Sometimes, and you cannot tell which by looking. “Artex” is a brand name that people use for any textured decorative coating on a ceiling or wall. Some older textured coatings contain a small amount of white asbestos (chrysotile), usually a few per cent, and many do not. HSE says some suppliers stopped adding asbestos in 1984 and asbestos formulations were prohibited in 1988, but old stock stayed in use for years afterwards. The only way to know is for a competent person to take a sample and have it analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory. Until then, treat a pre-2000 textured coating as if it contains asbestos.
At a glance: Nexis CPD offers a £9 CPD-accredited online Asbestos Awareness (Category A) course — 100% online, with an instantly emailed, employer-verifiable certificate. Any three courses cost £18.
This guide covers textured coatings only: what they are, when asbestos stopped being added, how risky they are, and what you can safely do to a textured ceiling, from painting and drilling to removal. For the wider picture, see where asbestos is found in UK buildings.
What is Artex, and why might it contain asbestos?
Artex is a trade name for a finish that was trowelled, stippled or combed onto ceilings and walls to make swirls, peaks and other patterns. The name stuck so firmly that it is now used for any textured coating, whoever made it. HSE’s Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264) lists other products of the same type, including Wondertex, Suretex, Newtex, Pebblecoat and Marblecoat.
Manufacturers added chrysotile asbestos to many of these products to strengthen the coating. HSE’s Approved Code of Practice, Managing and working with asbestos (L143), says the proportion is normally between 2% and 5% chrysotile; the survey guide gives 3% to 5%. Either way, the asbestos is spread finely through a hard, bound material rather than present as loose fibre. The law treats textured decorative coatings as their own category, separate from the sprayed “asbestos coatings” used for fire protection and insulation, which are far more hazardous.
When did textured coatings stop containing asbestos?
There is no single date, and the commonly quoted “mid-1980s” only tells part of the story. HSE’s survey guide sets out the sequence:
- Mid-1970s: non-asbestos versions were already available.
- 1984: some suppliers voluntarily stopped adding asbestos, though HSE notes old stock may have been used for several more years.
- 1988: formulations containing asbestos were prohibited.
- 24 November 1999: the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 came into force, banning the supply and use of chrysotile and products containing it, with limited exemptions for a few specialist products.
HSE’s survey guide treats construction after 1990 as a reasonable basis for concluding that a textured coating does not contain asbestos. It also warns that imported materials may have contained chrysotile until 1999. A 1975 house might have been re-textured in 1992, and a later extension might have been finished with an old tub of coating, so the building’s age is only a starting point.
Can you tell if Artex contains asbestos by looking at it?
No. HSE’s survey guide says textured plasters and paints may contain very fine, dispersed chrysotile that cannot be seen by eye or even with a magnifying glass. A coating with asbestos and one without can look identical, and decades of paint hide any surface differences. Pattern, colour and hardness are not reliable clues.
HSE therefore expects old textured coatings to be presumed to contain asbestos unless they are sampled and carefully analysed by a competent laboratory. Before any work on a pre-2000 textured ceiling, the realistic choices are to get it tested or to treat it as asbestos-containing.
How dangerous is asbestos Artex?
Left alone and in good condition, it is one of the lower-risk asbestos materials. HSE describes work on textured coatings as low-risk and lists them among materials in which the fibres are firmly linked in a matrix and not released easily. A sound, painted ceiling that nobody is drilling, sanding or scraping is not a meaningful source of fibres.
The danger comes from disturbing it. The survey guide notes that fibres may be released when old coating is sanded down or scraped off. Dry sanding is the worst case, grinding the coating into fine airborne dust that a power sander spreads across the room. Chrysotile is still asbestos: breathing in the fibres can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, and HSE says these diseases can take from 15 to 60 years to appear. Low risk does not mean no precautions; it means the risk depends almost entirely on what you do to the coating.
Can you test Artex for asbestos yourself?
It depends on who you are. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place their duties on employers and the self-employed. At work, sampling should be done by a trained, competent person, usually a surveyor, and regulation 21 requires an employer who asks someone to analyse a sample to make sure they are accredited as competent to ISO 17025. HSE’s asbestos FAQs say all analysts for asbestos-related work must be accredited by UKAS.
