Schools are being urged to check any warm air cabinet heaters to ensure they are not releasing lethal asbestos fibres.
It follows confirmation that the closure of Cwmcarn High in South Wales was caused by the school's heaters emitting fibres into the classrooms. The school was closed in October 2012 and remains shut.
Tests carried out last year by experts appointed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that brown asbestos fibres were being released.
The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) has this week urged schools to get their heating systems checked by professional asbestos consultants.
A statement said: “This warning is specifically about warm air cabinet heaters where the cabinets were constructed on site. Other types of heaters can also contain asbestos materials which also need to be checked against guidance in the Gas Safe Register."
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