Asbestos glossary
The words you will hear about asbestos and uralita in Spain and Portugal, each explained in one sentence with its legal source.
- Asbestos
- A group of fibrous minerals used in construction for their strength. If the fibres are released and inhaled they can cause serious diseases. Spain banned its sale and use in 2002.
- Uralita
- A trade name used generically in Spain for asbestos cement (corrugated sheets, downpipes, water tanks). Novateja has no relationship with the brand.
- Fibre cement (asbestos cement)
- A mix of cement and fibres. Until 2002 the fibres were usually asbestos; today's fibre cement uses other fibres. Only a technician can assess, on site, whether a given piece may contain asbestos.
- RERA
- Spain's Register of Companies at Asbestos Risk. Only registered companies may carry out asbestos work in Spain. Each autonomous community's labour authority keeps it. Source: BOE · Real Decreto 396/2006, art. 17
- Work plan
- Document the RERA-registered company submits to the labour authority before removing asbestos: measures, equipment, waste and schedule. Work cannot start without approval. Source: BOE · Real Decreto 396/2006, art. 11
- Asbestos certificate
- Document signed by a technician after a visual inspection stating whether visible asbestos is present, its condition and the risk. Required in Catalonia to sell or rent buildings from before 2002 (Act 8/2026). Source: BOE · Llei 8/2026, de 2 de juliol (BOE-A-2026-17836)
- Municipal asbestos census
- Public inventory of installations and sites with asbestos that Spain's Act 7/2022 (14th additional provision) requires town councils to draw up, with a removal schedule. Source: BOE · Ley 7/2022, disposición adicional 14.ª
- Asbestos waste (EWC 17 06 05*)
- European code for construction materials containing asbestos: hazardous waste that is wrapped, labelled and handed to an authorised waste manager, with its paperwork.
- Sandwich panel
- Roof panel made of two metal sheets with insulation in between (PIR, PUR or rock wool). The usual replacement for uralita: it insulates and can carry solar panels.
- Royal Decree 396/2006
- Spanish rule on health and safety in work with asbestos risk: RERA, work plan, training, protection and health surveillance. Source: BOE · Real Decreto 396/2006
- Decree-Law 266/2007 (Portugal)
- Portuguese rule protecting workers from asbestos, amended by Decree-Law 109/2026: limit of 0.01 fibres/cm³ and ACT authorisation for each job. Source: Diário da República · Decreto-Lei n.º 109/2026
- Habitability certificate (cédula)
- Regional document certifying that a home meets minimum habitability standards. Only some Spanish regions require it (Catalonia, Balearics, Valencia…).
- Energy performance certificate (EPC)
- Energy efficiency label of a property (Royal Decree 390/2021). Required throughout Spain to sell or rent homes, shops and offices.
- ACT (Portugal)
- Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho: Portugal's labour authority, which approves each asbestos removal work plan.
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