Asbestos under tiles - or just paranoia?

[williamraff]

Hi, I completely understand your position and the reason you asked the question in the first place. It is to your credit that you did so and stands as a salutary lesson to those who would risk scratching a suspect material to see if it released fibers.
Just as an aside, it is not the fibers you see which represent the greatest danger - it is the microscopic ones which irreversibly lodge in the lining of the lung which are the greatest threat.
I can also confirm that none of the professionals with whom I am acquainted would ever laugh at someone requesting a "bulk sample analysis" better to be safe than sorry.
I am a Building Surveyor with experience of working with asbestos so I have to advise you of best practice and the dangers of non compliance.
I apologise if it came across with an accusatory tone but I can assure you this was not the intent.
The dangers of asbestos are many and widespread, I would save you and any reading this post from unwarranted exposure.

 

[diamondtiling]

After losing two close friends and a cousin to asbestosis who used to work in Crewe works building train engines I can only agree with the above comments. This is a tiling forum, not a branch of the HSE.
Leave it alone and get qualified help.