Asbestos Water Absorption Testing Across the UK
Our highly trained and experienced staff hold all the qualifications and accreditations needed to ensure our services are provided in full accordance with current legislation and industry best practice.
The Testing Lab PLC conducts UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited asbestos water absorption testing nationwide for domestic, commercial and industrial buildings across England, Scotland and Wales.
This specialist test helps dutyholders, surveyors and removal contractors correctly classify suspect boards as asbestos insulating board (AIB) or asbestos cement, so they can apply the right controls, licence requirements and cost assumptions for any removal work.
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What is asbestos water absorption testing?
Asbestos water absorption testing is a laboratory test used to distinguish between certain flat asbestos-containing boards – typically to decide whether a material is:
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Asbestos insulating board (AIB) – usually a licensed material and higher risk, or
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Asbestos cement – usually a non-licensed material and lower risk.
The method is set out in HSE guidance HSG248 – Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide, which describes a water absorption test as the appropriate way to differentiate AIB from asbestos cement when visual or bulk analysis alone is inconclusive.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, asbestos cement is defined (in part) as a material which, in a dry state, absorbs less than 30% water by weight when tested. Materials that absorb more than this are generally not treated as asbestos cement and may fall into higher-risk, licensable categories.
Why asbestos water absorption testing matters
Getting the classification right is a big deal:
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AIB is typically a licensed, notifiable product that requires:
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Licensed asbestos contractors
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Full enclosures and strict control measures
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Air monitoring and four-stage clearance
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Higher project costs and longer lead-in times
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Asbestos cement is usually non-licensed, lower risk and can often be removed with:
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Fewer control measures (still with appropriate precautions)
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Non-licensed or notifiable non-licensed work, depending on the task
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Significantly lower removal costs
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If a material is wrongly assumed to be asbestos cement when it is actually AIB, you risk:
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Under-controlling exposure
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Breaching CAR 2012, with potential for enforcement action, fines and prosecution
If a material is wrongly assumed to be AIB when it is actually cement, you may:
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Pay unnecessary licensed removal costs
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Experience programme delays while licensed work is arranged
A UKAS accredited water absorption test gives you definitive evidence to support your risk assessment, choice of contractor (licensed vs non-licensed) and overall removal strategy – often saving very significant sums on large projects while maintaining legal compliance.
Please complete our online request a call back form by clicking the “Call Me” button, and we’ll respond promptly.
When do you need an asbestos water absorption test?
You should consider a water absorption test when:
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A suspect flat board could be either AIB or asbestos cement, and visual appearance or bulk analysis alone cannot confidently distinguish between them.
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The classification of the material will affect whether:
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Work is licensed vs non-licensed / notifiable non-licensed
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You need a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor (LARC)
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More extensive enclosures and control measures are required
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You want to confirm a surveyor’s site opinion before committing to a particular removal method and budget.
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You are dealing with borderline density boards or older materials where manufacturing information is unavailable and historic records are unclear.
HSE guidance explicitly notes that, where bulk identification is inconclusive, a competent analyst can perform a water absorption test to determine whether a material is asbestos cement, asbestos millboard or AIB – with obvious implications for whether a licensed contractor is required.
Why choose The Testing Lab PLC for water absorption testing?
UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited water absorption testing
Your results are produced under a formally accredited scope, aligned with HSG248 methods and subject to regular external audit.
Independent, nationwide asbestos specialists
We are a long-established, independent organisation providing asbestos surveys, bulk analysis, air monitoring and water absorption testing across England, Scotland & Wales.
One of a relatively small number of UK laboratories offering UKAS-accredited water absorption testing
Many providers either do not offer this test at all or offer it on a non-accredited basis. Having this capability in-house means faster turnaround and consistent quality.
Real-world savings and risk reduction
By correctly distinguishing AIB from asbestos cement, we’ve helped clients avoid unnecessary licensed removal costs while ensuring that genuinely licensable materials are treated with the controls they deserve.
Integrated asbestos services
Water absorption testing can be combined with our asbestos surveys, re-inspection programmes, air monitoring and removal support, giving you a single, joined-up provider.
Areas we cover
From our National Control Centre in Doncaster, we provide asbestos water absorption testing and wider asbestos services across:
- Yorkshire & Humberside
- North East & North West
- East Anglia & East Midlands
- London, South East & South West
- West Midlands, Scotland & Wales
Samples can be submitted via our survey teams, courier or direct drop-off by arrangement.
Frequently asked questions about asbestos water absorption testing
Our Accredited Testing Services
Dear The Testing Lab PLC,
Many thanks for your prompt and professional asbestos survey report service, I would not hesitate to recommend your company in this regard.
This must be an absolute record for getting a report back, considering the surveyor arrived around 3pm – very well done!
Thank you for the very quick response for the quote and scheduling the survey. There’s never any fuss, and always straight forward. Thanks again.
Thank you for offering such a prompt turnaround for ACM testing and for your courteous service in doing so – I had a nervous client to placate and knowing the report would be back with them in such a short time was very reassuring to them, and for no more than a basic service from the competition!
Bradley, thank you for your efforts at short notice today, please pass on our gratitude to your surveyor Tim who did your company proud!
Thank you very much for the air sampling results – and please accept our grateful thanks for resolving this issue so quickly and for the promptness of the report.
Your analyst, Lee, was very helpful and his suggestions and advice appreciated.
We would have no hesitation in recommending The Testing Lab and will be in touch soon with regards arrangements for a full asbestos survey for the rest of the site.
TTL have been working directly as my analyst for the last 12 months on a very complex asbestos removal scheme, they have achieved all of their KPI’s without fail and on a number of occasions surpassed their SLA in acting for us on planning issues associated with the demolition in regard to contamination which cannot be removed as part of the normal sequence of operation.
There reports are always issued within timescales and they have policed the reports by the Licensed asbestos contractor faultlessly sometimes in very difficult circumstances.
