When Is Asbestos Removal Mandatory?
This is the official guidance from OVAM:
Currently, there is no general legal obligation to remove asbestos-containing materials from your home or building — unless the asbestos is in poor condition or becomes exposed during renovation work.
That said, removing asbestos during renovations is strongly advised. Not only is it better for your health, it also has a positive impact on your property’s value. In some cases, the environmental supervisor in your municipality may require you to remove asbestos from your building.
Asbestos in poor condition
Many asbestos-containing materials are in poor shape. Due to aging or years of exposure to weather, harmful asbestos fibers may be released, posing serious health risks to occupants and the environment.
If you manage asbestos-containing materials — for example, as a private homeowner — you are legally required to ensure that asbestos in poor condition does not pose a health risk.
Materials are considered to be in poor condition if they:
are brittle or visibly damaged,
are crumbling,
or are releasing dust.
Asbestos in poor condition should be removed. You are not allowed to seal or cover it permanently. Temporary fixation or encapsulation to reduce immediate risk is permitted, but only as a short-term safety measure. You must report this to the asbestos expert who issued your asbestos certificate, and it must also be documented in your home's post-intervention file.
Asbestspotter can help you with this temporary safety measure.
Asbestspotter can help you with this temporary safety measure.
During renovation work
If you're renovating your home or another building, you are required to remove any asbestos-containing materials that become easily accessible as a result of the work.
What does “easily accessible” mean?
If, for example, you’re removing drywall and find asbestos cement paneling behind it, then the paneling must be removed.
Ban on covering or enclosing asbestos
Covering or enclosing asbestos-containing materials is not allowed when those materials need to be removed to create an asbestos-safe environment.
For example:
Placing a new floor over asbestos-containing vinyl tiles (especially those with black asbestos glue) is not permitted.
Covering is only allowed as a temporary risk control measure, and must be reported to your asbestos expert and included in the post-intervention file.
Placing a new floor over asbestos-containing vinyl tiles (especially those with black asbestos glue) is not permitted.
Covering is only allowed as a temporary risk control measure, and must be reported to your asbestos expert and included in the post-intervention file.
Important: Asbestos-containing roof or façade cladding may never be covered — not even temporarily.
Accelerated asbestos removal: The Flemish Action Plan
On July 20, 2018, the Flemish Government approved the Asbestos Reduction Action Plan to make Flanders asbestos-safe by 2040. The main goals are:
Remove all asbestos cement materials from around buildings by 2034.
Remove all easily accessible, non-bound asbestos materials by 2034.
Remove all other easily accessible asbestos in poor condition by 2040.
For public buildings (e.g. schools, government buildings), these deadlines are legally binding. For private homes and owners, they are not yet mandatory, but the Flemish government encourages compliance through awareness campaigns and support programs.
🧾 Need an Asbestos Certificate in Halle, Dilbeek or Nearby?
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We operate in Halle, Dilbeek, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Beersel, Lennik, and the wider region.
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