Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos Surveys specialists throughout the UK
Asbestos surveys in the UK are of utmost importance. It is a legal requirement for all non-domestic properties to hold an up to date Asbestos Register on site. Fail to comply with this legislation and the penalties may be severe, with unlimited fines and even up to two years’ imprisonment.
These asbestos surveys are ‘sampling surveys’ is designed to locate the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing materials within the premises which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including foreseeable maintenance and installation, and to assess their condition. Management surveys will often involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance. The extent of intrusion will vary between premises and depend on what is reasonably practicable for individual properties, it will depend on factors such as the type of building, the nature of construction, accessibility etc. A management survey should include an assessment of the condition of the various ACMs and their ability to release fibres into the air if they are disturbed in some way. This ‘material assessment’ will give a good initial guide to the priority for managing ACMs as it will identify the materials which will most readily release airborne fibres if they are disturbed. The survey will usually involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or absence of ACMs. However a management survey can also involve presuming the presence or absence of asbestos.
If asbestos is discovered it may safely be presumed that other similar materials will exist within the building.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Survey
Refurbishment and demolition surveys will be required where refurbishment work or other work involving disturbing the fabric of the building is carried out. The survey strategy for refurbishment works is similar to that for management surveys. Refurbishment and demolition surveys should also be carried out on a proportion of properties in the work programme. The ratio again will depend on asbestos variability within the housing stock and may be high where there is substantial variation. A proportion should be surveyed until the results demonstrate as far as reasonably practicable that there is consistency in the range of ACMs in the property type and there is an accurate picture of asbestos presence. The refurbishment and demolition survey will only be necessary in the specific area/location where the works will take place, e.g. cupboard, part of a room, kitchen/bathroom. However further refurbishment and demolition surveys will be necessary in other locations when new improvement schemes are proposed. These localised refurbishment and demolition surveys should have the specific purpose of identifying ACMs for removal, control or avoidance during the refurbishment works.
Rest assured that our asbestos surveys are conducted with discretion and with as little as possible business disruption. Upon completion of our asbestos surveys, we provide all clients with a full report, Asbestos Register in accordance with HSE regulations and professional recommendations.
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