What does Asbestos look like? With Photos!

Asbestos is nasty and still lurking about in vast amounts of older properties, even today! The issue is, that you cannot see asbestos fibres with the naked eye, so when you’re carrying out work on a property, it can be hard to know where it is.

We have created an in-depth guide on what various types of asbestos look like in their raw state but also how it is presented within materials. However, if you think you might have asbestos in your property, make sure that you have it tested with a licenced asbestos survey.

Firstly, we need to look at the types of asbestos which was most commonly used. Although there are 6 types of asbestos, 3 of them were more commonly used.

• Serpentine Asbestos  – Under a microscope appears and white and curly in appearance, the only member of this “family” is Chrysotile Asbestos.
• Amphibole Asbestos – Under a microscope appears needle-like and Brown (Amosite) or Blue (Crocidolite).

Chrysotile Asbestos

Mineral Family: Serpentine

Colour:  White

Most commonly used in: Cement, Textured Coating, Thermoplastics, Reinforced Plastic

Amosite Asbestos

Mineral Family: Amphibole

Colour:  Brown

Most commonly used in: Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB), Loose Fill Insulation, Sprayed Coating

Crocidolite Asbestos

Mineral Family: Amphibole

Colour:  Blue

Most commonly used in: Loose Fill Insulation, Sprayed Coating

Asbestos fibres are so small and light, once released they can float about in the air for long periods extending to days.

Classifying the friability of asbestos is an important risk factor. The more friable asbestos is, the more dangerous it is. This does not mean that Non-Friable Asbestos is not dangerous, it means that different precautions and controls are required to control them.

Friability with asbestos refers to the tendency for Asbestos Containing Materials to break down. This can be as a result of pressure or abrasion.

Materials with high asbestos concentration, which are more harmful to health, are more likely to be more friable.

Friable asbestos is more prone to breakages and can easily be damaged, this will release asbestos fibres which are easily inhalable into the air. These materials can easily be crumbled or reduced to powder by touch.

Non-friable asbestos is less likely to release asbestos fibres by applying human hand pressure. It cannot be easily disturbed and is more resistant to damage and abrasion.

Asbestos fibres are tiny! Typically, the size of asbestos is 0.1 to 10 µm in length which is a size that cannot be seen by the human eye. You cannot see, taste or even feel asbestos fibres, therefore imagine how easy it is to inhale them!

To give a visual representation of just how small asbestos fibres are, we have demonstrated this in the below two diagrams.

As you look round a property/building, you may see materials which you think are asbestos and they are not – and visa versa! The below list is a breakdown of most common types of asbestos materials and what they look like. We hope that this gives some helpful hints to avoid disturbing asbestos and risking your health.

Most commonly found in cement products such as roofing sheets, garages, pipework, guttering, boarding and flues.

40% of asbestos imported into the UK was used in asbestos cement.

Predominantly Chrysotile (White) asbestos mixed with cement.

Damage Potential: Low

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Low

What does asbestos cement look like?

Most commonly found in coatings on ceilings and walls.

Most common trade name “Artex”, applied in a swirled or stippled effect.

Chrysotile (White) asbestos mixed with plaster/grit.

Damage Potential: Low

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Low

What does asbestos-textured coating “artex” look like?

Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB), commonly found in internal partition walls, ceiling boards and tiles, behind fire places, behind fuse boxes, on and around fire doors.

Predominantly Amosite (Brown) Asbestos

Damage Potential: Easy, high

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: High

What does Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) look like?

Commonly found in cavity walls, under floorboards and in lofts.

Fluffy, “candy floss” texture in appearance

Raw asbestos, which can release fibres VERY easily with any kind of disturbance.

Predominantly Chrysotile (White), Amosite (Brown) and Crocidolite (Blue) Asbestos.

Damage Potential: Easy, high

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: VERY High

What does Asbestos loose fill insulation look like?

Commonly found around steelwork and columns.

Rough surface in appearance.

Predominantly Chrysotile (White), Amosite (Brown), and Crocidolite (Blue) Asbestos.

Damage Potential: Easy, high

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: High

What does asbestos-sprayed coating look like?

Commonly found in bitumen products including roofing felt, Damp Proof Course, Sink Pads, Floor Tile Adhesive.

Predominantly Chrysotile (White)

Damage Potential: Low

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Low

What does asbestos bitumen look like?

Commonly found in pipe lagging and insulation

Predominantly Chrysotile (White), Amosite (Brown), and Crocidolite (Blue) Asbestos.

Damage Potential: Easy, high

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: High

What does asbestos insulation look like?

Commonly found in fire blankets, rope seals, flash guarding, gaskets, yard

Predominantly Chrysotile (White) Asbestos

Damage Potential: Easy, high

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Medium

What do asbestos textiles look like?

Commonly found in flooring, behind cladding in walls

Predominantly Chrysotile (White) Asbestos

Damage Potential: High

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Medium

What does the asbestos paper look like?

Commonly found in Floor and Wall Tiles

Predominantly Chrysotile (White) Asbestos

Damage Potential: Low

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Low

What does asbestos thermoplastic tiles/vinyl look like?

Commonly toilet cisterns , Bakelite , resin , stair nosing.

Mainly black in colour

Predominantly Chrysotile (White), Amosite (Brown) Asbestos

Damage Potential: Low

Asbestos Fibre Release Potential: Low

What does asbestos-reinforced plastic look like?

The only sure way to tell if a material contains asbestos is professional Asbestos Testing.

UKAS Accredited Laboratories are the only organisations who can accurately conduct Asbestos Testing and provide UKAS Accredited Lab Results.

Smart Asbestos Services provide Asbestos Testing with UKAS Accredited Laboratory Results.