Common locations

Examples of materials that may contain asbestos

• Hot water, steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducts
  insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape. These materials may release asbestos fibres if damaged, repaired or removed improperly [picture gallery].
  
  
• Resilient floor tiles (vinyl asbestos, asphalt and rubber)
  the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives used for installing floor tiles. Sanding tiles can release fibres. Scraping or sanding the backing of sheet flooring during removal may also release fibres [picture gallery].
  
  
• Cement sheet, millboard and paper
  used as insulation around furnaces and wood burning stoves. Repairing, cutting, tearing, sanding, drilling or removing insulation or appliances may release asbestos fibres [picture gallery].
  
  
• Door gaskets and seals, fire proofing
  in furnaces, wood stoves, coal stoves and flammable storage cabinets (fire doors). Worn seals can release asbestos fibres during use [picture gallery].
  
  
• Soundproofing or decorative material
  sprayed on walls and ceilings. Loose, crumbly or water damaged asbestos may release fibres. Sanding, drilling or scraping the material will also release fibres [picture gallery].
  
  
• Patching and joint compounds
  for walls and ceilings and textured paints. Sanding, scraping or drilling these surfaces may release asbestos fibres [picture gallery].
  
  
• Asbestos cement roofing, sheeting, cladding
  these products are not likely to release asbestos fibres unless sawn, drilled, cut, badly weathered or subject to some form of abrasive action [picture gallery].

Other general information

What is asbestos?
Health risks
Your safety
Personal protective equipment
Legislation