Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos surveys determine the presence of asbestos containing materials in residential, commercial and industrial properties. Get in touch for a free quote.
Asbestos Management Surveys
Standard asbestos surveys to locate the presence and extent of any suspected ACMs.
Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys
Refurbishment and demolition surveys to determine if asbestos is present in your property’s structure.
Re-inspection Surveys
Annual re-inspection surveys to monitor and record the presence or absence of asbestos.
Why choose Guard asbestos surveys?
I offer a professional, affordable, fast and efficient asbestos surveys as a qualified asbestos surveyor with decades of experience.
As well as inspecting your property, you receive detailed reporting and a complaint asbestos management plan when it’s needed.
With Guard, you can accurately determine the location, amount and condition of any asbestos containing materials that are present.
What is an asbestos survey?
An asbestos survey is a type of inspection conducted by an experienced asbestos surveyor.
There are two well-known types: Asbestos Management Surveys and Refurbishment-Demolition Asbestos Surveys.
The main aim of asbestos surveys is to identify and assess any potential asbestos present. Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are a significant health risk for anyone living in, or working on, the area in which they’re present.
I offer both types of survey plus Re-Inspection Surveys (a type of survey conducted on an annual basis to monitor and record the condition of any previously identified asbestos). Read about asbestos surveys in more detail below.
What happens in asbestos surveys?
In an asbestos survey, the surveyor will systematically inspect the building in line with the current asbestos regulations.
External elements such as roofs, guttering and downpipes will be checked. As well as internal elements such as floors, walls, ceilings, fascia and boilers. The aim is to identify any asbestos hazards.
The asbestos survey will include taking photographs, detailed notes, and samples where necessary. Your surveyor may also recommend an asbestos management plan for dealing with the asbestos identified.
Types of asbestos survey
At Guard, I provide three types of asbestos surveys to cover all kinds of scenarios and property types.
If you are in need of an asbestos survey in the Rochdale and Greater Manchester area, please head to my contact page to get in touch and receive expert advice, plus a free quote.
Asbestos Management Surveys
Asbestos management surveys, or ‘Type 2 asbestos survey’ as they were previously known, typically consist of sampling and analysing the presence or absence of asbestos.
Minor intrusive work, such as taking small samples of flooring or wallpaper, may be required. But in general, this is a non-invasive survey that mostly involves visual inspection.
The main purpose of a management survey is to effectively locate potential asbestos containing materials.
Key areas of the building are assessed to determine the presence of asbestos, including underneath floor coverings, underground rooms, lofts, and outbuildings.
Typically, you would get an asbestos management survey to comply with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
In the case of business property, the regulations require those who manage a property to have an understanding of ACMs present and the health risks posed.
In the case of residential homes, an asbestos management survey is often requested to give the new owner an understanding of any asbestos present.
Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
A refurbishment and demolition survey (previously known as a Type 3 asbestos survey) must be undertaken before any major refurbishment work is carried out on an industrial, residential or commercial building, in order to comply with UK regulations.
The aim of this type of asbestos survey is to identify where asbestos has been used in the construction of the building.
Since this means checking everything down to the brickwork and building materials, the survey often involves destructive inspection. For example, layers of plaster may be removed to get to structural elements of the property.
During this asbestos survey, I will conduct a thorough investigation throughout the property including areas such as cladding, ceilings, partitions, and behind walls.
Upon completion, you can expect a detailed report that will clearly state the location of asbestos and to what extent it is present.
It is a legal requirement to carry out a refurbishment and demolition survey on any property that will be subject to demolition work, renovation or refurbishment. This is to protect those working on the property as well as those set to inhabit it, after work has been completed.
Re-inspection Surveys
Over time, asbestos can degenerate and become increasingly dangerous.
Annual asbestos inspections, as part of a compliant asbestos management plan, are key to monitor and record the condition of any previously identified asbestos.
With each re-inspection survey, you will gain a detailed and up-to-date report breaking down the current state of asbestos in the building.
Effectively managing risk within your property as the duty holder is absolutely imperative, but not just because it is a legal requirement.
It helps you protect your building, its occupants, your business, and the environment, from the health risks of asbestos exposure and breathing in asbestos fibres released by ACMs.
Are asbestos surveys a legal requirement?
For commercial and industrial buildings:
Including rental homes, an asbestos survey is a legal requirement, no matter the size or type of property.
Regulation 4 of Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 puts onus on whoever is responsible for the maintenance of the building. This typically includes business owners and landlords (or occasionally the managing agents employed by a landlord).
Once an asbestos survey has been completed a report is compiled – including the asbestos register, which is a critical section summarising what asbestos containing materials are present, their condition, location and amount.
This information is used to compile the risk assessment, details of legal obligations and how the ACM’s should be managed.
For residential buildings:
An asbestos survey is not currently a legal requirement but they have become commonplace before purchasing a new home.
Asbestos may require investment to remove safely and thus affect the buying decision and negotiating power of the prospective buyers.
Mortgage advisors are also conscious of asbestos-containing properties more than ever before as it helps with their financial risk assessment and overall decision to lend.
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