner (Asbestos removal or management).
If you are looking to undertake refurbishment works or demolition, make sure you undertake a Type 3 Asbestos survey, otherwise if you are just looking for an understanding of your potential Asbestos inventory, a Type 2 Asbestos survey will suffice.
If your property is in the Emirate of Dubai, you should make sure that the consultancy company you use is registered with the Dubai Municipality and they have an ‘A’ grade rating. If your property is in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, then make sure that you use a certified Asbestos consultant or Asbestos Supervising Consultant (ASC) registered with regulator Occupational Safety Health Abu Dhabi (OSHAD) – preferably with an ‘A’ grade rating. Less regulation is present in the Northern Emirates, however for peace of mind and to protect your health and safety (and your family’s) it is always best to use a professional consultant with training, experience and a means of proving competency.
If Asbestos is identified in your property, this is not necessarily a reason to panic. In the next blog article (Asbestos in Homes – A Property Owners Guide to Abatement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)) we will discuss the various options you have should this occur.
If you have any Asbestos related concerns, contact us to see how Anthesis Consulting Middle East can help you:
Charles Faulkner (Head of Environment, Health and Safety and Asbestos Team Leader)
Phone: +971 (0) 50 5541 320
Email: asbestos@anthesisgroup.com