How to tell if plasterboard contains asbestos

Hello

I am getting my kitchen modernised and as part of that process I am having a boiler moved.
Pipes need to be routed in the ceiling between through joists. and down to the new boiler position. No access from above so we are planning on cutting out a section of the ceiling to run the pipes.

My ceiling has artex, likely to have been applied a long time ago so I am almost certain the artex contains asbestos. The plan is to use x-tex to remove the artex from the ceiling first. The plan is then to cut out the section of plasterboard cutting along where the artex has been removed which should be a safe way to go about this.

However, I don't know if the plasterboard under the artex itself contains asbestos and therefore unsafe to cut out. The house was build in the 50/60's timeframe.

Any advice please?

The plasterboard, or whatever's up there won't contain asbestos. You can use a wallpaper steamer to take off the artex. It'll soften it so it can be scraped off, and in making it wet, it won't get in your lungs.

Why not get the Artex tested then you'll know rather than assuming?

Don't think plaster board has ever contained asbestos.

newboy said:

Why not get the Artex tested then you'll know rather than assuming?

Click to expand...

Why bother; it still has to come off, and the steamer method stops spores getting into the air - whether there is any asbestos or not.