Asbestos Surveys in the UK
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR 2006) is a duty to manage asbestos. The best starting point for you to comply with this regulation is to carry out an asbestos survey. An asbestos survey will enable you to locate and risk assess the asbestos containing materials (ACMs) present within your building.
Our comprehensive asbestos surveys are carried out by our experienced and fully qualified team of surveyors. The surveys are produced with the client in mind and are written in plain English. This enables the reader to fully understand what actions need to be carried out to ensure that the ACMs found are in a kept in a good safe condition.
All our surveys and sampling techniques for suspected ACMs are carried out to the highest standards as required by the Health and Safety Executive guidance document 'MDHS 100'. All samples taken are analysed by an independent, UKAS accredited laboratory.
The MDHS 100 States:
An asbestos survey has three main elements:
- Firstly, it must as far as reasonably practicable locate and
record the /location, extent /and /product type /of any presumed
or known ACMs; - Secondly, it must inspect and record information on the
/accessibility, condition /and /surface treatment /of any presumed
or known ACMs; - Thirdly, it should determine and record the /asbestos type/,
either by collecting representative samples of suspect materials
for laboratory identification, or by making a presumption based on
the product type and its appearance etc.”
To enable you to comply we offer three types of asbestos survey:
Type 1: Location and assessment survey (Presumptive Survey)
The purpose of a Type 1 asbestos survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACMs in the building and assess their condition.
This survey essentially defers the need to sample and analyse for asbestos (or the absence thereof) until a later time (eg prior to intrusive repair works, demolition or major refurbishment). The duty holder bears potential additional costs of management for some non-asbestos-containing materials. All areas will be accessed and inspected as far as reasonably or will be presumed to contain asbestos.
Any material which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos will be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to contain asbestos, there will be a strong presumption that it does. All materials which are presumed to contain asbestos will be assessed.
Type 2: Standard sampling, identification and assessment survey (Sampling Survey)
The purpose and procedures used in Type 2 asbestos survey are the same as for Type 1 survey, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos.
Samples from each type of suspect ACM found are collected and analysed to confirm or refute the surveyor’s judgement. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos, other similar materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos.
The number of samples taken will be sufficient for the surveyor to make an assessment of whether asbestos is or is not present.
Type 3: Full access sampling and identification survey (Pre-demolition / Major Refurbishment Surveys)
A Type 3 asbestos survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach.
A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible ACMs and estimates of the volume and surface area of ACMs made. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment /so the survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos/, other than to note areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be expected to be present.
Which Type of survey do I need?
The type of asbestos survey required will depend on the individual circumstances of the client. At ACS we can advise you on the type of asbestos survey most appropriate to your needs.
We also ensure that whatever asbestos survey is used, it conforms to the ‘MDHS100’ industry standard. Otherwise interpretation of the asbestos survey reports is difficult and the management plan produced may not adequately minimise the risks involved. By using the MDHS standard, at ACS we meet guidelines laid down by the Health and Safety Executive.
It is possible that a mix of survey types will be appropriate. It's therefore vital that the building owner, employer and surveyor know exactly what type of asbestos survey is to be conducted, the specifications for each type and in which areas they are to be used.
For example, a boiler house due for demolition will require a Type 3 pre-demolition survey, while offices at the same site may only need a Type 1 survey. Similarly, a system built housing estate may start with several Type 2 surveys but subsequent, premises may be evaluated using a Type 1 survey.
To avoid any confusion we provide a clear statement of the type of asbestos surveys to be conducted, where they are to be carried out and an estimate of the number of samples to be collected.
A full, jargon-free detailed report is provided at the completion of each asbestos survey.
For more information on our asbestos surveys or to receive a free no-obligation quote, please contact us on 01422 370588.
