Asbestos Surveying Explained

Management Surveys

The standard survey to establish the presence of asbestos is the management survey. A management survey will locate, as far as reasonably practicable, and report on, the presence of ACMs which could be disturbed or damaged during the normal occupancy of the building. Normal occupancy includes day-to-day activities, minor maintenance and small scale non-intrusive installations. Typical tasks that are allowed following a management survey are decorating, the changing of light fittings and fixing to walls that have been deemed to be asbestos free. A management survey will involve minor intrusive works and a small disturbance to the fabric of the building. This should include accessing above suspended ceilings, accessing ducts where safe to do and unscrewing access panels. All buildings are different so the level of intrusion will differ. A management survey should include a ‘material assessment’.

For every sample taken the surveyor should record the accessibility of the material, the material type, its surface coating, and any damage to the material. All this information feeds into a numerical score or hazard rating, so those reading the survey have a determinable action following the survey which will relate back to the HSE ‘Material scoring tool’ https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/assets/docs/materials-priority-scoring.pdf.  The survey will also provide an analysis record of each sample. This should be undertaken by a UKAS accredited laboratory.

The type of asbestos found in an ACM will also feed into the numerical hazard rating. Samples are taken with a method of dust suppression, and a sharp knife or other tool which will minimise disturbance of the ACM. The sample is placed into a bag and sent off for analysis. The sample area is encapsulated with tape or paint and the sample point photographed. More information on sampling can be found in https://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg248.pdf.

Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys

The refurbishment and demolition (R&D Survey) survey is a legal requirement before any refurbishment or demolition work is undertaken. The R&D survey identifies, as far as reasonably practicable, the location, type and amount of asbestos in all areas subject to refurbishment or demolition works. The survey should be fully intrusive to gain access, as far as reasonably practicable, to all areas of the building where asbestos may reside.

R&D surveys should be undertaken within unoccupied rooms/buildings where possible. A good surveying organisation will be able to find compromises in regard to working within furnished buildings to protect items from becoming dusty. Good surveying techniques will minimise any release of asbestos fibre caused by sampling. You may want to consider air monitoring following asbestos surveys which will provide reassurance that the air quality is suitable for reoccupation.

Samples are taken with a method of dust suppression, with a sharp knife or other tool which will minimise disturbance of the ACM. The sample is placed into a bag and sent off for analysis. The sample area is encapsulated with tape or paint and the sample point photographed. More information on the survey process can be found in https://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg248.pdf or https://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg264.pdf.

Re-Inspection Surveys

Once asbestos has been detected in a building, if in good condition, it can be managed. As part of a thorough asbestos management plan a regular reinspection of the asbestos identified in the survey should be undertaken. This involves a suitably trained and experienced surveyor to attend site with the current survey and appraise the condition of the previously identified ACMs. If materials have degraded, then remediation work is required. If the material is in the same condition as the original survey the management system is working, and the material can stay in situ until the next reinspection.