Hot water cylinder cupboard now empty, but new pipes in use

[HS123123]

I have a cupboard which orignally housed the hot water cylinder and some pipes, the cylinder has been taken out but the new combi boiler has the new pipes in this cupboard.

Although I asked homeserve the pipes need moving they won't move them after the job is done. Either way I don't want to knock this cupboard down as it's now more hassle, I want to use it for storage but I feel the ceiling has artex and it's damaged around the edges, what are my options to safely use this as a storage of some kind, I was thinking of a little step that covers those working pipes and covering the ceiling with som board but not sure if its safe with that artex moved having already damaged around the edges.The house is 1960's.

Not all artex has asbestos, you can buy asbestos test kits if you are worried. Just board the ceiling and box the pipes in, it will be fine for storage.

Do the pipes warm the cupboard? If so , you could put shelves in and use it as an airing cupboard / linen closet.

Thats correct all pipes work as well, both the cold and hot pipes go through there.

If it does contain asbestos and is still boarded up tightly whats the chances of someone using the cupboard ends up breathing any of asbestos in or gets it on the things stored in there?

Zero i imagine if it’s behind a board and the edges are sealed with caulk. People cover up asbestos all the time in this way, and are actually advised to do so in some cases.
Our roofer covered up our asbestos board soffits, he does it regularly as it’s safer than disturbing it by removing it.
At our last house the council did an inspection for some and told us to remove the board ourselves and just double bag it, said it was safe as they were complete and didn’t need a specialist removal company.

Thanks this is the situation on the ceiling closer up looks like when homeserve guy fitted the new boiler and didn't listen to me asking about the pipes being moved he's knocked a bit of the board on the ceiling on the right. Found some brown insulation on the floor too. I'm hoping some wood will fix this, I am waiting for the asbestos test kit arriving tomorrow. But I thinking caulking and some boards may do the trick, thanks for the advice so far, really helpful.

Keep the suggestions coming of course next question is what type of wood to use for the ceiling and cut around the pipes.

You are overthinking it. Fill the hole around the pipes with expanding foam and reboard the ceiling with plasterboard.

Good shout but I seen what was written on the canister on the expanding foam and put me off, is there a healthier option non toxic 😅?

What are the dimensions? I'd probably just patch up the whole, then put a deep bookcase / set of shelves in front of the pipes.

You could just use a thin MDF board or something. Go and have a wander in B&Q or Jewsons or somewhere. The staff are generally pretty helpful.
You aren’t going to be eating/inhaling the expanding foam, it will be fine.

53.5x77 cm

Also I don't know if this changes anything whilst looking at the ceiling in the airing cupboard, it's a square, loose plasterboard piece with artex, overtime it's loosened by the cracks around the edge and working pipes on either side. Most likely dismissed by the surveyor when we moved in a few years back.

It's also split in half through the middle and crumbling on the edges.

Bed would go the left of that airing cupboard door once the room is ready.

Waiting for my asbestos sampling kit to arrive still.