What is asbestos surveying?
The purpose of an asbestos survey is to help manage asbestos in the duty holder’s premises. The survey has to provide sufficient information for an asbestos register and plan to be prepared, a suitable risk assessment to be carried out and a written plan to manage the risks to be produced.
What is an asbestos survey?
An asbestos survey is a visual inspection of a property or premises for asbestos, samples may need to be taken to identify is materials contain asbestos.
Are asbestos surveys safe?
It is generally safe for the building to be occupied during an asbestos management survey. The surveys will usually involve sampling and analysis of materials suspected to contain asbestos. we will ensure there is no risk to you in the works we undertake.
Do you need an asbestos survey?
If you are buying a property (commercial or residential pre-2000) you should have an asbestos survey. If you purchase the property without a survey and later find out it contains Asbestos, the management or removal of asbestos costs become yours to deal with. These might also be in a dangerous condition and may expose staff, family and friends to a class one carcinogen. Non domestic premises such as schools, offices, public buildings and shops, it is a legal requirement under The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to have an asbestos management survey in place.
What are the types of asbestos survey?
There are two main types of asbestos survey to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) within properties;
Management Survey
The purpose of an asbestos management survey is to manage ACM’s during the normal occupation and use of premises.
A Management Survey aims to ensure that:
- Nobody is harmed by the continuing presence of ACM in the premises or equipment
- That the ACM’s remain in good condition
- That nobody disturbs it accidentally
The Survey must locate ACM’s that could be damaged or disturbed by normal activities, by foreseeable maintenance, or by installing new equipment. It involves minor intrusion and minor asbestos disturbance to make a Materials Assessment.
Refurbishment / Demolition Survey
The Refurbishment / Demolition Surveys are required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition.
A Refurbishment / demolition Survey aims to ensure that:
- Nobody will be harmed by work on ACM’s in the premises or equipment
- Such work will be done by the right contractor in the right way
The asbestos survey must locate and identify all ACM’s before any structural work begins at a stated location or on stated equipment at the premises. It involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance.
