Removal of corrugated asbestos sheets

Are there corrugated sheets on the roof of your shed or garage and was it built before 1994? Then chances are that these corrugated sheets contain asbestos. How do you recognise asbestos and what does asbestos corrugated sheeting removal actually cost? Read all about it in this article.

How do you recognise asbestos corrugated sheets?

Asbestos-free corrugated sheets and asbestos corrugated sheets are very similar. This often makes it difficult to recognise whether your corrugated sheet roof contains asbestos or not. Read the tips below to recognise asbestos in your corrugated sheets:

• Date of manufacture: Were the corrugated sheets made after 1 January 1994? As of this date, the use of asbestos in building materials is banned throughout Europe, so corrugated sheets bought in Europe are asbestos-free.
• Coding: With corrugated sheets, you can easily check whether they contain asbestos by using different codes. The codes are on the outside of your corrugated sheet, often on the second-to-last corrugation. The code may be hidden under another corrugated sheet, so always look at the end of the roof surface. These codes indicate whether it contains asbestos;
  • Corrugated sheets containing no asbestos have the following codes: NT, AF, AFM, NA, AP or AV.
  • Corrugated sheets that do contain asbestos have the following codes: AT, NF or CAF.
• Building drawings: Check the building plans of your shed if you have them. These often list the type of roofing. Does this say ABC corrugated sheet? ABC stands for asbestos cement, which means that your corrugated sheets contain asbestos.
• Look: Asbestos corrugated sheets can also be recognised by their appearance. They often look weathered and moss grows on them. Furthermore, a white speckled pattern on the corrugated sheets is a typical characteristic of asbestos. However, this is not always visible, for instance when the corrugated sheets are painted. Is there a honeycomb structure on the underside of your corrugated sheets? This too is a sign of asbestos. Shine a torch on the corrugated sheets so that you can clearly see the honeycomb structure.
• Specialist: Do you suspect the corrugated sheets contain asbestos? If so, always have an asbestos specialist look at it.

What are the risks of asbestos corrugated sheets?

The release of asbestos carries health risks for you but also for your neighbours. Asbestos fibres can cause several diseases, including lung cancer. Therefore, removing your asbestos corrugated sheets should be done very carefully to prevent the release of the fibres.

Asbestos corrugated sheets are made of asbestos cement, with the fibres firmly attached to the material. This is good news. In fact, as long as the corrugated sheets are in good condition and remain undamaged, the asbestos fibres are not released. Demolition work is the main cause of the release of asbestos fibres.

What does asbestos corrugated sheet removal cost?

The price of having asbestos corrugated sheets removed depends on the following factors:

• The surface area of the corrugated sheets;
• The type and amount of asbestos;
• The asbestos inventory;
• The removal of the corrugated sheets.

Check the cost chart below for the average prices of asbestos corrugated sheet removal.

Regulations for asbestos corrugated sheet removal

The removal of asbestos corrugated sheets is subject to rules. If your roof has any of the following characteristics, you are required to hire an asbestos remediation company.

• The roof is larger than 35 m2.
• When removing the roof, it is possible that the material may be damaged and the asbestos released.
• The corrugated sheets are not loose, but are attached with staples, nails or glue. Corrugated sheets that are fastened with screws and can be loosened without prying or breaking may be removed by yourself.
• This is a commercial building.

Further, you are obliged to have an asbestos inventory and a demolition notification done before having the asbestos corrugated sheets removed. Failure to do this is considered a serious offence and you will receive a high fine from the municipality, which can amount to thousands of euros. With the demolition notification, the municipality asks for the following things:

• A situation sketch, in which you describe how the removal of the asbestos will affect the surrounding area;
• the dimensions of the building;
• the asbestos inventory report;
• the demolition method and demolition safety plan;
• the amount of asbestos released.

How does the removal of corrugated asbestos sheets work?

The removal of corrugated asbestos sheets involves several steps:

Step 1: Asbestos inventory

It is required by law to carry out an asbestos inventory before you are allowed to start removing the asbestos. In the asbestos inventory, the professional checks whether the corrugated sheets contain asbestos and whether they are damaged. Based on the inventory, the specialist will decide what the process will look like.

Step 2: Demolition notification

When the asbestos inventory has been carried out, you make a demolition notification to the municipality or have the specialist do this. Processing the demolition notification takes several weeks. So make sure you submit it on time.

Step 3: Corrugated sheet removal and replacement

If all the formalities have been taken care of, the asbestos removal work begins. The asbestos specialist prepares by investigating how to remove the asbestos as safely and quickly as possible. For removal, the specialist uses professional equipment, such as asbestos hoovers and filter systems.

After removing the corrugated sheets, the asbestos specialist replaces the roof so that it does not lie open for too long. It does this, for example, with new corrugated sheets that do not contain asbestos, but you can also choose to have a roofing contractor install another type of roof. During the work, the area is cordoned off to nearby residents, to ensure that no one is at risk.

Step 4: Waste removal

To prevent loose fibres from flying, the asbestos waste must be properly wrapped in special foil or asbestos bags. The asbestos specialist will be happy to dispose of the waste for you, so you don’t have to worry about this.

Frequently asked questions