When Did They Stop Using Asbestos — and Why Did It Take So Long?
Asbestos was woven into the fabric of British industry for over a century. Understanding when did they stop using asbestos — and the long, complicated road that led to that point — matters enormously for anyone who owns, manages, or works in a building constructed before the year 2000.
The answer is not a single date. It is a story of industrial ambition, suppressed science, and a regulatory reckoning that unfolded across decades.
Asbestos Through the Ages: From Ancient Curiosity to Industrial Staple
Asbestos is not a modern invention. Ancient Egyptians used asbestos fibres in textiles and mummy wrappings as far back as 2000–3000 BC. Finnish artisans were adding asbestos to clay pots around 2500 BC, and Herodotus referenced asbestos shrouds in the fifth century BC.
The Romans called it the “magic mineral” — and with good reason. It did not burn, it resisted heat, and it could be woven into cloth. Roman soldiers reportedly wore asbestos tunics, and the material appeared in buildings and ships throughout the empire.
In the Middle Ages, its mystique only grew. King Charlemagne is said to have used asbestos tablecloths at feasts, impressing guests by throwing them into fire and pulling them out unscathed. Marco Polo observed asbestos clothing being produced in Chinese mines in the thirteenth century. For most of human history, asbestos was considered a wonder material. The danger was entirely unknown — or at least, entirely ignored.
The Industrial Revolution and the Asbestos Boom
The real explosion in asbestos use came with industrialisation. As factories, railways, and shipyards multiplied across Britain and the wider world, demand for fire-resistant, durable insulation skyrocketed — and asbestos was the perfect answer.
Global Mining Takes Off
Commercial asbestos mining began in earnest in Quebec, Canada, in the 1870s after large chrysotile deposits were discovered. Australia followed in the 1880s. South Africa’s Transvaal region became a major source of amosite asbestos, and Finland extracted anthophyllite asbestos in the early twentieth century.
By the mid-twentieth century, asbestos was a global commodity traded in enormous volumes. Consumption in the United States alone peaked at over 800,000 tonnes in the early 1970s — a figure that illustrates just how deeply embedded this material had become in industrial society.
What Was Asbestos Actually Used For?
The list of applications was vast. Asbestos was not a niche material — it was everywhere:
- Construction: Roof tiles, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe lagging, insulation boards, textured coatings such as Artex, and cement sheets
- Shipbuilding: Insulation throughout vessels, including Royal Navy submarines and warships
- Railways: Insulation in steam locomotives and rolling stock
- Automotive: Brake linings, clutch facings, and gaskets
- Manufacturing: Boiler lagging, furnace linings, fire blankets, and protective clothing
- Domestic products: Ironing boards, oven gloves, and some electrical fittings
H.W. Johns Manufacturing Company began producing asbestos roofing materials as early as 1858. By the turn of the twentieth century, Germany had patented asbestos cement sheets, and Italy developed asbestos pipes in the early 1900s. The material had embedded itself into virtually every sector of industry and construction.
When Were the Health Risks First Identified?
This is where the history becomes uncomfortable — because the health risks were identified far earlier than most people realise. Medical reports flagging serious lung problems in asbestos miners and factory workers appeared as early as the 1890s.
By the first decade of the twentieth century, life insurers were already raising premiums for asbestos workers. That is a clear signal that the industry’s own financial sector recognised the elevated mortality risk long before governments acted.
By the 1930s and 1940s, evidence of asbestosis — a progressive scarring of the lungs caused by inhaled fibres — was well established in medical literature. The link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer became increasingly clear through the mid-twentieth century. Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen, was later confirmed as almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
Despite all of this, the asbestos industry continued to grow. In many cases, companies actively suppressed or downplayed the evidence. Workers in shipyards, construction sites, and factories continued to handle asbestos without adequate protection — often without any warning at all.
When Did They Stop Using Asbestos in the UK?
The UK’s regulatory response was gradual rather than sudden. There was no single moment when the country simply stopped. Instead, restrictions were introduced in phases over several decades.
