Asbestos is not a danger from the past – New Hazardous Substances Ordinance comes into force

Protective measures necessary

Stuttgart/Ebersbach, 02. Februar 2026 – On December 20, 2025, amendments to the Hazardous Substances Ordinance came into force. They particularly affect the requirements for working with asbestos in existing buildings. “During demolition and renovation work, many laypeople, but also professional craftsmen and women, unknowingly expose themselves to great health risks,” according to the experts at Electrostar/starmix.

Picture: Florenz Stetter, Head of Product Management at ELECTROSTAR/starmix.
Quelle: ELECTROSTAR/starmix

Previously, companies only needed a permit for demolition work in high-risk areas (over 100,000 fibers/m3). Since the end of 2025, this has also been the case for work involving low (under 10,000 fibers/m3) and medium risk (under 100,000 fibers/m3). If asbestos is involved, companies must provide the first and last names of the employees involved. In addition, all those likely to be involved must provide proof of their professional knowledge and their most recent occupational health check-up. The authorities will approve the work once proof of the necessary equipment and compliance with regulations has been provided.

Even supposedly harmless tasks carry a risk

All buildings constructed before the asbestos ban in October 1993 potentially contain asbestos. In addition, asbestos can be found in many building materials. The risk of exposure to asbestos fibers is not limited to large-scale demolition work: even knocking off a tile during bathroom renovation can release asbestos.

When working with materials containing asbestos, it is essential to use a certified asbestos vacuum cleaner. The special high-performance filters filter the fibers out of the air. This prevents them from being distributed further into the room air via the vacuum cleaner's exhaust air, as is the case with conventional household vacuum cleaners and uncertified construction site vacuum cleaners," says Florenz Stetter, Head of Product Management at Electrostar/starmix.

It is also important for private individuals to develop an awareness of the danger. Before starting any renovation work, the premises should always be checked for asbestos. If there is any suspicion that respirable fibers may be present, it is better to have the work carried out by a specialist company. This ensures that the legal requirements are met.

Über die ELECTROSTAR GmbH/starmix – A piece of German industrial history that continues with great success in the 21st century. Swabian engineers invented the warm air hand dryer and achieved worldwide fame with the starmix kitchen machine. Today, ELECTROSTAR GmbH, part of the Algo Group since 2007, stands for innovative technologies, the highest quality, and uncompromising customer focus. The company sells a wide range of powerful vacuum cleaners for trade, commerce, and industry, as well as modern hot-air and high-speed hand and hair dryers worldwide. With the acquisition of Haaga Kehrsysteme GmbH in 2012, innovative sweepers were added to the portfolio. In 2020, ELECTROSTAR / starmix and Haaga Kehrsysteme merged. In 2021, the new production site in Nýřany, Czech Republic, was opened. The group of companies employs around 230 people at its locations and achieved group sales of over 50 million euros in 2024.

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Isabelle Hübner
echolot pr GmbH & Co. KG
Fon: +49 160 6192247
huebner@echolot-pr.de

Fr. Gwendi Harer
Electrostar GmbH
Hans-Zinser Str. 1-3
73061 Ebersbach
Fon: +49 7163 9988-011
gwendi.harer@starmix.de
www.starmix.de