Discovering that asbestos may have been disturbed in your home or workplace can raise several immediate concerns. How long will the area remain unsafe? Will you need to move out temporarily? And, if the disturbance has happened on a construction site, how long will work need to stop? These are important questions, particularly when an asbestos incident could affect your daily routine or project deadlines. As licensed asbestos experts, Cordtape Environmental understands these concerns wholly, having spoken to countless clients whose time has been disrupted by airborne asbestos fibres. We have found:
How long does asbestos stay airborne?
Asbestos can remain in the air for approximately 48-72 hours, depending on the condition of the environment, and whether the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed once or continuously over a period of time.
Factors that influence how long asbestos can remain airborne
There are several factors that contribute to asbestos’s ability to remain in the air, including:
- The type of asbestos: The type of asbestos can influence how long it remains airborne, for example, fibrous insulation materials and loose fill asbestos might be present for longer. However, there have been no known studies to determine whether friable vs non friable asbestos, for example, could stay in the air for longer periods of time.
- The duration of the work: If the work is conducted over a single day, asbestos fibres may remain airborne for up to 72 hours. If the work is ongoing over an extended period of time, and the ACM is continuously disturbed, asbestos fibres can remain in the air for the full duration of the work, and up to 72 hours following its conclusion.
- The environment: Rooms that are poorly ventilated or enclosed can trap asbestos fibres and keep them airborne for longer periods of time. Asbestos fibres that were disturbed outside will disperse faster from the area.
If it is known that an ACM has been disturbed and there may be asbestos containing materials in the area, contact professional asbestos surveyors and evacuate the premises immediately. They will conduct thorough tests on the area and determine the most appropriate method of removing or containing the ACM, as well as the potential risks posed on site.
How does asbestos become airborne?
Asbestos typically becomes airborne when asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed, releasing fibre and dust particles into the air. This can happen in many circumstances, but is most common during:
- Demolition work
- Renovation projects
- Home decoration
- Utility work
- Severe weather events
Why is airborne asbestos dangerous?
Asbestos is often not harmful to people unless it becomes airborne, or ends up in water supplies. Asbestos fibres are microscopic and inhaling them can cause serious and fatal illnesses like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer that is primarily linked to the presence of asbestos fibres in the mesothelium—the thin membrane that coats the body’s major cavities.
Airborne asbestos is likewise dangerous because its presence is difficult to identify unless you are aware of specific damage to an asbestos containing material nearby. This means someone could be inhaling ACMs for an extended period of time without realising, and prolonged exposure poses a far more serious risk than one off contact.
If you are experiencing the signs of asbestos exposure, seek immediate medical intervention and make sure you mention any known or suspected instances of exposure during your initial appointment.
Can you see asbestos in the air?
No, it is impossible to tell if you are inhaling asbestos. Although you might be able to see dust or debris in the air, asbestos fibres and particles are invisible to the naked eye. For this reason, the only way to conclusively tell whether the material in the air is asbestos is through professional survey and sampling.
If you suspect there may be airborne asbestos in the area, vacate the premises and contact asbestos contractors.
How to measure asbestos in the air
When asbestos has been disturbed, analysts may wish to conduct an air test to determine the type and concentration of asbestos fibres in the air. This will be completed using a pump that pulls a specific volume of air through a filter. The filters will then be examined on site to determine whether the area is safe to inhabit.
Asbestos measuring should only be conducted by licensed asbestos experts. Do not attempt to measure airborne asbestos yourself.
How far can asbestos fibres travel?
Asbestos fibres can travel anywhere from a few hundred metres to a few miles depending on the environmental conditions of the disturbed area.
What to do if you suspect asbestos has become airborne
To prevent exposure to airborne asbestos fibres once disturbed:
1. Stop work immediately
The moment you or someone in your workforce suspects that asbestos has been disturbed, stop all work immediately. Work should be paused in the surrounding areas as fibres can travel beyond a few metres. All drilling, sanding, cutting, or demolition work must be halted across the site.
Do not continue to finish work just because the fibres are already in the air. A higher concentration of fibres in the air can put yourself and your colleagues/employees at higher risk of developing asbestos related diseases. You should also avoid tidying the area or moving the disturbed material.
2. Clear the area
Once the work has stopped, evacuate the area. As well as posing a risk through airborne exposure, asbestos fibres can cling to clothes, skin, hair, and tools, and can slip through ventilation systems. If working in an enclosed space like a house, commercial property, warehouse, or office block, close all doors and windows with access to the exposed room, and switch off any air conditioning units or extraction fans, if accessible.
By leaving the area promptly and containing contamination, you reduce the risk of fibres travelling to other areas of the building either on your person or through filtration systems.
If working on an open construction site, stop all work and seek advice from licensed asbestos professionals.
3. Inform the relevant dutyholders
Asbestos management in the UK is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which place legal duties on those responsible for buildings, known as dutyholders. If asbestos has been disturbed, the incident must be reported to the relevant person as soon as possible. This ensures that the situation is documented and handled correctly.
It also protects workers and contractors from being pressured to continue work in unsafe conditions. Failure to report an asbestos disturbance can result in serious legal consequences, including fines and prosecution.
4. Manage potential for exposure on your person
After evacuating the area, you must reduce the risk of secondary contamination by turning your attention to clothes, hair, skin, and or any other items that may have come into contact with asbestos.
Precautionary measures include:
- Washing exposed skin and hair
- Sealing contaminated clothing in plastic bags
- Avoiding shaking or brushing clothing
- Keeping a record of who was present at the time
5. Report the incident to licensed professional
The next step is to confirm whether asbestos is actually present, and if so, what type and condition it is in. This cannot be done visually. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) often look identical to non asbestos alternatives.
A trained surveyor will be able to:
1. Inspect the affected area safely: They use proper respiratory protection, controlled access, and containment techniques to limit exposure.
2. Take controlled samples: Samples are taken using industry-approved procedures to avoid releasing fibres.
3. Provide laboratory analysis: Samples are analysed under UKAS accreditation, so the identification of asbestos type is independent, traceable and defensible.
4. Produce a formal report: This report is essential for risk assessment and legal compliance.
At Cordtape, we can assist you in locating and identifying Asbestos Containing Materials with our Asbestos Survey and Sampling service. If we do locate the presence of asbestos, our Asbestos Removal team will extract it from your premises in accordance with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Our team is fully qualified to manage all aspects of asbestos assessment, removal, refurbishment and waste management.
With over 30 years of experience and a team of professionals, we ensure that every survey is delivered with accuracy, compliance, and safety in mind.
If you require asbestos removal, our expert team can help you.
