Asbestos in Flanders
OVAM prohibits solar panels and overlay roofs on asbestos-containing external roof coverings, and covering asbestos facades. Also have the underlay assessed before planning work.
Asbestos roofs
Prepare the removal of asbestos-containing roof sheets or slates before replacing the roof.
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Prepare your quote
- Existing report and already known roof area
- Building access and installations on the roof
- Temporary protection and the roofer’s intervention
The roof materials
Not every old roof contains asbestos, and asbestos roofs do not all require the same approach. The survey, sheet condition, access and fall protection are decisive. Coordination with the roofer and waste removal must also be defined beforehand.
For a house or garage, distinguish the roof covering from materials underneath. Sheet condition, elements passing through them and rooms requiring protection affect preparation. Removing the covering and installing a new roof are separate services to coordinate before work.
Points to clarify for your quote
State whether the enquiry concerns the covering alone or also elements underneath. Existing reports identify what is known and what needs checking. Specify temporary building protection and coordination between removal and the roofer’s installation. Mention known insulation, suspended ceilings or occupied rooms beneath the roof without opening them to investigate.
The roof, access and rooms below
Access from the street or garden
Describe the roof’s position relative to the street, access through a courtyard or side passage and areas that must remain accessible. A garage at the end of a garden needs different arrangements from a roof facing the street. Use measurements you already have; do not climb onto the roof to complete your enquiry.
Asbestos-free roof covering: check the underlay too
A recent roof covering does not identify the retained layers beneath it. OVAM states that installing structures in Flanders is also prohibited when fixings damage underlying asbestos materials. Before planning solar panels, have the layers that fixings would penetrate checked against available reports, with professional investigation where needed.
Official sources
Moving on to the new roof
Before ordering new materials, confirm the boundaries between removal, support repairs and installation. Agree who provides temporary rain protection and what happens if the roofer is delayed. Also identify who will handle gutters, junctions and equipment attached to the roof.
Before work starts
The removal method depends on the material and its condition. FPS Employment sets out worker protection rules; OVAM distinguishes interventions by application. Do not dismantle a sheet to check its composition: send the available report and have any further investigation defined.
Asbestos rules and official sourcesWhat your region changes for this work
Asbestos in Brussels-Capital
Have the whole worksite classified, including the roof, facade and other affected materials. Plan access, storage and the waste route in the file.
Asbestos in Wallonia
Classification depends on materials and quantities, not just the square metres quoted. Confirm the procedure before work starts.
Your questions
Can I clean or remove moss from an asbestos roof before work?
Do not use a pressure washer on an asbestos-cement roof: FPS Employment states that this is prohibited. Pre-cleaning is not a step you need to take for our visit. Describe moss, leaks or damaged sheets already observed without climbing onto the roof. A professional must assess its condition before deciding what happens next.
Official sources
Who takes away asbestos sheets after removal in Flanders?
OVAM states that when a contractor removes asbestos, it also handles the waste removal. Ask for a copy of the signed identification form or equivalent proof stating the waste’s origin and destination. Keep it with the project records. It documents the waste; it does not prove that every other material in the building is asbestos-free.
Official sources
Does the quote include the replacement roof covering?
Asbestos removal, waste removal, temporary protection and the new roof covering must be distinguished. Confirm the boundaries of each contractor’s work and the roofer’s sequence so that temporary protection is planned between interventions.
Must solar panels be removed before asbestos removal?
Mention existing installations in your enquiry. Any disconnection and removal must be coordinated with a competent contractor without damaging the suspect roof covering. The sequence will be defined after the site assessment.
I plan solar panels after removal: what needs coordinating?
Share the asbestos report and project drawings with the roofer and solar installer. Specify who prepares the new substrate, fixings and cable routes. Removal, roofing, insulation and panels need consistent scopes and scheduling, with temporary protection where necessary.