Asbestos Surveys: The Different Types and When They are Required

What isAsbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that waswidely used in building materials up until 2000 due to its heat resisting anddurability properties. Asbestos is also harmful to health when disturbed fibresare breathed in. As such, the law requires that Asbestos Surveys are carriedout on all non-domestic buildings such as, offices, schools, hospitals or thecommon areas of residential flats constructed before the year 2000.

Those responsible for such properties, have a duty under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to manage Asbestos in non-domestic premises.

There are various different types of Asbestos Surveys. AsbestosManagement Surveys (and in some cases Refurbishment and Demolition surveys)should be used as the primary means of managing Asbestos. If asbestos ispresent in a building and recommendations are not made to have it removed,yearly Asbestos Re-inspections are required to manage it. Below, we havebriefly outlined the different types of Asbestos Surveys and when they would beused.

Differenttypes of Asbestos Surveys

• Asbestos Management Surveys:

An Asbestos Management Survey is a standard survey that is requiredon any building built before the year 2000. Its purpose is to locate, as far asreasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspected AsbestosContaining Materials (ACMs) in the building which could be damaged or disturbedduring normal occupancy. Asbestos Management Surveys will likely involve minorintrusive work as samples will usually be taken to confirm if Asbestos ispresent.

Access

In cases where access cannot be gained, the area will be marked as no access on the report and presumed asbestos until the Surveyor can gain access at a later date/ in the next re-inspection. Areas such as lift shafts and electric cupboards will require a professional to help the assessor gain access (a lift engineer or electrician) and this will need to be arranged by the responsible person for the building.

• Asbestos Re-inspection Surveys:

Having an Asbestos Management Survey carried out is not theend point in managing Asbestos. If Asbestos is present and is in a manageablecondition, annual Asbestos Re-inspections are required to update the registerof the condition of any ACM changes.

If Asbestos is found to be in a poor condition, or is in anarea that will likely be regularly disturbed, then recommendations will be madeto have it removed.

• Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys:

Asbestos Management Surveys should be sufficient for simpleroutine maintenance work, however, where more extensive work is going to betaking place, a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey (commonly referred to as anR&D Survey) is likely to be required. 

An R&D Survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. If you require a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey, please get in touch, we’d be happy to discuss this further with you.

• Asbestos Removal

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, there is arequirement for all Asbestos Containing Materials to be removed, as far asreasonably practicable, before major refurbishment or demolition takes place.This may also be required in smaller refurbishment situations where structuralor layout changes are going to be made to a building.

However, where Asbestos is unlikely to be disturbed and isin a manageable condition, it is often safer to leave any ACMs and review theircondition over time than to have them removed.

• Asbestos and Contractors

As the dutyholder for the site, it is your responsibility toensure contractors have access to the sites Asbestos Surveys and the Register,however, it is also their responsibility to ensure they are checking thisbefore starting any works on the building!

The Asbestos Register must be viewed and acknowledged by allcontractors before any work commences onsite, to ensure they are aware of anyAsbestos present.  If you are sendingcontractors the Asbestos Register by email, it is recommended that you ask thatthey reply to the email to confirm they have received this and understand thecontents in relation to the works they are doing.

If you would like further advice and guidance on managing the Asbestos in your building, please get in touch and we’d be more than happy to discuss further. You can reach us on 01376 572936.