The First Restrictions: Blue and Brown Asbestos
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos) were the first to be restricted in the UK, banned from import and use in 1985. These are considered the most hazardous types of asbestos, with fibres that are particularly fine and penetrating.
The 1985 restrictions were a significant step, but they left the most widely used form of asbestos — chrysotile, or white asbestos — still in circulation.
The Full UK Ban: 1999
The use of chrysotile (white asbestos) was banned in the UK in 1999. This effectively ended all new use of asbestos-containing materials in British construction and manufacturing.
So when did they stop using asbestos in the UK? The definitive answer is 1999 — though the earlier 1985 ban on blue and brown asbestos was the first major legislative step. Any building constructed or significantly refurbished before 1999 may contain asbestos-containing materials. Buildings from before 1985 are particularly likely to contain multiple types.
The Legal Framework: Control of Asbestos Regulations
The legal framework governing asbestos management in the UK today is the Control of Asbestos Regulations. These place a duty on those responsible for non-domestic premises — known as the “duty to manage” — to identify asbestos-containing materials, assess their condition, and manage the risk they pose.
HSE guidance, including HSG264, sets out how asbestos surveys should be conducted and what duty holders are required to do. Compliance is not optional. Failure to manage asbestos correctly can result in prosecution, unlimited fines, and — most critically — serious harm to the people who live and work in affected buildings.
How the Rest of the World Responded
The UK was not alone in restricting asbestos, but global action was inconsistent and often painfully slow. Here is how the picture looked internationally:
- European Union: A full ban on asbestos came into force across the EU, with final implementation completed by 2005
- Australia: Enforced a total ban in 2003, following decades of devastating health outcomes linked to the Wittenoom crocidolite mine
- Japan: Banned asbestos in 2006
- Canada: Despite being one of the world’s largest historical producers, Canada phased out asbestos use from 2018 onwards
- Brazil: Announced a ban in 2019
- United States: The last domestic asbestos mine closed in 2002, though the regulatory picture remained complex for years afterwards
- China, Russia, and parts of Asia: Continue to use asbestos in some form, making it a live global health issue today
Asbestos is still not banned in every country. Global production and use, while dramatically reduced from its peak, has not ceased entirely.
What This Means for Buildings in the UK Today
The 1999 ban ended new use — but it did not remove the asbestos already installed in millions of buildings across the country. That material is still there, in schools, hospitals, offices, warehouses, and homes built before the ban.
Asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition and undisturbed do not necessarily pose an immediate risk. The danger arises when those materials are damaged, disturbed, or deteriorated — releasing fibres into the air where they can be inhaled.
This is why the duty to manage asbestos exists, and why asbestos surveys are a legal requirement for non-domestic premises. If you manage or own a building constructed before 2000, you need to know what is in it.
Types of Asbestos Survey You Need to Know About
Under HSG264 guidance, there are two main types of survey:
Management Survey
A management survey is the standard survey for buildings in normal use. It identifies the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during routine maintenance or occupation. This is the starting point for most duty holders managing an existing building.
Refurbishment and Demolition Survey
A demolition survey is required before any refurbishment or demolition work begins. It is more intrusive than a management survey and aims to locate all asbestos-containing materials in the areas to be worked on. This type of survey is essential before any structural work, strip-out, or planned demolition.
Choosing the right type of survey for your situation is not just about best practice — it is a legal obligation. Getting it wrong can expose you to significant liability.
The Legacy of Asbestos: Health Outcomes and Legal Actions
The human cost of asbestos use has been enormous. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer continue to claim thousands of lives in the UK every year. Many of those affected were exposed to asbestos during their working lives in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and are only now developing symptoms due to the long latency period of these diseases.
Legal actions against companies that used asbestos — and in many cases knew about the risks and concealed them — have resulted in significant compensation payments. Johns Manville in the United States became one of the most high-profile examples, ultimately filing for bankruptcy as a result of asbestos litigation.
In the UK, insurers had already begun raising premiums for asbestos workers in the early twentieth century — a tacit acknowledgement that the industry understood the risk long before it acted on it. This history of institutional knowledge and inaction continues to underpin many of the legal claims still being brought today.
