Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos surveys are a legal requirement, as defined within the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) in the following manner;
All non-domestic properties built prior to 1999 are required to have an Asbestos Register in place, to comply with Regulation 4, “Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises” which states that an asbestos register should be produced which should detail the extent and condition of any asbestos material found within the premises, and any remedial action necessary to manage the asbestos material safely. Surveying buildings for asbestos materials takes various forms depending on a client’s need and the present uses of the building, however, to ensure compliance with current legislation an asbestos Management Survey should be carried out on all non-domestic buildings in the UK built prior to 1999.
By carrying out an asbestos survey and assessing the condition and location of the asbestos materials found, an action plan can be put in place to prevent exposure to harmful asbestos fibres. The ultimate aim of a survey is to prevent many unnecessary deaths in years to come by assessing and controlling potentially hazardous working environments and to ensure that those who work in the high risk building refurbishment and demolition fields are protected. There are two types of asbestos surveys as outlined in the HSE publication Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264) published in January 2010. This replaces and expands on MDHS100: Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials.
Management Survey (formerly known as a Type 1 or 2 Asbestos Survey)
A standard survey, the purpose of which is to locate, as far as is reasonably practicable, the presence, extent, and condition, of any suspect asbestos containing materials in the property/building.
The survey will take into consideration the likelihood of damage or disturbance during normal occupancy and assist in preparing an ongoing action and management plan for the building.
Refurbishment/Pre-demolition Survey (formerly known as a Type 3 Asbestos Survey)
This type of survey aims to find the asbestos behind surfaces which will be affected anyway during repairs, maintenance, alterations or demolition. Typically, the survey criteria involves intrusive, investigative and destructive means. The premise behind this type of survey is that the structure is either being demolished or is being significantly refurbished. We can provide a mixture of a localised Refurbishment Survey for smaller projects with a Management Survey and report update following any asbestos removal.
Contact MECsafe today to discuss your requirements in more detail or to arrange a Survey.