Asbestos Glossary

A.C.M. - Asbestos Containing Material. This can be a product with anything from 99% asbestos concentration to less than 1% and is used to refer to the vastly different types of such material.

ACOP - Approved Code of Practice – Documents produced by the Health and Safety Commission which supplement and explain the law and give guidance on compliance with the legislation. Non-compliance does not constitute a breach of the law but ACOPs are used as evidence of failure to do all that was reasonably practicable to comply with the law.

A.I.B. - Asbestos Insulation Board. Used primarily for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning and ducts (plenums).

Airborne Fibre Count Certificates - These are Certificates issued following airborne monitoring for a variety of purposes such as reassurance testing, asbestos works leak testing and personal testing. See also Certificate of Re – Occupation.

Amosite - The technical name for 'brown' asbestos.

APF - Assigned protection factor - Most RPE does not provide complete protection from the hazard, and a notional figure, the Assigned Protection Factor, is specified for each type of RPE to indicate how effective it is. The Assigned Protection Factor means the factor by which the hazard is reduced, therefore a basic type FFP1 particle filter mask with Assigned Protection Factor 4 only reduces the hazard to a quarter of what it was – provided that it fits properly and is worn correctly!

Asbestos - A natural mineral fibre obtained by means of a mining or quarrying process; used extensively in construction for its useful properties of and thermal insulation, flame resistance, acid resistance, strength and versatility. There are three main types, Amosite, Chrysotile and Crocidolite.

Asbestos Cement - A hard product that contains approx. 15% asbestos fibres which can be any of the three main types. This is a relatively low risk material provided it remains intact. When used for roofing the risks to operatives can be greater from falls than asbestos exposure. This material does not normally require a licence to remove but must utilise trained and equipped operatives in accordance to CAR2006 and be transported and disposed of in accordance to the Hazardous Waste Regulations.

Asbestos Regulations - Regulations made under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 which control management and work with ACMs, removal and disposal together with the responsibilities for employers, managers, employees, contractors, visitors and designers.

Asbestos Related Diseases - Asbestos can cause two main types of disease in humans: cancer, particularly Mesothelioma and lung cancer; and asbestosis (scarring of lung tissue). Other lung changes such as pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening, which are much less disabling, may be indicative of asbestos exposures, but can be due to other causes. New cases of asbestosis are now rare in the UK.

Asbestos Waste - Waste containing asbestos is normally deemed as being hazardous waste and stringent regulations apply for its disposal and carriage on the highways. Enforced by the Environmental Agency.

BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society. Occupational hygiene is about recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards arising from work. Established since 1953, BOHS’s aim is simple: to help to reduce work-related ill-health. They do this by promoting public and professional awareness, good practice and standards, and by researching and advancing education in the science of occupational health and hygiene.

Bulk Sample - A sample of material such as boarding, insulation or debris taken by an accredited surveyor to be tested for asbestos fibre content by a UKAS accredited laboratory.
CAR2006 - the Control of Asbestos Regulations, enacted in 2006

Certificate of Re-Occupation - a certificate that can be only issued by an UKAS company following asbestos works - it deems the work area satisfactory to return to ‘normal occupation’.

Chrysotile - The technical name for 'white' asbestos.

Crocidolite - The technical name for 'blue' asbestos.

Dutyholder - a person holding or sharing asbestos management responsibilities when they have some form of responsibility or control over ‘maintenance’ activities within buildings - defined with the current Approved Code of Practice.

HSE - Health and Safety Executive, the enforcement of Health and Safety is principally split between two authorities - the Health and Safety Executive cover more specialist areas e.g. universities, and normally those buildings not accessible to the general public. Local authorities cover the more small to medium sized service and retail businesses e.g. hotels, shops, offices etc.

Lung cancer - a malignant tumour of the lungs' air passages. The tumour grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. The time between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of lung cancer is on average 20-30 years. It should be noted that there is a synergistic effect between smoking and asbestos exposure which significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

Mesothelioma - a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum). By the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal. Like other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma has a long latency period from first exposure to the onset of disease, on average 30-40 years.

Method Statement - The method by which the Licensed Removal Contractor will remove and dispose of the ACMs.

MDHS 100 - Method for the Determination of Hazardous Substances - Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials. This is guidance issued by the HSE to ensure proper practice and conformity in the surveying and reporting of ACM.

Notification Period - The HSE require that a two week notification period is given work for work carried out to a licensable material. However the HSE Notification Form ASB5 must now be accompanied by the Method Statement and it will take a few days to prepare this. Realistically, one should therefore allow a minimum of three weeks from the date of order for the work to commence.

Plan of Works - The plan by which the Licensed Removal contractor will set out the transit routes, location of skip, enclosure, location of Negative Pressure Unit etc.

P.P.E. - Personal Protective Equipment such as overalls, masks, gloves etc.

Pleural Plaques - The pleura is a two layered smooth wet membrane which surrounds the lungs and lines the inside of the rib cage. The layers slide relative to each other as the lungs expand and contract. Asbestos fibres inhaled into the lungs can work their way out to the pleura and may cause fibrosis or scarring to develop. This causes the pleura to thicken. Pleural plaques are a form of localised thickening or calcification on the outer layer of the pleura; that lining the chest wall. Although usually without symptoms they can cause impairment of the lung and pain. They are a marker of asbestos exposure. They are present in approximately 40% with regular exposure to asbestos.

RPE - Respiratory protective equipment

Type 1 Survey ( Location and assessment survey) - A presumptive (walk around) survey carried out without disturbing any part of the fabric, components or finishes. Of limited value under current legislation.

Type 2 Survey ( Standard sampling, identification and assessment survey) - A non intrusive survey as above but also entering into accessible ducts, suspended ceilings and other accessible voids, where possible. Required for the asbestos register. Will not detect asbestos concealed or ‘hidden’ within a building.

Type 3 Survey (Full access sampling and identification survey - Pre-demolition & Refurbishment) - A survey as above but with an invasive element e.g. taking core samples from partitions, lifting floorboards and investigating back to the structure where possible. Should detect hidden and concealed materials. Required for projects, major works and maintenance work of an invasive nature.

Visual Inspection - An inspection of the enclosure by the Analyst to see if all the ACMs specified have been removed before carrying out an Airborne Fibre Count within this area.

UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service, this is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these evaluators.