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At AJC Asbestos, we offer two asbestos surveys – Asbestos management surveys and asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys.
The type of survey you need depends on the age and lifespan of the property. Several asbestos surveys may be needed over time.
A management survey is required during normal occupation and use of a building. This is to make sure that ACMs are continually managed.
An asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey is necessary when part or all a building is due to be renovated or demolished.
In the UK, there are two distinct types of Asbestos surveys.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
An asbestos survey provides accurate information on the location, amount, and condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The survey will evaluate damage or deterioration of the ACMs and reveal whether action is required.
Our asbestos surveys provide you with the necessary information to compile an asbestos register and a management plan.
An asbestos register is a comprehensive record that identifies all details of asbestos-containing materials in a building. The register is an essential part of proper asbestos management and is often created at the same time as an asbestos survey. The register contains full details on the amount and type of asbestos found, any possible risks, and recommendations for management or removal.
Maintaining an asbestos register is essential for the safety of building occupants and workers, as it enables building owners and managers to make informed decisions about asbestos maintenance and removal. Keeping an asbestos register is a legal requirement under the UK’s Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for non-domestic properties. It specifically instructs duty holders (e.g., employers, building owners and property managers) to assess if asbestos is present in commercial premises and maintain a record of findings. Regular updates and reviews are necessary, so the register is always current.
Our asbestos surveys help you perform a risk assessment for your premises and devise an asbestos management plan if the survey finds asbestos.
To locate and record the location of suspected or known ACMs, their extent, and type.
To inspect and record information on the accessibility of the asbestos, its condition, and any required sealing treatment.
Trained surveyors can often identify asbestos-containing materials through a visual inspection of the material and are legally permitted to “presume” a material contains asbestos without laboratory testing. Our asbestos surveyors will only presume a material contains asbestos if it strongly appears to be an ACM.
Our surveyors are highly skilled in identifying asbestos products when conducting asbestos surveys. However, if there is any room for doubt, the material is sent to a lab for testing and confirmation.
There are cases when an asbestos surveyor will know of building materials where asbestos was commonly used in construction at the time of installation and presume such materials to be ACMs.
Examples of items known to contain asbestos are corrugated cement roofing and wall sheets, chimney flues, water tanks, Artex wall and ceiling coverings, and floor tiles.
Other materials may be presumed to contain asbestos without having to take a sample because they have an unmistakable appearance of asbestos. For example, thermal pipe insulation often contains asbestos.
The Asbestos Surveyor may also decide it’s more straightforward to presume that certain materials may contain asbestos when advising on an asbestos management plan.
If an area is impossible to reach or inspect, then materials must be presumed to contain asbestos unless there is sufficient evidence to assume otherwise.
Certain materials are always asbestos-free or are extremely unlikely to contain asbestos.
These materials include glass, metals, stone, and wood.
However, apart from these materials, an asbestos surveyor may conclude that a material doesn’t contain asbestos while completing an asbestos survey.
However, it is not always straightforward for an asbestos surveyor to decide whether there are any asbestos-containing materials present during a survey. There are instances where tradespeople may have used ACMs illegally, albeit unknowingly, or where asbestos has been previously removed, but some debris or residue has been left behind. If there are areas where asbestos has previously been removed, regulations require a re-inspection of those areas.
An asbestos survey is a check carried out to find out whether asbestos is present in a building. It helps property owners and managers understand where it is, what type it is, and what steps may be needed to deal with it.
Anyone responsible for a building built before the year 2000 may need a survey—this includes landlords, businesses, local councils, and homeowners planning building work.
Not for residential properties. But for non-domestic properties, the law says you must have a survey if asbestos might be present and the building is used by workers or the public.
There are two main types: a Management Survey (for normal use and upkeep of a building), and a Refurbishment or Demolition Survey (for major building work).
Asbestos Management Survey – These surveys are used to find and identify any asbestos containing materials in a property where the asbestos can be safely managed, as there are no plans to disturb it. This is usually done to comply with the duty to manage asbestos in non-residential properties.
The survey will look at ACMs which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, and decide if it can be managed or should be removed.
This survey will cause minor disturbance when the surveyor collects suspicious looking samples.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Survey – This survey is legally required before any major refurbishment or demolition work takes place.
If you are planning on renovating part of a building, the surveyor will inspect the areas to be worked on. If the entire property is being demolished, then a full asbestos demolition survey is required.
This survey will identify and locate all asbestos-containing materials so they can be removed safely before work begins. This survey is highly intrusive because asbestos is often hidden within walls, ceilings, pipework, and insulation. In some cases, asbestos fibres could be disturbed, so all surveyed areas must be vacated until the site is certified safe for reoccupation and work can continue.
It depends on the size of the property and how easy it is to access areas like the loft or pipework. A small house might take a couple of hours, while a large commercial site could take many months.
All surveys will involve taking samples of materials that look like they might contain asbestos—unless nothing suspicious is found in your building. The survey includes a visual check of every area that needs to be covered.
If something is spotted that may contain asbestos, a small sample will be taken. The size, number, and location of these samples can vary. Most samples are about 3–5cm² in size. For textured coatings like Artex, samples are often taken from different spots on a ceiling, but we don’t remove one large square—just small amounts from several areas. Once the sample has been collected, the area is sealed to keep it safe. The type of seal depends on the surface, but paint is usually used.
Refurbishment and demolition surveys are more invasive and will cause damage. This is because parts of the building may need to be broken into so we can check behind walls, under floors, or above ceilings. However, this is only done in places where building work is planned. For instance, if a roof is due to be replaced, the surveyor will make inspection holes in the roof, but not necessarily the flooring.
The survey report will show where it is, what condition it’s in, and what you can do next. In many cases, it can be left in place and checked regularly. If it’s damaged, or likely to be damaged in the near future, it may need to be removed.
Make sure surveyors have clear access to all areas. If you have building plans, they can be helpful. Let us know about any hidden spaces, locked rooms or fragile areas.
Only trained and competent asbestos surveyors should do this work. It’s best to use a company that follows current health and safety rules and has experience in this field.
Any building put up or changed before 2000 could have asbestos. It’s especially common in buildings from the 1950s to the 1980s.
In domestic homes, you’re not required by law to have one, unless you plan building work. However, in older homes it is in your interests to consider a survey, as just drilling a hole into a wall can disturb asbestos. But for workplaces and rented properties, not having a survey could break safety laws.
No. Asbestos is dangerous when disturbed. Only trained people with the right equipment and knowledge should carry out this work.
You’ll get a report that includes test results, risk scores, and advice. This report acts as your proof of having a survey done.
Prices vary depending on the size of the property and the type of survey needed. A small residential check might cost less than a commercial site with many floors.
Air monitoring is usually only required if there is damaged asbestos within a property.
Air monitoring may also be recommended for reassurance where intrusive refurbishment and demolition surveys have been carried out to make sure the area is safe to re-enter.
Although you can find asbestos testing kits online, they should be avoided if you value your health. Asbestos is dangerous when disturbed. Only trained people with the right equipment and knowledge should carry out this work.
You’ll normally receive your report within a few working days after the survey is complete. If samples have been sent to a lab, we wait for the results before finishing the report. If anything urgent is found, we’ll let you know straight away.
For more information about our Asbestos Surveys and the services we offer, call 07928 715450, or alternatively fill out the contact form here, and we’ll call you back.