A homeowner doing their own DIY is not an employer, so the regulations do not bind them in the same way, and postal sampling kits are widely sold. But taking a sample means breaking off a piece of the coating, and HSE’s advice is not to try to repair or remove asbestos materials yourself without training for non-licensed asbestos work. Its sampling guidance is written for trained surveyors, who restrict access, pre-wet the material, protect the surface below with polythene, wear suitable protective equipment and seal the sampling point afterwards.
Whoever takes the sample, check the laboratory is UKAS-accredited for asbestos identification. HSE’s survey guide warns that laboratories can miss very fine chrysotile in textured coatings. A “no asbestos detected” result also only covers the area sampled, because different rooms may have been coated at different times.
What can and can’t you do with a textured ceiling that might contain asbestos?
This table summarises how HSE classifies common jobs on asbestos-containing textured coatings at work. The task sheets are HSE’s free Asbestos essentials guides. Every job still needs trained workers and a risk assessment.
| Job | HSE category at work | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving it alone in good condition | No work | Often the safest choice. |
| Painting over a sound coating | Non-licensed (encapsulation) | No sanding or scraping first. |
| Drilling a hole for a fitting | Non-licensed | Task sheet A26. |
| Inserting or removing screws | Non-licensed | Task sheet A27. |
| Removing about 1 m² for a smoke alarm or light | Non-licensed | Task sheet A28: gel or steam. |
| Cutting out a whole board, coating intact | Non-licensed | Only if the coating is not deteriorated. |
| Large-scale removal by steam or gel | Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) | Notification, medicals and health records. |
| Clearing debris after a ceiling collapse | Non-licensed | Task sheet A29. |
| Removing coating from asbestos insulating board | Licensed contractor | The board changes the category. |
| Wet abrasive blasting or other energetic removal | Licensed contractor | HSE lists these as higher-risk. |
| Dry sanding, dry scraping or power tools | Never | HSE: never sand down or scrape through. |
The categories come from L143, HSE’s guidance on notifiable non-licensed work and its asbestos image gallery. For jobs not listed, HSE’s introductory sheet A0 includes a decision flow chart.
Can you paint over Artex that might contain asbestos?
Yes, and for many people it is the simplest way to live with an old textured ceiling. Painting a coating in good condition seals the surface without disturbing the asbestos inside. HSE’s FAQs say that if you suspect asbestos in your home, it is often best to leave it where it is, especially if it is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged.
The risk sits in the preparation. Do not sand the ceiling to key it, scrape off flaking peaks or wire-brush it. Apply fresh emulsion with a roller, working from the floor with an extension pole or from a proper low platform rather than a chair. If the surface is loose, crumbling or cracked, get it assessed first. At work, painting a coating that may contain asbestos counts as encapsulation, which HSE classes as non-licensed work, so the decorator still needs a risk assessment and training for non-licensed work.
Can you plaster or skim over an Artex ceiling?
Often, yes, provided the coating itself is not disturbed. A skim over a sound textured ceiling seals it in, and HSE treats encapsulation and sealing-in of asbestos materials in good condition as non-licensed work that does not need notifying. The catch is that plasterers usually want a flat surface. Knocking off the peaks, sanding them down or flattening the pattern with a power tool is exactly the disturbance HSE warns against.
One alternative is to skim over the pattern without scraping it. Another is overboarding: fixing new plasterboard over the old ceiling. That means driving screws through the coating, which HSE covers in task sheet A27, Inserting and removing screws through textured coatings. Either way, record what has been covered, because the next person to fit a downlight needs to know the asbestos is still there.
Is it safe to drill into an Artex ceiling?
It can be done safely with the right method. HSE classes drilling textured coatings for fixtures and fittings as non-licensed work that does not need notifying. Its task sheet A26, Drilling and boring through textured coatings, sets out the method for trained workers:
- restrict access and protect surfaces with 500-gauge polythene sheeting;
- cover the drill point with thick paste, such as wallpaper paste or shaving foam, or use a drill cowl with a Class H vacuum;
- use a hand drill if possible, or an electric drill on its slowest setting;
- clean up with damp rags, seal the drilled edge, and bag the waste as asbestos waste.
The worker wears disposable overalls with a hood, boots without laces and suitable RPE. The paste catches dust at the drill bit before it becomes airborne, which is far more effective than cleaning up afterwards.
How do you remove Artex that contains asbestos?
