What kind of asbestos survey do I need?

This article outlines:

1. What a Management Survey is
2. What’s involved in a Demolition or Refurbishment Survey?
3. Environtec’s UKAS-accredited surveying services

If you’re responsible, or partly responsible, for making sure a non-domestic building is safe and compliant, chances are you’ll be familiar with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If your building was built before 2000, then you know that your building must be compliant with these regulations, and needs regular checks to ensure any asbestos on the site remains undisturbed and in a safe condition.

But did you know there are different kinds of asbestos surveys? Each survey is important to ensure a building remains safe and compliant throughout its lifecycle. This article outlines the different types of asbestos survey that are available, and when these should be used.

Not sure which asbestos survey you might need? Access our free asbestos survey guide to find out.

Constructed before 2000? Your building needs an asbestos survey

Only premises built after the millennium can be safe in the knowledge that asbestos isn’t embedded in the building(s). Anything built before this time needs an asbestos survey to identify all asbestos-containing materials. But which survey is needed?

No intrusive or refurbishment works planned? You’ll need a Management Survey

A Management Survey is a standard survey designed to find the location of any asbestos-containing materials and assess the condition of the asbestos. It will evaluate how likely it is that asbestos fibres will be released into the environment if they are disturbed. This process will involve taking a sample of the asbestos-containing materials and any intrusive work will be minor. This survey is a crucial starting point to ensure duty holders and their compliance team have the knowledge they need to manage asbestos during everyday use of the building. A Management Survey is needed to form an asbestos management plan and an asbestos register.

After the Management Survey has been carried out, the duty holder receives the survey report that outlines findings and recommendations. These findings form the basis of the building’s asbestos register and the asbestos management plan that should be created or updated by the duty holder. These two documents are instrumental to maintaining a safe and compliant space. They should also be shared with any contractors who come on site who may be working in the vicinity of asbestos-containing materials, to ensure no materials are disturbed.

If intrusive or demolition works are planned, you’ll need a Refurbishment or Demolition Survey

Unless removal of asbestos causes a greater risk to employees, it is a legal requirement that asbestos-containing materials are removed from a building before demolition or major refurbishment starts. This is set out by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

The Refurbishment/Demolition Survey involves finding and identifying asbestos-containing materials before any structural work can begin. Its main aim is to keep workers safe, ensure asbestos is safely removed, and to make sure work is completed by a competent surveyor. The inspection area must be vacated, as the survey could involve asbestos disturbance, and no further work can be carried out until a competent surveyor confirms the area is fit for reoccupation.  The duty holder responsible for your building must be happy that this work is carried out by a competent professional. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that duty holders use accredited asbestos surveying companies, such as Environtec to ensure the highest standards are adhered to.

After the Demolition/Refurbishment Survey is complete, the duty holder must provide the Principal Designer, Principal Contractor and the Project Manager working on the demolition with the survey report.

As surveys form the basis of important decision-making on how asbestos risk on your premises is managed, it makes sense to instruct surveying professionals who are experts on asbestos.

Environtec’s UKAS-accredited surveying services

Our team of asbestos surveyors carry out UKAS-accredited surveys throughout the UK. Operating for more than 30 years, we’ve had accreditation from the only recognised accrediting UK body for 25 years. We’ve got offices in England, Wales and Scotland and our asbestos surveys are available 24/7. This means that even during an emergency, you can rest assured that we’ll have an expert surveyor on hand to help wherever you are in the UK.

Learn more about our surveys