Asbestos is a hazardous and toxic mineral that was commonly utilized in the construction industry between the 1950s and the 1980s. The material was used extensively in the UK in a broad assortment of building materials, including insulation, ceiling tiles, wallboards, cement, and roof shingles. Asbestos was not banned in the UK until 1999.

Asbestos fibers are from five to 200 times thinner than a human hair, making them invisible to the human eye, and they can be breathed in and become lodged in the lungs, where they can cause long-term health issues such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.

Asbestos testing entails collecting samples of a suspected asbestos-containing material (ACM) and sending them to an accredited laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will examine the samples and report on whether or not asbestos was detected. If asbestos is identified, the results will indicate the type of asbestos present, the quantity, and the level of risk it poses.