First ask whether it needs removing at all. Painting, skimming or overboarding leaves the asbestos sealed in place, and L143 notes that removing lower-risk materials such as textured coatings before demolition or major refurbishment may not be reasonably practicable. Our guide to what to do if you find asbestos explains why removal is often the wrong first instinct. Where removal is needed, the method and scale decide the category:
- Small areas for maintenance. Task sheet A28, Removing textured coating from a small area, for example 1m², covers jobs such as fitting a smoke alarm. Penetrating fluid or gel is gently brushed on, or steam is used, until the coating can be gently scraped into a dustpan; the stripped surface is then sealed.
- Larger areas. Large-scale removal by steaming or gelling is notifiable non-licensed work. L143 says a full enclosure should be used, and HSE’s sheet EM10 gives a model statement of cleanliness for the client afterwards.
- Intact removal. Where a coated board can be cut around and taken down whole without deteriorating the coating, the work is non-licensed and not notifiable.
- Licensed work. If the coating sits on asbestos insulating board, or energetic methods such as wet abrasive blasting are proposed, HSE says to use a licensed contractor.
A28 is blunt: never scrape through or sand down textured coatings or stripped surfaces, and do not use power tools to cut through them. Steam and gel soften the coating so it comes away as damp pieces rather than dust.
Who is allowed to work on asbestos textured coatings at work?
Most work on asbestos textured coatings does not need an HSE licence; sheet A0 says non-licensed work includes most work on asbestos-containing textured coatings, also known as Artex. That does not mean anyone can do it. HSE says workers must be trained to recognise and work safely with asbestos, and a risk assessment and plan of work are needed before any work likely to disturb asbestos.
Notifiable non-licensed work, such as large-scale steam or gel removal, adds three requirements: notifying the enforcing authority before work starts, using HSE’s online form ASB NNLW1; marking work areas with warning notices; and medical examinations and health records. L143 says NNLW workers should have had a medical examination within the past three years, repeated at least every three years while the work continues.
HSE’s equipment sheet EM6 calls for RPE with an assigned protection factor of at least 20, such as a disposable FFP3 respirator or a half mask with a P3 filter, for most short non-licensed work. Wearers need to be fit tested and clean-shaven; tight-fitting masks do not seal over stubble, so hooded respirators are needed instead. HSE notes that a “dust mask” doubled up is useless.
Asbestos awareness training, often called Category A, is different. L143 says awareness training will not prepare anyone to carry out work with asbestos materials; it helps workers avoid disturbing asbestos in the first place. Our explainer on asbestos training categories sets out the difference.
How should asbestos Artex waste be disposed of?
As hazardous waste. HSE’s sheet EM9 says asbestos waste is hazardous waste in England and Wales, and special waste in Scotland, when it contains more than 0.1% asbestos, and warns against mixing it with other waste to get below that level. It includes the rags, sheeting, disposable overalls and RPE used on the job.
The task sheets have waste sealed in an asbestos waste bag, then in a clear polythene bag, both taped closed. Intact coated boards should not be broken up but double-wrapped in heavy polythene and labelled. At work, waste goes to a licensed disposal site with a consignment note. Homeowners should never put suspected asbestos in household bins or an ordinary skip; GOV.UK’s asbestos in your home page points you to your local council for disposal.
What should you do if an Artex ceiling is damaged or collapses?
Keep people out, do not sweep the debris or use an ordinary vacuum cleaner, and get advice before anyone clears up. HSE’s task sheet A29 covers trained workers clearing debris after a textured ceiling or wall collapses, often after a leak: making the area safe, isolating electricity where needed, bagging debris and cleaning furniture with a Class H vacuum. It does not apply where the coating covers asbestos insulating board, which needs a licensed contractor.
Minor damage, such as a crack, can often be sealed, but HSE’s FAQs say only to attempt this if you have had the necessary training. The first steps are the same as for any suspected asbestos, set out in what to do if you find asbestos.
Who is responsible for Artex in rented homes and workplaces?
In workplaces and other non-domestic premises, and the common parts of blocks of flats, the duty holder must find out whether asbestos is present, record it and manage the risk. Our guide to the duty to manage asbestos explains what that involves; a textured ceiling in an office, school or shop should be on the asbestos register.
Inside a private house or flat the duty to manage does not apply, but L143 points out that section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 still applies to landlords of domestic premises, who must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their business does not put other people’s health at risk. Landlords should know whether textured ceilings have been tested and tell contractors before work starts. Tenants should not sand, scrape or strip a textured ceiling; ask the landlord first, and report any damage.
