ASBESTOS REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR REAL ESTATE IN BELGIUM

What are the current regulations and guidelines in Belgium regarding the management, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials?

When selling a large non-residential building in Belgium, you always need an asbestos certificate by an OVAM-certified agency. At Avenue we work closely with specialized firms such as House Check, to ensure all properties brokered by us are in line with the latest regulations.

How can you recognize asbestos in your building and when should you call an expert?

There are different usages of asbestos, with the most common being in corrugated iron roofs or as insulation of pipelines. Experts will take mixed samples of the walls and ceilings in three different rooms and send them to a lab to determine the presence of asbestos. In roofing, there are a few ways to recognize the presence of asbestos:

• The appearance of moss circles on the roof

• A honeycomb structure along the sides

• Fibers sticking out of broken pieces

• The fibers don’t melt when held to a small fire

This type of asbestos, when in good condition is relatively easy and cost-efficient to remove yourself.

When it comes to asbestos insulated pipes, you need a professional to detect and remove it and removal will be a more costly affair. The building has to be put in a partial vacuum while the asbestos is removed and thoroughly cleaned afterward.

At Avenue, we organize regular training sessions with the experts in this field to ensure our team is always up-to-date on the latest guidelines and can effectively advise both investors and retailers on any transaction!