Have been digging up the front garden to expand driveway and unearthed this last night.

Strange green metal ‘cover’ with white fibrous section underneath. Could be covering a hole

Ta

Even people who identify asbestos for a living can’t tell whether something is or isn’t asbestos just by looking at it.

Looks like it could just as easily be fibreglass but asbestos was used for things like underground electrical conduits so its not out of the question but you’d only know if you had a physical sample tested.

Agreed. I was hoping fibreglass too. Not much flags up on Google about the use of asbestos in gardens. PITA as its right on the entry point to where the driveway extension will be.

Testing is £10’s rather than hundreds if you’re worried about costs. The expensive bit is removal.

NB Now you have flagged it up any contractors you engage for building works will need informing when they tender for the job.

The cover is fibreglass and so is the white stuff underneath.

It only costs £30 for an asbestos test if you’re worried.

Could be the neck of a septic tank / cesspool? They are often made from fibreglass.

Looks like some sort of fibreglass moulding, an old bath maybe?

Fibreglass from that pic. You don’t get rounded smooth radius corners on asbestos and it looks thin so if less than 10mm or 3/8ths it’s probably not asbestos cement because that’s brittle.

If it’s not damaged then you are not in danger.

Cheers chaps.

The white stuff I’m referring to is beneath the green cover. You can see a tear in it (centre of original pic). It’s thin, white and fibrous.

Here’s a better pic of the cover. Defo a service cover of some sort and made of metal or similar.

I’ll investigate getting it examined tomo.

You don’t get rounded smooth radius corners on asbestos and it looks thin so if less than 10mm or 3/8ths it’s probably not asbestos cement because that’s brittle.

Asbestos comes in so many forms, thats a bit miss-leading. We’ve got asbestos stickers over everything at work, from stair nosings and window sills to toilet seats and cisterns.

However, as has been said, its particles and dust that is the problem, so carry on uncovering the offending item if its not damaged or breaking up. If its a deeper pit that needs cutting down to the new driveway height you might want to get it tested before attacking it with a saw/grinder, if you are putting hardcore down back to the original height, just lift off the undamaged cover and replace with something suitable for driveway use. Double bag the old lid and chuck it in the asbestos skip at the tip.

Yep, the cover and it’s questionable innards sit 4″ above new driveway height, hence defo getting inspection.

A builder mate popped over yesterday. He’s adamant it’s a fibreglass sleeve (for a redundant gas feed).

Smooth on the inside and very brittle.