Materials that contain asbestos can be found in buildings, workplaces and dwellings built before 1990. Buildings, workplaces and dwellings that have been built after 1990 can also contain asbestos.

Asbestos can also be found in products or materials, for example brake disc pads.

Asbestos can be difficult to identify and it is often impossible to confirm it""s presence by a visual inspection. The only way to be certain whether asbestos is present is to have a sample of the material analysed by an accredited laboratory.

You should never attempt to sample anything you believe may contain asbestos.  It is very dangerous and should only be done by a competent person and tested in an accredited laboratory.

If material is suspected of containing asbestos and you do not have it tested you MUST treat is as containing asbestos by law.  For example, if there is reliable manufacturer information on a product, such as a label stating something contains asbestos, or if it is a product of a type and age that typically contains asbestos you can and should presume it contains asbestos.