Why the Date Matters More Than You Might Think
Knowing when did they stop using asbestos is not just a historical curiosity. It has direct, practical implications for how you manage any property built before 2000.
Buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1980s are statistically the most likely to contain significant quantities of asbestos-containing materials. This was the peak period of use in British construction — the era of tower blocks, industrial expansion, and large-scale public building programmes.
Even buildings from the 1990s, right up to the 1999 ban, may contain asbestos. White asbestos was still being used in textured coatings, floor tiles, and some insulation products until the very end. If your property falls into any of these categories, a professional asbestos survey is not just good practice — in most non-domestic settings, it is a legal requirement.
If you are based in the capital and need to understand what is in your property, an asbestos survey London from a qualified team will give you the information you need to manage your legal obligations and protect everyone in the building.
For property managers and building owners in the North West, an asbestos survey Manchester is often essential for older commercial and industrial properties in the region, many of which date from the height of asbestos use in British manufacturing.
Similarly, for those managing properties in the West Midlands, an asbestos survey Birmingham can help you identify exactly what you are dealing with and put a compliant management plan in place.
Practical Steps for Property Managers and Owners
If you are responsible for a building constructed before 2000, here is what you should be doing:
- Commission a professional asbestos survey — do not assume you know what is in the building without a qualified surveyor having inspected it
- Review any existing asbestos register — if one exists, check when it was last updated and whether it covers all areas of the building
- Assess the condition of known asbestos-containing materials — condition matters as much as presence; deteriorating materials pose a greater risk
- Put a management plan in place — the Control of Asbestos Regulations require duty holders to have a written plan for managing asbestos risk
- Ensure contractors are informed — anyone working on your building must be made aware of any asbestos-containing materials before they start work
- Review regularly — an asbestos register is not a one-time document; it should be reviewed and updated whenever the condition of materials changes or work is carried out
Asbestos management is an ongoing responsibility, not a box-ticking exercise. The consequences of getting it wrong — for the health of building occupants and for your own legal position — are serious.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did they stop using asbestos in the UK?
The UK banned all use of asbestos, including chrysotile (white asbestos), in 1999. Blue and brown asbestos — crocidolite and amosite — had already been banned in 1985. Any building constructed or significantly refurbished before 1999 may contain asbestos-containing materials, and buildings from before 1985 are particularly likely to contain multiple types.
Is asbestos still present in UK buildings?
Yes. The 1999 ban ended new use of asbestos but did not remove what was already installed. Millions of buildings across the UK still contain asbestos-containing materials, including schools, hospitals, offices, and commercial properties. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, duty holders for non-domestic premises are legally required to manage this risk.
What types of asbestos were commonly used in UK buildings?
Three main types were used: chrysotile (white asbestos), which was the most widely used and found in a huge range of products including textured coatings, floor tiles, and insulation boards; amosite (brown asbestos), commonly found in insulation boards and ceiling tiles; and crocidolite (blue asbestos), used in some insulation and spray coatings. Blue and brown asbestos are considered the most hazardous due to the nature of their fibres.
Do I need an asbestos survey if my building was built in the 1990s?
Potentially, yes. White asbestos was still in use right up until the 1999 ban, so buildings constructed or refurbished during the 1990s may still contain asbestos-containing materials. If your building is a non-domestic premises and was built before 2000, you should have a professional survey carried out to establish what is present and in what condition.
What happens if I do not manage asbestos in my building?
Failure to comply with the duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations can result in prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, unlimited fines, and in serious cases, imprisonment. Beyond the legal consequences, unmanaged asbestos poses a genuine risk to the health of anyone who occupies or works in the building — a risk that duty holders are legally and morally obliged to address.
Get Your Building Surveyed by the Experts
Supernova Asbestos Surveys has completed over 50,000 surveys across the UK, working with property managers, building owners, and facilities teams to identify asbestos-containing materials and meet their legal obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations.
Whether you need a management survey for a building in day-to-day use or a refurbishment and demolition survey ahead of planned works, our qualified surveyors provide clear, accurate reports that give you everything you need to manage risk and stay compliant.
Call us today on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to book your survey or find out more about how we can help.