Only a lab test can tell you for sure. Your photo helps us send the right kit.
Sprayed coatings
Sprayed asbestos was used mainly for fire protection and insulation: on steel beams and columns, and on the undersides of floors and roofs. Most of it is in older commercial and public buildings, but it can turn up in some older blocks of flats and other buildings. It often looks like a rough, fluffy layer, and it may have been painted or boxed in.
Loose-fill insulation
Loose-fill asbestos is raw, fluffy asbestos fibre that was poured or blown in as insulation: in lofts, in wall cavities and under floorboards. It's rare in UK homes, but very dangerous, because nothing binds the fibres together.
Most loft insulation is modern mineral wool or similar, which isn't asbestos. But you can't be sure by looking. If you find something loose and fluffy that you're not sure about, leave it alone and ask.
Why they're the riskiest
In both, the fibres are barely held together. They can come loose when touched or brushed past, or even when air moves across them. Work on them must be done by a licensed asbestos contractor.
What to do if you're worried
- Don't touch it, sample it or move it.
- Keep out of the loft or space, and don't store things there.
- Don't sweep or vacuum anything up.
- If you can, keep the door or hatch to that space closed.
- Send us a photo and we'll point you to the right person, or contact a licensed asbestos surveyor directly.
If you rent your home, tell your landlord or letting agent straight away.
If you're worried you've breathed in asbestos fibres, talk to your GP.
