Commercial Asbestos
Asbestos management for offices, retail, and commercial buildings.
Types of Facilities
Shops & Retail
Retail premises in older buildings commonly contain asbestos in ceiling tiles, floor coverings, and partition walls, with risks elevated during fit-out and refurbishment works.
Shopping Centres
Large commercial complexes built before asbestos bans contain extensive ACMs in fire protection systems, HVAC ducts, and common areas, requiring coordinated management across multiple tenants.
Supermarkets & Markets
Food retail environments with older infrastructure may have asbestos in roofing, cold store insulation, and service areas, requiring careful management to avoid contamination risks.
Showrooms
Vehicle and furniture showrooms in pre-ban buildings often contain asbestos cement panels, ceiling systems, and heating insulation that can be disturbed during display modifications.
Car Dealerships
Automotive dealerships with workshop areas face dual risks from building ACMs and historical use of asbestos in brake and clutch components, requiring comprehensive management approaches.
The Challenge
Commercial buildings — offices, retail spaces, warehouses, and mixed-use developments — represent one of the largest categories of properties containing asbestos-containing materials. Buildings constructed or refurbished before asbestos was banned are highly likely to contain ACMs in structural, mechanical, and decorative elements.
For facility managers, building owners, and compliance officers, the legal obligations are significant. In most jurisdictions, a duty to manage asbestos applies to all non-domestic buildings, requiring identification, assessment, and ongoing management of any ACMs present.
The commercial sector faces unique challenges: high occupancy rates mean disruption must be minimised during surveys and removal work; multi-tenant buildings require coordination between landlords and occupiers; and regulatory compliance must be demonstrable for inspections, insurance, and due diligence processes.
Regulation in your country
In United States, asbestos was banned in 2024. Buildings constructed before 2024 may contain asbestos materials and require professional assessment before any renovation work.
View full regulation detailsCommon Asbestos-Containing Materials in Commercial Buildings
Commercial properties built before asbestos bans took effect frequently contain it in the following locations:
- Suspended ceiling tiles and grid systems
- Fire doors and fire-resistant partition walls
- Boiler rooms and plant areas (lagging, gaskets, rope seals)
- Asbestos insulating board (AIB) panels in risers and service ducts
- Floor tiles and mastic adhesives in corridors and common areas
- Sprayed asbestos coatings (limpet) on structural steelwork
- Cement panels in external cladding and roofing
- Lift shaft linings and motor room insulation
- Cable trunking and electrical switchgear backboards
- Window sills, column casings, and decorative mouldings containing AIB
Services You Need
Commercial building managers and owners typically require the following asbestos services:
Key Regulations
United Kingdom: Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 imposes a Duty to Manage asbestos in all non-domestic premises. This requires the dutyholder to identify ACMs, assess their condition, create an asbestos management plan, and review it regularly. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.
United States: OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926.1101) regulate workplace asbestos exposure. Building owners must notify tenants and maintenance staff of known ACM locations. EPA NESHAP regulations govern demolition and renovation notifications.
European Union: Directive 2009/148/EC sets minimum requirements for worker protection from asbestos exposure. Each member state implements additional national regulations. France requires a DTA for all commercial buildings built before 1997.
Australia: The Work Health and Safety Regulations require an asbestos register and management plan for all workplaces. Regular condition assessments and air monitoring are mandatory during any disturbance of ACMs.
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