Where asbestos may be found in Jersey properties
Asbestos was incorporated into many construction, insulation and fire-protection products. These examples help you recognise situations that need assessment—they cannot confirm asbestos by appearance.
Arrange sampling and analysisPlanning refurbishment?
Photographs cannot identify asbestos conclusively
Many asbestos-containing materials look similar to modern asbestos-free products. Treat these images as awareness examples only. Do not cut, break or collect a sample based on a visual comparison.
Confirmation requires representative sampling under controlled conditions and laboratory analysis.
Common locations and product groups
Roofs and external products
Profiled cement sheets, roof tiles, slates, panels, soffits, fascias, gutters, downpipes and some roofing felts.
Boards and partitions
Asbestos insulating board may be present in ceilings, partitions, service risers, panels, fire doors and areas around heaters or boilers.
Heating and building services
Pipe and boiler lagging, gaskets, seals, insulation and components associated with plant and service installations.
Floors and decorative finishes
Vinyl tiles, paper backing, bitumen adhesive and textured decorative coatings on walls and ceilings.
Fire protection
Sprayed coatings, insulating boards, fire blankets, ropes and products installed to protect structural elements or service penetrations.
Electrical and specialist products
Fuse-box flash guards, arc chutes, textile products and other heat-resistant components used in equipment and older installations.
Examples from older buildings and products
Click an image to view it at a larger size. Each example remains visually indicative only.
Before maintenance or refurbishment
Check the asbestos register and existing survey information before work starts. Confirm that it covers every area and material the job could disturb.
A management survey is not normally enough for intrusive refurbishment or demolition. The survey scope must match the proposed work.
If you encounter suspect material
- Stop work and avoid further disturbance.
- Keep people away from the immediate area.
- Do not sweep, drill or take a sample yourself.
- Check available asbestos records.
- Obtain competent advice and controlled sampling where appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell whether a material contains asbestos from a photograph?
No. A photograph may show a product type associated with asbestos, but only representative sampling and laboratory analysis can confirm its asbestos content.
Which Jersey buildings are most likely to contain asbestos?
Older buildings and structures, particularly those built or refurbished before 2000, may contain asbestos products. Age alone does not confirm their presence.
What should I do if I uncover a suspect material?
Stop work, prevent further disturbance and obtain competent advice before cleaning, sampling or continuing the task.
Further guidance
Government of Jersey ACoP 8 describes where asbestos is likely to be found and how workplace risks should be managed. The GB HSE also provides useful building diagrams, but Jersey law and ACoP 8 remain the local framework.
Need to know what a material is?
We can assess the situation, take representative samples where appropriate and provide clear laboratory results and next-step advice.
Ask about a suspect material