Domestic garages which contain cement corrugated roofing sheets could be asbestos.
The general rule of thumb is , if the garage was built before the year 1999 it could contain asbestos.
Fibre cement corrugated roof sheets are installed on garages to give the same look and feel as asbestos cement. This mimicking makes it particularly hard to tell the difference between asbestos roof sheets and cement fibre roof sheets.
So , how do you tell the difference between asbestos cement roof sheets and fibre cement roof sheets?
Fibre cement is not the same as asbestos cement. Fibre cement does not contain asbestos fibres , therefore it is a non-hazardous material.
Some differences in the material can be visually seen however , this would be not recommended to use a definite answer.
Due to the fact these two materials are very similar , the only sure way to know if it contains asbestos is testing. A sample of the material should be removed and analysed at a UKAS accredited laboratory for accuracy.
Can fibre cement sheets be put into a normal waste skip?
In most cases , even if you have had the material tested , skip companies will not accept fibre cement sheets in their skips. An approach pf “if it looks like asbestos , treat it like asbestos” is taken.
The best option would be to call the skip company beforehand and tell them you have had testing done. They may ask for a copy of the certificate before accepting the fibre cement.
It would be advisable not to put the fibre cement into the skip without the skip company knowing. This could result in the sheets either being brought back to you , charges for them disposed of asbestos or the whole skip being classed as contaminated and an even larger charge.
Other options for fibre cement roofing sheet disposal
The local Nottingham Councils may accept the sheets at the council tip. Again , it would be advisable to inform the council before taking the waste into them.
Private asbestos removal company’s also will take away the fibre sheets for disposal ‘as asbestos’.
In summary , you should always get the cement sheeting tested before removal and disposal.
Always pre-warn the skip company before you put the sheets into their skip.
If you cannot dispose of the fibre cement sheets in a skip , you can try the local council and as a final resort , you can use a private asbestos removal company
If you need help with disposing asbestos cement sheets or fibre cement sheets – contact us direct on 01158 241 995