Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which was widely used in building materials throughout the UK from the 1950s to the mid-1980s. It was highly prized for its fire-resistant and insulating properties, and was commonly found in materials such as pipe and duct insulation, ceiling tiles, sprayed coatings, and floor tiles.

However, over time, it was discovered that exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of serious illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. As a result, the use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999. However, there is still a lot of asbestos-containing material (ACM) in our buildings today, which must be identified and managed to prevent harm to humans.