Deleterious materials

This section deals with potentially deleterious materials, including:

• alkali aggregate reactions (AAR and ASR);
• asbestos;
• calcium silicate brickwork;
• chlorides;
• composite panels;
• formaldehyde;
• high alumina cement concrete;
• hollow clay pot floors;
• lead in plumbing and paintwork;
• nickel sulphides;
• RAAC planks;
• sea-dredged aggregates;
• tesserae;
• vermiculite;
• VOCs; and
• woodwool slabs.

Many materials are perfectly acceptable for use in certain circumstances but not others. It is therefore unnecessary to prohibit their use for all construction - with proper care in the selection and use of these materials there is often no reason why they should not function properly. There are some exceptions of course, and these are outlined within this section.

This section is maintained by Jonathan Pegg of Atkins Global.

Feature: Asbestos: surveys

Feature: Building pathology: a concrete solution

Feature: Deleterious materials