The rules at a glance, so you know when you can get to work yourself and when it's better to call in a certified company.
You are about to renovate and come across a piece of asbestos. A corrugated sheet under the canopy, a piece of pipe insulation in the cellar, or an old vinyl floor in the utility room. Your first instinct may be to remove it yourself. That is possible, but only under strict conditions. This guide explains what is allowed, what is not, and why that boundary exists.
The law is clear. A private individual may only remove bonded asbestos that is undamaged and screwed (so not glued or nailed). Think of an asbestos corrugated sheet that is still in good condition and is screwed onto the roof of your garden shed. In addition, a maximum area of 35 m² applies. Anything larger, or that does not meet those conditions, must be done by a licensed removal contractor.
That 35 m² limit is not an arbitrary number. It is the point at which the risk of fibre release and mistakes becomes too great. You may still be able to safely unscrew a small sheet, but with a full roof of 40 m², much more is involved: the chance of breaking a sheet, spreading dust or exposing yourself to fibres increases exponentially.
There are situations where you better leave the screwdriver alone. Non-bonded asbestos, such as the crumbly insulation around old heating pipes, is always a job for a licensed company. The same applies to damaged material, of any type, and to glued floor coverings. That black adhesive under your old vinyl often contains asbestos and cannot be unscrewed. You would have to break, scrape or sand it, and that is exactly what you want to avoid.
Also, if you are unsure about the condition of the material, it is wiser to have an expert take a look. A crack you do not see can cause a cloud of fibres during removal. And fibres, you do not want those in your lungs.
If you are allowed to do it yourself, there are a number of rules you must strictly follow. They protect you, your family and your neighbours.
After the work, you take off your overall within the demarcated zone and shower thoroughly. The used foil and gloves go with the asbestos waste. As you can read in our guide on asbestos disposal, you may take the material to the recycling centre yourself, but only if it is correctly packaged and you adhere to the limits.
When you do call in a licensed removal contractor, it is not done carelessly. Depending on the type of asbestos and its condition, Credim uses one of the three legal techniques. For bonded material with a low risk, a simple handling sometimes suffices. For indoor pipe insulation and for damaged or friable asbestos, we build a hermetic zone with negative pressure. More explanation about which technique applies when can be found on our page about asbestos removal techniques.
The law is not there to make your life difficult. It is there because asbestos fibres are dangerous. As long as the material remains intact, there is little to worry about. But as soon as you cut, break or sand it, microscopic fibres are released that can remain in your lungs for years. These fibres can eventually cause serious diseases. Our page on why asbestos is dangerous explains this in detail.
In addition, there is the legal obligation to process asbestos waste correctly. Mistakes can lead to fines and health risks for your environment. A licensed company like Credim has the knowledge, experience and equipment to do it safely and in accordance with the rules.
It is not always easy to assess whether you can do it yourself or not. If you are unsure about the material, its condition or the area, then plan a free site visit. Our asbestos experts will come to your location, assess the situation and give you honest advice. No obligations, no jargon, just clarity. This way you know exactly where you stand.
A certified expert comes by, assesses the situation and gives you a clear, no-obligation proposal.
