Asbestos are naturally occurring fibrous minerals that were once widely used in the UK construction industry for their desirable properties such as high tensile strength, sound absorption, and fire resistance. However, it was later discovered that asbestos can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Historically, asbestos materials were used in a range of buildings and structures including homes, schools, industrial buildings and hospitals. Despite the risks of asbestos, many buildings across the UK still contain asbestos materials.