D&M · Commercial buildings

Where may asbestos be found in an industrial building?

Explore common locations in older industrial units, warehouses and workshops. Choose an area or take the guided tour.

Explore at your paceA closer look around the building

Not sure where to start?Take a guided route through the roof, structure, office, plant and floor details.

Choose an area to look closer.

Pins mark features shown in the cutaway. The full material list is below.

Area-by-area guide

Common asbestos locations in industrial buildings

The illustration marks visible examples. The full guide below covers the other materials that may be present.

Profiled roof sheets
Corrugated asbestos cement sheets were used on some industrial roofs. Survey information identifies the material and its location.
Asbestos cement removal
Asbestos cement panels
Asbestos cement panels were used on industrial walls. Older window infill panels may be asbestos insulating board or asbestos cement.
Asbestos cement removal
Gutters & downpipes
Asbestos cement rainwater goods can include gutters and downpipes on older industrial buildings.
Asbestos cement removal
Asbestos cement pipe
Older industrial properties may have asbestos cement drainage or service pipes.
Asbestos cement removal
Soffits & fascias
Older industrial buildings may have asbestos insulating board or asbestos cement soffits and fascias.
Asbestos sampling and testing

Sprayed coatings
Some older industrial buildings have sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls, beams or columns. The coating may contain asbestos.
Asbestos sampling and testing
AIB fire-door panels
Asbestos insulating board panels may be present in fire doors in older industrial buildings.
Asbestos sampling and testing
AIB ceiling tiles
Asbestos insulating board was used for ceiling tiles in some older industrial buildings.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Textured coatings
Some textured wall and ceiling coatings, including Artex, may contain asbestos. Testing can identify a particular coating.
Asbestos sampling and testing
AIB partition walls
Older industrial buildings may have asbestos insulating board partition walls.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Loose-fill insulation
Loose-fill insulation may be hidden inside cavity walls and ceilings. Do not disturb it.
Asbestos sampling and testing

Pipe lagging
Asbestos-containing insulation may be found around older heating or process pipework.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Boiler lagging & AIB
Some older boilers have asbestos lagging or AIB panels around them. Assess the material and planned work before anything is disturbed.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Rope seals, gaskets & paper
Rope seals, gaskets and paper were used around joints and heat-producing equipment. Some older products contain asbestos.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Fuse-box flash guards
Asbestos flash guards may be present inside older fuse boxes. Do not open or disturb one to check.
Asbestos sampling and testing
Asbestos cement water tank
A water tank in an older industrial building may be made from asbestos cement.
Asbestos cement removal
Toilet cistern
Some older toilet cisterns contain asbestos. Do not drill or break a suspect cistern to check its material.
Asbestos sampling and testing

Vinyl floor tiles
Some older vinyl floor tiles, paper backing and bitumen adhesive may contain asbestos. Assess the full floor build-up before lifting or sanding.
Floor tile and bitumen removal
Backing paper & bitumen
Paper backing and bitumen adhesive beneath some vinyl tiles may contain asbestos. Assess the full floor build-up before work.
Floor tile and bitumen removal