5 reasons you could be paying too much for asbestos removal

The removal of asbestos is a complicated process and here at Rightway Environmental we have prepared this guide to help you through the process. There are many pitfalls and errors made in procuring the correct company to remove the asbestos you need to keep your project running smoothly. By reading this guide we will educate and pass on our experience to enable you to make an informed decision.

The measurements in your survey may not be accurate

Within most survey reports you will find a caveat stating that the survey is not a pricing schedule and should not be used as such. The report could also caveat that all measurements are estimates. This can mean that the measurements in these surveys could be unreliable. Asbestos Surveyors are required to measure as accurately as possible the amount of material they have sampled, but in some instances this may not always be possible. If materials extend above the height that can be reached or disappear out of sight and then reappear further on in the building, then it is not always possible to accurately measure.

HSG264, Asbestos: The Survey Guide, regularly stresses the need for the extent of asbestos materials to be quantified accurately. In our experience, reports that always provide measurements in round numbers, or multiples of 3 or 4, may not be accurately measured. An average domestic room size is 3m x 4m and surveyors have been known to use this formula regularly extending the room size by a metre either way. If the room measures 3.5m x 4.6m the measurements reported can quickly become highly inaccurate. Surveyors not using laser measures may rely on pacing out distances or simply rely on visual estimation.

We advise that when commissioning a survey, you ask whether laser measures will be used. The use of laser measures can remove the ambiguity of measurements and increase the accuracy of reporting.

Rightway Environmental have recently discussed this matter with a prospective client. By re-measuring the rooms where vinyl floor tiles and textured coating were found we were able to offer the client a 27% saving on what they would have paid if they had relied on the survey measurements.

Always get 3 quotes for removal

Some contractors can legally remove certain types of asbestos without holding a licence. These companies may not be experts in the field of asbestos removal though, and we would always advise choosing a Licenced Asbestos Removal Contractor (LARC) to remove asbestos materials. LARCs work with asbestos everyday, and employ staff with the correct training, PPE, RPE, the correct insurances and equipment.

Licenced Asbestos Removal Contractors should all be working to the same standards. They all have a licence granted by the HSE and are regularly audited by the HSE. Unfortunately, this may be where the similarities end. All companies have different pressures exerted on them in the form of overhead costs, lack of staff or too much work at any given time to name but a few. All these factors will feed into the price provided by a LARC for asbestos removal.

The HSE and other accrediting bodies such as ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) and ACAD (Asbestos Control and Abatement Division) provide lists of LARCs in your local area.

Asking three companies to price for the asbestos removal will allow you to price check your quotes. You must provide them all with the same scope of works and check their quotes to ensure they have costed all elements of the removal. Without gaining three quotes you have no method to check if you are receiving value for money. The cheapest quote may not always be the best quote so read your quotes thoroughly and question any sections you want clarifying.  Quotes can be returned without reference to all areas of the scope but once the price is agreed you may not be able to retrospectively agree with your contractor about elements of the removal that weren’t included in their initial quote.

Once you are happy with the quote, and all elements of your removal are covered, agree this in writing with the contractor via email, which should provide you with a binding contract.

You may not need to have your asbestos removed

Asbestos in good condition, that is encapsulated, poses very little risk to health. The risk to health increases dramatically when the materials are damaged. Instances of broken asbestos demand the need for asbestos removal, but in a number of scenarios the asbestos may not need to be removed.

Within the asbestos survey each asbestos element is given a score. Pay particular attention to the score given for damage. Asbestos with a damage score of 0 or 1 does not need to be removed, unless it is hindering refurbishment or demolition works. A score of 0 means there is no visible damage, and the material can be managed. A score of 1 means there are small surface scratches or dents which can be encapsulated.

Encapsulation involves the use of paints or other materials to cover the damaged asbestos. This can often be a paint called ET150. This is a rubber-based paint which not only covers the material but provides a protective rubber layer which will deflect similar damage in the future.

A responsible LARC will advise you on a number of options for most asbestos issues. We would always advise on removal as the material has gone and the risk to health has disappeared. Despite the benefits, asbestos removal may not be affordable so management and encapsulation should be considered as a cheaper option.

Presumed asbestos

Asbestos surveyors cannot always reach every suspect material to sample them. Therefore, HSG264, Asbestos: The Survey Guide, states that surveyors are allowed to Presume or Strongly Presume the presence of asbestos materials, based on their use and visual appearance.

Whilst being useful for surveyors, allowing them a method to catalogue out of reach suspect materials it can lead to materials being removed as asbestos when they are non-asbestos. We have experience of clients requesting our attendance to price for the removal of a Strongly Presumed item. It was only our insistence of having the material sampled that averted a removal project costing the client thousands of pounds to remove a timber panel.

When a surveyor is Strongly Presuming the presence of asbestos it is usually because they cannot reach the item. If the material was inaccessible for whatever reason during the survey but access is now possible (eg. the building is now empty, or plant has been removed so a scaffold can now be erected), have the material sampled and establish exactly what it is. The surveyor may have been correct but conversely the material may be non-asbestos and thousands of pounds could be saved.

There are new companies in the asbestos industry

The industry of asbestos removal has been dominated by a few large companies for many years. This is no longer the case as there are several new companies owned by people who have worked for these larger traditional companies. These people have all the experience and knowledge of the industry but have challenged the old processes to improve and streamline the asbestos removal industry.

Newer companies such as Rightway Environmental do not have the costs of operation of the older companies. They do not suffer the same overheads, have no debt and operate teams specific to their workload.

When choosing three contractors to price for your works, look closely at the business. See how long they have been trading, the history of the business and who is running it. If you can reach and talk to the owners and directors of a business and discuss the job you have with them, then this shows that the company is interested in your project and will care about providing you with an honest quote and reliable service.

If any of the points above ring true with yourself, and you feel you could benefit from the educated and honest approach Rightway provide then get in touch on 01752 964073 / 01174 031620 / 01872 303735.