The french government, getting aware of the asbestos risk for health, set up since 1996 a regulation :
This second part of the regulation evolved in the course of time : the
owners's duties were initially defined by decree 96-97, then modified
successively by the decrees 97-855, 2001-840 and 2002-839.
The regulation seems 'freezed' today because these texts were integrated
in May 2003 in the Code de la Santé Publique (articles R.1334-14 to
R.1334-29).
The first stages of the regulation specified that an inspection
concerning the components "flockings, duct insulations and suspended
ceilings" was to be carried out in all buildings except the houses before
the 31/12/1999.
Even if, by ignorance of the texts, much of owners did not order it,
this inspection is considered as carried out today. It can thus be
required before the signature of certain notarial acts (for ex : the
constitution of a SCI).
Note: this inspection is not sufficient anymore in case of a realty
sale: it must be supplemented because the most recent regulation enlarged
the list of the components to be controlled.