States Property Unit assures asbestos in education buildings are low risk

And no Guernsey schools contain RAAC – reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Any high risk asbestos was removed at least 12 years ago.

The reassurance comes as reports in the UK said that an estimated 700,000 children were being taught in unsafe or ageing school buildings often due to RAAC – a lightweight form of concrete prone to collapse, used widely between the 1950s and early 1990s – and high levels of asbestos.

The UK news stories coincided with a freedom of information request to Guernsey States regarding use of these materials in the Bailiwick's educational settings.

It stated that no schools contained RAAC and all schools were surveyed in 2000 with materials containing asbestos were categorised, A for immediate removal, B, removal advised, and C, leave and monitor.

‘All schools were surveyed in 2000 and a major programme of high risk asbestos containing material removal undertaken between 2000 and 2010,’ a Policy & Resources spokesman said.

‘A and B items were removed and replaced with modern materials.

'C items of a very low risk continue to be removed as and when refurbishment work allows, which is in accordance with the Guernsey approved code of practice for the control of asbestos.’

The asbestos containing products vary from pipe gaskets to felt roofing.

For example St Martin’s Primary had five items listed – cement roof tiles, vinyl floor tiles and adhesive, which are overlaid with screed and carpet, sealed-off floor service ducts, classroom heater backing boards, and noise dampening sink pads.

In 2012, all schools were re-surveyed in line with changes to legislation, and the asbestos containing material registers are updated annually after re-inspections of all known asbestos containing material.

‘So long as asbestos containing materials are maintained in good condition and are not disturbed they do not present a significant risk to health, the regular inspections of all asbestos containing marterials ensure that the risk is monitored and controlled,’ the spokesman said.

Recently the NASUWT union highlighted that there was a significant amount of asbestos at La Mare de Carteret.

The sixth form centre will be moving to the site for a year. In the freedom on information request, the asbestos materials at the school were listed as felt roof coverings, asbestos insulating board in ceiling voids and as cladding to steelwork, which is overclad with plasterboard, and noise dampening sink pads.

Education declined to give further reassurances in response to the FOI.

Paul Knight, managing director of Guernsey company ASR, which specialises in asbestos surveying and removal work, said that asbestos in schools was a hot topic at the moment, not just in the UK but also in France and Spain as well.

‘I would say we are on a par with the UK, in general our schools are no different as they were built a similar time.

'It could be that there is more asbestos in schools than in the reports but this would only become apparent during major restorations projects.’

Asbestos is a fibre-like material that was once used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing.

Its use has been banned in Guernsey since the start of this century.

While asbestos can be dangerous, it is not harmful if left alone.

But if material containing asbestos is damaged, it can release a fine dust that contains asbestos fibres that can cause cancer and lung conditions.

Mr Knight described asbestos as being like a spot.

‘Don’t scratch it. If it needs to be removed, it needs to be done with the minimum of disturbance.

'All asbestos is high risk. It does deteriorate with age so you need to understand where it is.’