Asbestos and lead in industrial equipment: How do they affect buyback and reuse?

Can equipment containing asbestos or lead be purchased and put back into use? In most cases, yes, provided its composition is known, properly documented and taken into account when determining the conditions of sale.

Why This Is Such an Important Issue in Industrial Equipment Reuse

Asbestos and lead were widely used for their insulating, fire-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties in applications such as seals, thermal insulation, coatings, cable ducts and certain alloys. Their presence cannot be ruled out solely on the basis of appearance, particularly in equipment manufactured between the 1970s and 1997.

For an asbestos removal contractor or a building surveyor, the issue is generally addressed at the worksite. In the context of industrial equipment reuse, however, it extends beyond the initial intervention. When equipment changes hands, it must be possible to handle, transport and recommission it safely, both for the seller and the new owner.

What the Current Regulations Require

Two separate regulatory frameworks apply:

- Asbestos:In France, an asbestos survey before work (repérage amiante avant travaux, or RAT) is mandatory for work on a building for which the building permit was issued before 1 January 1997 (Decree No. 2011-629 and the Order of 16 July 2019). Industrial dismantling involving cutting, drilling or damaging structural elements falls within this scope when the building meets this criterion.

- Lead:Since 9 April 2026, the occupational exposure limit (OEL) has been reduced fivefold, from 0.1 to 0.03 mg/m³ over an eight-hour period (Article R. 4412-149 of the French Labour Code). The biological limit value (BLV) remains at 300 µg/L of blood until 31 December 2028, before decreasing to 150 µg/L on 1 January 2029. Unlike asbestos, there is no single legal requirement for a dedicated pre-work lead survey. Instead, the general obligation to assess chemical risks applies, reinforced by this new exposure limit.

These limits are not merely theoretical benchmarks. They directly determine whether dismantling operations can proceed under existing conditions or must be suspended until additional protective measures are implemented.

How This Affects the Resale of Your Equipment

The presence of asbestos or lead does not automatically mean that equipment must be scrapped. However, it affects three key aspects:

• Whether dismantling can be carried out without damaging the equipment:Once identified, equipment can be dismantled using appropriate precautions to avoid releasing fibres or particles.

• The documentation to be provided to the buyer:A professional buyer needs to know exactly what they are taking possession of in order to meet their own safety obligations.

• The schedule and cost of equipment recovery:An initial assessment helps prevent unexpected discoveries during dismantling, which can delay operations or increase costs.

In the vast majority of cases, properly documented equipment remains suitable for reuse.

What to Check Before Arranging Equipment Recovery

Before dismantling begins, a few checks can help ensure that the transfer of ownership is properly prepared:

• The age and history of the equipment:The older the equipment, the more important it is to carry out appropriate checks, without assuming that asbestos or lead is necessarily present.

• Available documentation:Operating manuals, technical drawings, maintenance reports and previous survey results may eliminate the need to repeat checks that have already been completed.

• The planned work:Dismantling operations involving cutting, sanding or heating materials present a different level of risk from simply moving equipment in its existing condition.

• Consulting a suitably qualified professional when in doubt:This helps establish the facts rather than leaving the issue unresolved until work begins.

Once completed, these checks and their findings should be retained with the equipment. They remain useful to anyone who subsequently works on it, whether for further dismantling, maintenance or a change of ownership.

Plan Ahead for Safe Reuse

Identifying asbestos and lead in advance is not simply an administrative requirement. It is a key step in ensuring safe dismantling and building the buyer's confidence. Equipment that is properly documented in this respect can be dismantled with greater confidence, transported more safely and installed more easily. Reuse can therefore remain a safe solution, not just an economically attractive one.