[Stabbsy]

Long shot, but previous such long shots on here have been successful!

My next door neighbour has/had a garage with asbestos cement on the roof. There was a fire last week and the end result is some totally knackered and friable asbestos panels on the roof, a whole lot of contaminated material and a lot of asbestos flakes/shrapnel - some of which is in our garden (and possibly under our decking). The neighbour has been basically useless at doing anything so I’ve been trying to get quotes for removal/disposal/tidy-up and share them with him. In the meantime, we’ve been told to keep out of the garden.

Prices have varied massively, highest price being double the lowest. No-one seems to have been entirely clear about work scope at the stage. However, alongside the removal/disposal, I’m expecting our decking will need to come up to be cleaned underneath. Having read various things on HSE website, the work would be classed as notifiable non-licensed work which places some burden on the contractor for reporting but doesn’t require licensing. Other trade websites suggest only working with licensed contractors.

I don’t have liability for any costs, but also don’t have control over who gets picked to do the work. That said, I can probably exert some influence.

Basically, I’ve reached the end of my capacity for research and wondering if there’s anyone out there who’s been through this before and might be able to help with questions I should be asking and minimum requirements I should be stipulating.

[petejh]

I had to get involved with asbestos clean-up as part of our work so I took the industry standard P405 course in asbestos management: https://www.bohs.org/education/qualifications/detail/management-of-asbestos-in-buildings-including-asbestos-removal-p405/

Basically look for a licensed contractor who are members of ARCA: https://www.arca.org.uk/

They should be working to the guidelines set out within the HSE's  Equipment/Method Sheets, specifically EM0 - EM9. And then whichever specific 'Asbestos Essentials' sheet (A1 - A38) covers the type of asbestos boards/tiles that have been damaged on the garage and are now littering your garden. The relevant sheets are below. Reading through these will help give you a good idea of what to expect in the clean-up and how well the contractor is carrying out the work.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a0.pdf


The line between non-licensed and licensed can be confusing. I'd go for a licensed contractor in this case as you say the material is fire-damaged. If it was a small scale removal of intact board then more likely non-licensed. The flow chart on the A0 may help.

[Stabbsy]

UKB wins again! Thanks for that, I’ll have a read.

With the ARCA membership, is this one of a number of trade associations? And are you assessed to be a member? Reason I ask is the company I spoke to that seemed most on it aren’t ARCA members but are members of UKATA and a few others. They were also HSE licensed. From working in insurance, I know some of these memberships can be box-ticking exercises and not necessarily about quality product/service so just wondering how valuable membership is.

[SamT]

Hmm - friend of mine had an asbestos rain water down pipe on a property he bought that was damaged and needed replacing.

Chesterfield Tip took it no bother.  Just suggested he bagged it up carefully and brought it down.

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/environment/rubbish-waste/recyling-centres/what-we-accept/asbestos/asbestos.aspx

Also just had a wrinkly tin roof replaced on a small outbuilding in a property in Wales that had two 6x3 ish sheets of asbestos board on the inside. .  The local builder was very blasé, just said they'd wait for a damp day and take it off then.

So if its just a few bits scattered on garden that need picking up, it might (and I say might, I have no real idea), be easy enough to pick them up yourself.  (however taking all the panels off your neigbours roof might be a different ball game).

If it were me, and it was just the bits in my garden, I'd mask up, wait for a damp rainy day, wear gloves and just bag it up, staying up wind as I proceed.

  

[petejh]

Was going to mention that most local tips will accept asbestos and that you could just do it yourself following sensible precautions - masking up, paper suit, damp down and double bag everything, bin masks/suits and booties (don't just chuck clothes in washing machine). But the OP description made it sound like a bit of a shit-show, fire-damaged/flakes etc. so I thought best be sensible.

ARCA covers removal contractors. UKATA covers training as far as I know. i.e. the workers have to do UKATA training courses. It's the being a licensed contractor that's the important part - licensed contractors 'should' do a decent job.

 

[Stabbsy]

Great, thanks again Pete.

Also, thanks Sam. We’re going down the route you suggested tomorrow. As you say, probably okay for the bits in the garden and Gleadless tip will accept it. That way we can go back in the garden again.

Obvious issue is that we’ll probably end up with more debris after the neighbour’s roof gets dropped, but that’s a job for someone appropriately qualified/trained - after the fire, the panels look like they’re falling apart, so lots of care needed.

[Lopez]

I spent 3 months removing tha cement board roofing out of a large exhibition centre.

That stuff is as safe as it gets and the only way you could release the asbestos fibres and inhale them is if you drill it, grind it, and then snort it.

It is non-notifiable, as in anyone can just do whatever they like with it without getting the council/local authority or HSE involved, and no special safety measures are needed as compared with, say, bricks (unless you are into grinding and snorting random rubble).

We had to go through UKATA to get licensed and be fully kitted when visible just for show to appease the neighbouring dwellers, but even during the course the trainer assured us that the stuff is harmless.

After sweating it on the roof wearing full suits, with all cuffs taped to boots/gloves while wearing hoods and full face masks, the carefully bagged and sealed stacks of corrugated boards which were gently lowered out of sight were unceremoniously thrown through the air into skips by guys in shorts and t-shirts and then driven out of site in open trucks, which was amusing for a while until the first heatwave came in...

[Aussiegav]

I have a good mate who’s a specialist in Asbestos & removal.  He lives in Sheffield.  Drop me a DM if you’re interested in contacting him.

[Stabbsy]

Thanks Gav, sent you a message.

It is non-notifiable, as in anyone can just do whatever they like with it without getting the council/local authority or HSE involved, and no special safety measures are needed as compared with, say, bricks (unless you are into grinding and snorting random rubble).

I think that’s the case when it’s undamaged. The HSE guidance is pretty clear that it’s notifiable once there’s been a fire.

[Lopez]

Uhg, actually just checked and you are absolutely right. Fire damaged board it is an exception as you point out. Nevermind me... Sorry!