Asbestos in Textured Coatings (Artex)

Textured coatings such as Artex applied to ceilings and walls before 2000 may contain chrysotile (white) asbestos.
Asbestos in textured coatings is not dangerous while undisturbed but becomes a hazard when sanded, scraped, or drilled.
Drilling, screwing, or sanding textured coatings releases asbestos fibres into the air where they can be inhaled.
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure — even small quantities of inhaled fibres can cause mesothelioma.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require a survey before any work that disturbs textured coatings pre-2000.
Sampling and laboratory analysis is the only reliable way to confirm whether textured coatings contain asbestos.
If asbestos is confirmed, the work must be carried out under controlled conditions with notification to the HSE.
Overcoating textured ceilings with paint or new plasterboard may be preferred to removal where practicable.
Workers in refurbishment and maintenance are at greatest risk from unknowingly disturbing asbestos coatings.
The duty to manage asbestos under Regulation 4 requires building owners to identify and manage ACMs including coatings.

Prevent fatal disease	Inhaling asbestos fibres causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis — all potentially fatal with no cure.
Legal requirement	The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require identification, assessment, and controlled disturbance of all ACMs.
Common but hidden	Textured coatings look harmless but can contain asbestos — workers must never assume they are safe to disturb.

Do

Don't

Check the asbestos register before drilling, screwing, or disturbing any textured coating
Arrange sampling and laboratory analysis of textured coatings applied before 2000
Assume textured coatings contain asbestos until sampling confirms otherwise
Use controlled methods such as dampening and hand scraping if removal is required
Wear RPE with a minimum P3 filter when working on confirmed asbestos-containing coatings
Notify the HSE using ASB5 form before any licensable asbestos removal work begins
Consider overcoating with plasterboard as an alternative to removal where appropriate
Double-bag all asbestos-contaminated waste in red labelled bags for hazardous disposal
Brief all workers on the presence and location of asbestos-containing textured coatings
Clean the area after work using a Type H vacuum — never dry sweep asbestos debris

DON'T sand, scrape, or dry-abrade textured coatings without checking for asbestos first
DON'T drill or screw into textured ceilings without confirming they are asbestos-free
DON'T assume post-1990 textured coatings are safe — asbestos was used until around 2000
DON'T use power tools to remove textured coatings that contain or may contain asbestos
DON'T dry sweep or use a standard vacuum to clean up debris from textured coating work
DON'T dispose of asbestos-contaminated coatings as general construction waste
DON'T allow other trades to work in the area during asbestos-containing coating removal
DON'T ignore the asbestos register — it exists to protect you from hidden hazards
DON'T remove asbestos coatings without appropriate RPE, training, and controlled procedures
DON'T overcoat without assessment — the coating condition must be suitable for encapsulation

See also: Asbestos Awareness | Artex and Textured Coating Removal

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