There continues to be a great many older cabinet heaters, in daily use, that still contain internal asbestos panels and potentially dangerous fibres that can be released into the atmosphere.
Asbestos lagging, sprayed asbestos and asbestos insulating boards can easily release asbestos fibres. Asbestos fibres can pass through the smallest gap or crack, just as easily as air can.
Several years ago, a school in Wales was closed after an inspection revealed, that children may have been placed at risk. Two separate asbestos surveyors discovered that asbestos fibres were being released from the school’s heaters into the classrooms.
It is never safe to assume that a system is safe unless it has been thoroughly inspected, Gas Safe Registered engineers such as Heathcrest Heating are trained to assess such risks and deliver risk assessment reports with recommendations. Regrettably, not all plumbing and heating companies carry out adequate inspections and therefore put their clients at risk of litigation.
The Gas Safe Register does provide a list of heating equipment known to contain asbestos, though equipment erected on site can easily by-pass this safeguard.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, businesses, schools rented premises must maintain and regularly update an asbestos register with the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials. Despite the regulations many businesses do not follow the recommended procedures to the letter.
It is estimated that over 75 per cent of Britain’s schools contain asbestos, if it was built before 1999 it is very likely to.
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