Soteria asbestos encapsulation coating applied to a corrugated asbestos cement roof, sealing fibres in place

Asbestos Encapsulation: When Sealing Beats Removal

Discovering asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in a building triggers an expensive question: remove or manage? UK regulations (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012) don't always require removal — if ACMs are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, managing them in place is often the safer and legally compliant route. That's where encapsulation comes in.

Soteria asbestos encapsulation coating tin – spray-applied elastic sealing paint for asbestos-containing materials

What is Asbestos Encapsulation?

Encapsulation seals asbestos-containing materials behind a durable, flexible coating so fibres cannot be released into the air. A spray-applied encapsulation membrane coats the ACM completely — including edges and damaged areas — and cures into an elastic, crack-bridging film that moves with the substrate instead of cracking off it.

Encapsulation vs Removal

  • Cost — encapsulation typically costs a fraction of licensed removal
  • Disruption — no sealed enclosures, negative pressure units or weeks of downtime
  • Risk — removal itself disturbs fibres; encapsulation locks them down
  • Compliance — encapsulated ACMs still need recording in your asbestos management plan and periodic inspection

Removal remains the right call when ACMs are badly damaged, will be disturbed by refurbishment, or the building is being demolished.

Our Encapsulation Systems

Soteria Asbestos Encapsulation Coating is a high-performance elastic coating designed specifically for sealing ACMs — spray-applied for fast, even coverage with no brush contact with the substrate. For larger retrofit projects, Surface Pro 20kg provides a spray-applied encapsulation membrane at scale.

Soteria encapsulation coating being applied to a corrugated asbestos cement roof to lock fibres in place

How It's Applied

  1. Survey and record the ACM (your asbestos management duty)
  2. Prepare access — no abrasion or disturbance of the material itself
  3. Spray-apply the encapsulation coating in even passes until the specified film thickness is reached
  4. Inspect, document, and add to the management plan with a re-inspection schedule

Important: work on asbestos must follow HSE guidance; certain works require licensed contractors. Encapsulation of well-bonded ACMs is generally notifiable non-licensed work — always confirm the category for your specific situation.

Questions about a specific ACM? Talk to our technical team.

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