2023 EU Asbestos Rules: Are You Aware of the Changes?

29 Jan 2026

Asbestos regulations in Ireland changed in July 2023 when new EU rules were brought into Irish law. However, as regular articles in the Irish media show us, not everyone is following them. So, while this should be common knowledge for those working with, on or near asbestos, some people make mistakes.

The updates lowered exposure limits and added stricter requirements for asbestos removal work. Asbestos was phased out in the late 1990s, but it's still in plenty of older buildings, so anyone working on properties from before 2000 needs to understand what the current rules require.

0.1 Cubic Centimetres to 0.01

The exposure limit went from 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre down to 0.01. That's a tenfold drop. It happened because studies keep showing that even low levels of asbestos can lead to diseases like mesothelioma decades later. 

On top of that, the rules now require better training, proper surveys before work starts, and more detailed record-keeping from employers and contractors alike.

Practical Ways the New Rules Affect Asbestos Work

The lower exposure limit means asbestos companies have to work differently now. Jobs that met the old 0.1 limit don't automatically pass under the new 0.01 standard, meaning containment has to be tighter, monitoring needs to happen more often, and even small mistakes can push fibre counts too high:

• Containment systems need upgrading to keep fibres down during removal

• Air monitoring has to run throughout the job to check that levels stay under 0.01

• Workers doing asbestos abatement need training on low-level exposure risks and what to do if containment breaks

• Every job needs documenting - air test results, which workers were there, and health checks for anyone exposed

• Asbestos surveyors have to meet higher standards before they can check buildings

Employers have to keep records of who was on site, what the monitoring showed, and any health checks done afterwards. For contractors, it’s something that adds time to every job, but is absolutely essential for safety.

OHSS - Helping to Keep Everyone Safe

The regulations introduced in 2023 tightened protections that were already in place, but the changes only work if contractors and employers are aware of them and follow them. The lower exposure limit and stricter requirements exist to protect workers from health problems that might not show up until years later.

If you're planning work on an older property, make sure you're following the current requirements. Get a proper survey done before starting and use licensed professionals for removal. For help with asbestos surveys or asbestos disposal, call the OHSS team on 01 6905907 or look around our website today.

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