Where does asbestos hide in churches and heritage buildings?
Boiler houses and pipe runs (lagging), organ chambers and vestries (AIB linings), roof voids (sprayed coatings and insulation debris), and post-war repairs — cement sheets, gutters and flue pipes added to much older fabric.
Can asbestos be removed without damaging historic fabric?
Yes — it’s slower, more surgical work: hand tools, localised enclosures, and methods agreed around the fabric rather than through it. We’ve worked in listed buildings where every fixing point had to be approved first.
Do we need permission before asbestos works in a listed building?
The asbestos removal itself doesn’t need listed building consent, but anything affecting historic fabric — fixings, access openings, making good — may. We flag what needs consent at survey stage so the DAC or conservation officer can be consulted early.
