You would use an analyst to confirm the type of Asbestos, and to advise you on the situation, risk, implications and options.
It sounds like the type has already been more or less confirmed, so whether you want advice or not or just to go straight for removal is up to you. Either way, an analyst will be required after any removal to carry out air tests and issue a clearance certificate. But for the sake of £100 or so, it might be worth getting a test and opinion/advice.
There will be different ways of dealing with removal, so contractors will state differing times. The important thing to ask, will be the method they propose and how that will impact on your time and use of the house. Then compare that.
In the post above, staffsvw mentions encapsulation. That is a valid option and worth considering to reduce cost and inconvenience. The material will remain, but will be sealed and left safe. But, that will not deal with any potentially already released fibres. So in this case you would have an air test first and if it's satisfactory, then you could just encapsulate.
But normally, if there is loft insulation there, an air test won't be possible as fibres will not be distinguishable from the insulation. In which case the recommendation will be to treat the area as contaminated and to clear it out under controlled conditions. That's not to say it is contaminated mind, just that it can't be tested.
My understanding is that council's are obligated to warn of potential asbestos products in their properties, especially when sold. Whether that applied at the time of your purchase, I don't know. But if you are of the mind to find out then get some legal advice - obviously not from the council.
Regarding your case of your documents or other stuff in the loft, you need to look at things in context. There is unlikely to be loads of fibres floating about, or even settled. You could get this case out of the loft take it outside, and dust it off and everything will be fine. If you don't want to do it, get the contractors to do this for you.
The risk with Asbestos fibre is repeated inhalation of specific quantities, or a large amount at once. You won't get that in this situation.
Where about in the country are you. I know of some national/regional contractors who are on various framework agreements with councils/associations. This won't be a recommendation, but it will mean that the contractor will have gone through a specific vetting process previously.
It sounds like the type has already been more or less confirmed, so whether you want advice or not or just to go straight for removal is up to you. Either way, an analyst will be required after any removal to carry out air tests and issue a clearance certificate. But for the sake of £100 or so, it might be worth getting a test and opinion/advice.
There will be different ways of dealing with removal, so contractors will state differing times. The important thing to ask, will be the method they propose and how that will impact on your time and use of the house. Then compare that.
In the post above, staffsvw mentions encapsulation. That is a valid option and worth considering to reduce cost and inconvenience. The material will remain, but will be sealed and left safe. But, that will not deal with any potentially already released fibres. So in this case you would have an air test first and if it's satisfactory, then you could just encapsulate.
But normally, if there is loft insulation there, an air test won't be possible as fibres will not be distinguishable from the insulation. In which case the recommendation will be to treat the area as contaminated and to clear it out under controlled conditions. That's not to say it is contaminated mind, just that it can't be tested.
My understanding is that council's are obligated to warn of potential asbestos products in their properties, especially when sold. Whether that applied at the time of your purchase, I don't know. But if you are of the mind to find out then get some legal advice - obviously not from the council.
Regarding your case of your documents or other stuff in the loft, you need to look at things in context. There is unlikely to be loads of fibres floating about, or even settled. You could get this case out of the loft take it outside, and dust it off and everything will be fine. If you don't want to do it, get the contractors to do this for you.
The risk with Asbestos fibre is repeated inhalation of specific quantities, or a large amount at once. You won't get that in this situation.
Where about in the country are you. I know of some national/regional contractors who are on various framework agreements with councils/associations. This won't be a recommendation, but it will mean that the contractor will have gone through a specific vetting process previously.
