The Ongoing Challenge of Asbestos in UK Schools

Recent commentary from professional bodies and industry experts has once again drawn attention to the widespread presence of asbestos within the UK school estate. The issue continues to raise understandable concern among parents, staff and estate managers, particularly given the number of older school buildings still in daily use and the practical challenges of maintaining and refurbishing them safely.

Data collected by the Department for Education indicates that 83% percent of schools in England still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within their buildings. UK policy centres on identifying and managing asbestos safely within existing buildings, rather than requiring widespread removal where materials remain in good condition. However, effective management relies on accurate information and consistent oversight. In 2023, the HSE served improvement or enforcement notices to one in every 15 of the 421 schools inspected over asbestos management failures. This, alongside the discontinuation of the UK Government’s Asbestos Management Assurance Programme (AMAP), has highlighted the pressures faced by the head teachers and estate teams responsible for overseeing complex and often hidden building risks.

Effective asbestos management ultimately depends on the quality of the information available to those responsible for the building. The key challenge for many schools is therefore not just the presence of asbestos, but whether the records used to manage it remain accurate and up-to-date, and whether those responsible have the awareness and training needed to utilise this information properly.

Why Asbestos Remains in the UK School Estate

Asbestos was extensively used across the UK construction industry from the 1950s through to the late 20th century, particularly in public buildings such as schools, hospitals and civic facilities. Materials containing asbestos were valued for their fire resistance properties and thermal insulation. As a result, asbestos within school buildings is often embedded within the building structure rather than easily-accessible areas.

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were widely used in products such as insulation boards, pipe lagging, ceiling panels, floor tiles and roofing materials, often installed within the structure of walls, ceilings and service areas. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that asbestos-containing materials in good condition present a lower risk when left undisturbed and properly managed than when removed unnecessarily, which is why UK policy has historically focused on safe management rather than wholesale removal.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, dutyholders are required to identify asbestos within their buildings, assess the risk it presents, and put appropriate management arrangements in place to prevent disturbance and exposure. Where repair, refurbishment or modernisation works are planned, asbestos must also be properly identified before intrusive work begins, as previously hidden asbestos-containing materials may be present within the building structure. Maintaining accurate asbestos registers is therefore essential for managing these risks safely across ageing school estates.

Why Accurate Asbestos Registers Are Critical

At the centre of effective asbestos management is an essential tool: the asbestos register. This document records the location, condition, product type, asbestos type, and risk assessment of identified ACMs within a building or estate, providing dutyholders and contractors with the information needed to plan work safely.

For complex environments such as schools, the register acts as the primary reference point for estates teams and contractors carrying out routine maintenance, allowing them to identify potential asbestos risks before work begins and ensures that appropriate control measures are in place. Where refurbishment or intrusive works are planned, the information contained within the register can also help determine whether a separate asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey is required to identify materials that may be hidden within the building structure.

However, the register is only effective if it reflects the current condition of the building. As schools undergo repairs and upgrades, previously identified materials may change condition or new areas of asbestos may be discovered. Registers must therefore be reviewed and updated regularly to remain a reliable tool for managing asbestos safely.

Where Asbestos Management Often Breaks Down

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR 2012), dutyholders are legally required to maintain an asbestos register and management plan for buildings where asbestos is present. Unfortunately, it is common to discover that these registers contain incomplete or out-of-date information.

School estates often involve multiple buildings constructed at different times, each with their own maintenance history and documentation. Over years of repairs and refurbishment projects, survey information can become dispersed across separate reports that without regular review, can be difficult to collate into a single record. Registers may also fail to reflect changes to the building. For example, previously-inaccessible areas may reveal new ACMs, whilst previously-identified materials may have been removed or encapsulated. When these changes are not logged in the asbestos register, the accuracy of the overall record deteriorates.

Communication presents an additional challenge. Maintenance teams, caretakers, and contractors often carry out routine work across large estates, yet asbestos information is not always presented in a format that is easy to consult before work begins. Where registers are difficult to access or interpret, the information they contain may not be used effectively during day-to-day maintenance activities.

Training and awareness also play an important role. Regulation 10 of CAR 2012 requires employers to ensure that anyone liable to disturb asbestos during their work receives the appropriate information, instruction, and training to enable them to carry out their work without risk to themselves or others. However, Government research published in 2019 found that although 75% of head teachers had read official asbestos guidance, this fell to 40% for caretakers and facilities managers. Additionally, less than 2% of maintenance workers had appropriate training, with 13% reporting no asbestos awareness training at all.

These findings highlight the operational challenge facing many schools. Managing asbestos safely depends not only on accurate records, but also on ensuring that the people responsible for maintaining buildings understand where asbestos may be present and how to avoid disturbing it during routine work.

How Envirochem Can Help

Professional support and technical expertise plays an important role in supporting dutyholders in maintaining effective asbestos management systems. Envirochem has a long history of working with schools, universities, and other estates across the UK to build these systems and help meet their responsibilities under CAR 2012.

Our experienced asbestos surveyors work closely with estates teams to review historic survey data, update and maintain asbestos registers, and establish structured asbestos management programmes. Laboratory analysis is carried out by our UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (No. 1227), providing accurate identification of ACMs and reliable data to support risk assessments.

Alongside survey and analytical services, Envirochem also delivers asbestos awareness training to teach caretakers and maintenance teams how to recognise potential asbestos risks and avoid accidental disturbance during routine work, whilst ensuring register information can be understood and applied in practice.

By strengthening both the management systems and awareness surrounding asbestos risks, schools can move beyond fragmented records towards a long-term approach that supports safe maintenance, whilst protecting students and staff.

To learn more about Envirochem’s asbestos surveying, testing and training services, visit our asbestos services page or contact our team to discuss how we can support you.