The short answer
Older vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles, and the black bitumen adhesive often used to stick them down, can contain asbestos. The asbestos is bound into the tile or adhesive, and work on these materials is normally non-licensed. Your options are to leave them, cover them, or have them removed. Whatever you do, never sand them.
Where you’ll find them
These tiles turn up in kitchens, hallways, utility rooms and bathrooms, and in schools, offices and shops of the same era. They’re often hidden under carpet, laminate or newer vinyl, so people find them during a refit. The black adhesive can stay stuck to the floor even after tiles have been lifted.
You can’t tell from the look of a tile whether it contains asbestos. A sample needs testing. If you’re testing, sample the adhesive as well as the tile.
How risky are they?
In good condition and left alone, these tiles release very little. The risk comes from breaking, grinding or sanding them, or scraping the adhesive dry. HSE lists “work on vinyl floor tiles, bitumen felt and mastics” among its examples of non-licensed work.
One exception: tiles with an asbestos paper backing. HSE’s floor tile sheet A23 says their removal “will be notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)”, because the paper is less firmly bound.
Option 1: leave them
If the tiles are sound and well stuck down, leaving them is a reasonable choice. Keep them in good condition and record where they are, so a future fitter knows.
Option 2: cover them
Laying a new floor over the top avoids removal entirely. HSE’s A23 sheet asks, before removal, “Can you avoid removal, eg by overlaying with non-asbestos material?” Common approaches are a plywood or hardboard overlay followed by new flooring, or a floating floor. Fix the overlay with as few fixings through the tiles as possible, and avoid grinding high spots or sanding the tiles to level them.
Option 3: remove them
Removal makes sense if the tiles are loose or broken, or the floor needs to come up for other work. A23 sets out the method:
- Spray water under the tiles as they are lifted, to keep dust down.
- Lift tiles gently with a scraper from the joints, trying to avoid breakage.
- Scrape up remaining adhesive gently. It can be softened with solvent or gentle heat.
- Bag the waste in a red asbestos bag inside a clear outer bag, and dispose of it as hazardous waste. See asbestos waste disposal.
We remove asbestos floor tiles. See asbestos floor tile removal or ask us for a quote.
What not to do
- Don’t sand the tiles or the adhesive. A23 says simply: “Never sand the floor.”
- Don’t grind or use a floor scraper machine on untested tiles.
- Don’t smash tiles up with a hammer to get them off quicker.
- Don’t sweep up debris or use a household vacuum.
If you’ve already broken up tiles before testing, stop, keep people away, and get a sample tested. HSE’s EM1 sheet covers accidental disturbance.
Planning a new floor
If the floor is part of a wider refit, include it in a survey before renovation. Your flooring fitter is bound by the asbestos rules and must assess whether asbestos is present before they start, so test results in hand save delays.
Quick answers
Are old black floor tiles always asbestos?
No. Many aren’t. The only way to know is to test a sample of the tile and the adhesive.
Can I lay laminate over asbestos tiles?
Covering sound tiles is an option HSE itself suggests. Avoid sanding or grinding to level them.
Does floor tile removal need a licensed contractor?
Not normally. It is non-licensed work, but tiles with an asbestos paper backing are notifiable non-licensed work.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.