Asbestos Floor Tiles Identification And Safe Removal 
                     
                                     



 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asbestos Floor Tiles: 
Identification and Safe 

Removal  


 
     asbestosawareness.training                                                                +44 20 3579 7542 
 

Asbestos was a common 

construction material which is 

used in almost every public 

and commercial building 

constructed before the 80's in 

all over the world. The main 

attracting feature of asbestos is 

it’s high resistance to fire and 

so it is perfect thermal 

insulation. The rigidity and strength of asbestos made it very unique and 

also was added to floor tiles, concrete, vinyl materials in roof shingles, 

pipes, siding, wallboard, joint compounds, and adhesives.  

 

5 Steps To Identify The Presence Of Asbestos In Floor Tiles 

 

1. Identify the age of Floor:  

Determine when the flooring was installed, the age of the building, years 

when remodeling was done, the year when the flooring was installed, 

consider the number of layers and layer materials. 

 

    2. General Floor Tile pattern and size:  

Identify the tile pattern and size of it with the normal tiles without asbestos 

content. The dimensions and thickness of the floor tile which is not a 

reliable indicator of asbestos-content. The floor tiles contain asbestos were 

manufactured with different types of thicknesses and dimensions like they 

differ in their sizes, patterns, shapes, and cutouts.  

 

   3.Dominant Floor Tile colors:  

By identifying the tile colors in the floor, we can confirm the age of the floor 

tile, style of tile, and which company manufactured the tile. 

 

4. Identify the brand of the floor, pattern name, manufacturing 

number, style:  

If possible try to find extra floor tiles stored in an attic, basement, or garage. 

And also look for stampings or markings on the back of floor tiles or sheet 

flooring these all will help you to identify the brand and manufacturing 

number of floor tile.  

 

 


 
     asbestosawareness.training                                                                +44 20 3579 7542 
 

5. Lab testing of flooring for asbestos content:  

This is the crucial step to identify the asbestos content in the floor tile. In 

the case of any doubt in the asbestos in the tile, take a sample piece 

carefully by taking proper precautions to avoid asbestos-related diseases 

and proceed a lab test immediately.  

After identifying the presence of asbestos in the floor tile the next step is to 

remove it carefully. Some steps involving in floor tile contains asbestos.  

 

1. Get proper asbestos removal training from any affiliated 

institution: 

Asbestos removal needs more attention and has to be more careful during 

this process. Before removing process it is important to take a safety 

course in the asbestos removal or appoint an asbestos removal 

contractor with the approved certificate for safe removal.  

 

2. Prepare the work area:  

Remove all the movable objects from the work area to prevent any 

contamination of these objects and reduce clean-up time. 

 

3. Remove the flooring: 

Includes following steps 

● Floor tile removal 

● Floor sheeting removal 

● Waste materials 

● Adhesives 

●  

     4. How to clean-up 

Clean-up is important during removing asbestos-containing flooring tile. All 

dust and debris must be cleaned from the work area. Wipe down the entire 

work area with damp disposable towels or using vacuum cleaners. 

 

     5. Dispose of the waste 

● Contact local waste hauler 

● Contact licensed abatement contractor 

● Take the waste to a landfill yourself 

● Follow these steps for identifying and removing asbestos 

without spreading asbestos fibers into the air can help to 

protect yourself and others from Asbestos-Related Diseases.