Asbestos Surveys

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Airs Asbestos Ltd. employ trained asbestos surveyors with a wealth of knowledge and expertise who work to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. HSG264 (Second edition).

Although our surveyors aim to find all asbestos it is not always humanly practicable to locate asbestos within some areas of the structures.

The purpose of surveying is to make a 'materials assessment', ie:

1. To find asbestos containing material and record what it is, where it is and how much there is,
2. To record how accessible it is, its condition, and any surface treatment
3. To record the asbestos type, by sampling or by presuming

The duty-holder, building owner, employer and surveyor need to be clear on the type of survey needed, where the survey is needed, and what records should result.

There are two types of survey for asbestos containing materials.

Management survey

The Management Survey purpose is required to manage asbestos containing materials during the normal occupation and use of premises.

A Management Survey aims to ensure that:

1. Nobody is harmed by the continuing presence of asbestos containing materials in the premises or equipment,
2. That the ACM remain in good condition,
3. That nobody disturbs it accidentally.

The Survey must aim to locate asbestos containing materials that could be damaged or disturbed by normal activities, by foreseeable maintenance, or by installing new equipment. It involves minor intrusion and minor asbestos disturbance to make a Materials Assessment. This shows the ability of asbestos containing , if disturbed, to release fibres into the air. It guides the client, eg in prioritising any remedial work.

Refurbishment / Demolition survey

The Refurbishment / demolition Survey is required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. The Survey does not need a record of the asbestos containing materials condition. Normally, a surveyor is needed for Refurbishment / demolition Surveys.

A Refurbishment / demolition Survey aims to ensure that:

1. Nobody will be harmed by work on ACM in the premises or equipment,
2. Such work will be done by the right contractor in the right way.

The Survey must aim locate and identify all asbestos containing materials before any structural work begins at a stated location or on stated equipment at the premises. It involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance. The area surveyed must be vacated, and certified 'fit for reoccupation' after the survey.

Asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000. It is in many of the common materials used in the building trade that you may come across during your work.

1. Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls, beams and columns
2. Asbestos cement water tank
3. Loose fill insulation
4. Lagging on boilers and pipes
5. AIB ceiling tiles
6. Toilet seat and cistern
7. AIB partition walls
8. AIB panels in fire doors
9. Asbestos rope seals, gaskets and paper
10. Vinyl floor tiles
11. AIB around boilers
12. Textiles eg fire blankets
13. Textured decorating coatings on walls and ceilings eg artex
14. Asbestos cement roof
15. Asbestos cement panels
16. Asbestos cement gutters and downpipes
17. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement
18. Asbestos cement flue
19. AIB = Asbestos Insulating Board