What should you check before touching a textured ceiling?
Run through this checklist before any job that touches a textured ceiling or wall, from a new light fitting to a full redecoration:
- Age: was the coating applied before 2000, or do you not know? Presume it may contain asbestos.
- Records: at work, does the asbestos register cover this room and this ceiling?
- Testing: has it been sampled by a competent person and analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory?
- Base material: could the coating be on asbestos insulating board? That makes removal licensed work.
- Condition: is it sound, or cracked, flaking, water-damaged or crumbling?
- Avoidance: can you paint or overboard instead of stripping?
- Category: is the job non-licensed, notifiable or licensed, and does it need notifying?
- Competence: is the worker trained for non-licensed asbestos work, with a risk assessment and plan of work?
- Method and kit: is the method wet and controlled, with RPE, overalls, polythene, damp rags and waste bags ready?
- Access and waste: is there a stable platform rather than a chair, and do you know where the waste will go?
If you cannot answer the questions that apply, stop and get advice first.
What training do you need to work near textured coatings?
Anyone whose work could disturb the fabric of an older building, including decorators, electricians, plumbers and maintenance staff, should have asbestos awareness training so they recognise materials such as textured coatings and stop before disturbing them. Our guide to who needs asbestos awareness training explains who is covered. Workers who will drill, overboard or remove asbestos textured coatings need further, practical training for non-licensed work.
Nexis CPD’s Asbestos Awareness (Category A) course covers what asbestos is, the diseases it causes, the law, where it is found, surveys and the register, and what to do if you discover it. It pairs naturally with Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE), for how respirators are selected, fit tested and maintained, and Health and Safety in Construction, for the wider site hazards and legal duties of building work.
£9 per course. CPD accredited, 100% online, verifiable e-certificate. Pay for 2, get 3 — any 3 courses for £18. These are CPD-accredited awareness courses, not Ofqual-regulated qualifications. They do not qualify anyone to take asbestos samples, remove asbestos, or carry out non-licensed, notifiable non-licensed or licensed asbestos work, and they do not replace an employer’s risk assessment, face-fit testing or practical training.
Frequently asked questions
Does all Artex contain asbestos?
No. Some older textured coatings contain a small amount of chrysotile asbestos, usually a few per cent, and many do not. HSE says some suppliers stopped adding asbestos in 1984 and asbestos formulations were prohibited in 1988, but old stock was used for years afterwards. Only laboratory analysis of a sample can confirm it.
Is Artex dangerous if you leave it alone?
Not normally. HSE treats textured coatings as lower-risk because the fibres are firmly bound in the coating. The risk comes from disturbing it, especially by sanding, scraping or drilling without controls. A sound, painted ceiling is often safest left in place.
Can I paint over an Artex ceiling that might contain asbestos?
Yes, if the coating is in good condition. Painting seals the surface without disturbing it, but do not sand, scrape or wire-brush it first. At work, painting it counts as non-licensed encapsulation work, so a risk assessment and training for non-licensed work apply.
Do you need a licence to remove asbestos Artex?
Usually not, but trained workers must follow HSE guidance. Removing about one square metre with gel or steam for maintenance is non-licensed work, while large-scale steam or gel removal is notifiable non-licensed work. Removing coating from asbestos insulating board, or using energetic methods such as wet abrasive blasting, needs a licensed contractor.
How do I get Artex tested for asbestos?
Use a competent asbestos surveyor to take the sample and a UKAS-accredited laboratory to analyse it. HSE says all analysts for asbestos-related work must be UKAS-accredited. If you use a postal kit at home, check the laboratory’s accreditation and disturb as little coating as possible.
Does Category A asbestos awareness training let you remove Artex?
No. HSE says awareness training will not prepare anyone to carry out work with asbestos materials; it helps workers recognise asbestos and avoid disturbing it. Drilling, overboarding or removing asbestos textured coatings at work requires training for non-licensed asbestos work.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. It summarises HSE guidance and the law in Great Britain as at 12 October 2026. If you suspect a textured coating contains asbestos, do not sand, scrape or strip it: get it assessed by a competent asbestos surveyor, follow your employer’s asbestos register, risk assessment and plan of work, and check current HSE guidance. If you are worried about past exposure, speak to your GP. Nexis CPD courses are CPD-accredited awareness training, not regulated qualifications, and do not qualify anyone to sample, remove or work with asbestos.