The short answer
You can’t identify asbestos reliably by eye. The fibres are microscopic, and asbestos was mixed into cement, boards, coatings, tiles and textiles that look almost the same as later versions made without it. HSE says “it can be difficult to identify asbestos, as it is often mixed with other materials”.
What you can do is recognise the products that commonly contained it, then have a sample tested or presume it is asbestos.
Asbestos cement
The most common asbestos material outside homes. It looks like thin, hard grey cement, often weathered, stained or mossy. You’ll find it as:
- corrugated garage and shed roofs and wall panels
- gutters, downpipes and flue pipes
- water tanks and toilet cisterns
- soffits and panels under windows
- slate-like roof tiles
See our guides to cement sheets and garage roofs.
Asbestos insulating board (AIB)
A lighter, softer board than cement. It often looks like plain plasterboard or fibreboard and is usually painted. It was used for ceiling tiles, partitions, soffits, fire breaks, panels behind heaters, door linings and boxing-in. HSE says it is difficult to tell AIB from non-asbestos boards by appearance. It breaks more easily than cement and most work on it needs a contractor holding an HSE licence.
Textured coatings (Artex)
Swirled, stippled or patterned ceilings and walls, often painted over. Many textured coatings applied before 2000 contained a small amount of white asbestos. HSE guidance says they normally contain 2–5% chrysotile. They look exactly like modern coatings, so only a test can tell. See Artex and asbestos.
Floor tiles and adhesive
Square vinyl or thermoplastic tiles, often 9 or 12 inches, in plain colours or marbled patterns, sometimes with black bitumen adhesive underneath. HSE says floor coverings containing asbestos “come in many types and can be hard to identify”. See asbestos floor tiles.
Lagging, sprayed coatings and loose fill
These are the higher-risk materials, and most homes don’t have them, but older houses and flats sometimes do.
- Pipe and boiler lagging: white or grey insulation around pipes and old boilers, often wrapped in cloth and painted. HSE says this type “has many different appearances”.
- Sprayed coatings: rough, fluffy-looking coatings on beams or ceilings, more common in commercial buildings.
- Loose-fill insulation: fluffy, blue-grey or white loose fibres in lofts or wall cavities.
Don’t touch or sample these yourself. Work on them needs a contractor holding an HSE licence. See pipe lagging and boilers.
Smaller items
Asbestos also turns up in rope seals and gaskets on old boilers and stoves, fire blankets, fuse box parts, roofing felt, and the backing of some old floor coverings. These are usually small, but they still shouldn’t be broken up or sanded.
Where to see real examples
HSE’s photo gallery of asbestos materials shows real examples of cement, AIB, floor coverings, textured coatings, lagging and sprayed coatings in place. HSE’s building diagrams show where they’re typically found in a house. Use them to understand what to look out for, not to confirm a material.
How to find out for sure
- Get a sample tested by a lab accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. See testing costs.
- Get a survey if there are several suspect materials or you’re planning building work. See which survey you need.
- Presume it’s asbestos and treat it accordingly, which is what HSE says to do when you don’t have strong evidence otherwise.
We take samples and carry out surveys. Ask us for a quote.
Quick answers
Can you see asbestos fibres?
No. Individual fibres are microscopic. Sometimes fibres show at a broken edge, but you can’t identify them by eye.
Does asbestos have a smell?
No. HSE describes asbestos fibres as tiny and invisible, so you can’t identify asbestos by sight, smell or touch.
Is all old Artex asbestos?
No, but many coatings applied before 2000 contained some. Only a lab test can tell.
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.