Which Asbestos Survey Type Do You Need?

Surveys are an essential part of managing asbestos safely, and depending on your requirements, you will require a different survey. By having an asbestos survey conducted by a UKAS Accredited Inspection body you not only ensure your compliance to asbestos regulations, but also the safety of building occupants, site workers, residents and anyone else who may otherwise be at risk of asbestos exposure otherwise.
The Duty Holder is the individual with the responsibility to ensure that all asbestos is being managed correctly. You can find out more on whether you’re the duty holder, and what this entails here.

Management Survey

A management survey is designed to manage and monitor ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials), during the normal occupancy of a building. The aim of this survey type is to ensure that any ACMs present are identified and collated with recommended actions to ensure that the asbestos is managed and recorded. This can in turn form part of an asbestos management plan. These normally take the form of a visual inspection, with minimal intrusive work and material sampling where appropriate.
A management survey is a necessity for both domestic and non-domestic premises, covering all areas affected by general maintenance. It is a requirement of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Regulation 4) to manage the asbestos in a non-domestic property.

Reinspection Survey

Relating to the management aspects of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR 2012), a reinspection survey is to be conducted annually following an initial management survey to monitor the condition of any existing ACMs over time. This allows the duty holder to maintain chronological evidence that they have fulfilled their legal duty over time.
Re-inspections are a necessity because ACMs can deteriorate over time, as well as the possibility of being damaged.

Refurbishment Survey

These are project specific surveys that are tailored to buildings and sites undergoing works, and by nature are more intrusive than a management survey.

These surveys aim to identify all ACMs that may be disturbed by any said works or construction activities. This therefore ensures that the appropriate measures can be taken to ensure that any identified asbestos can be removed safely prior to the commencement of works. This then protects occupants, workers and the public from potential asbestos exposure that may be caused during the planned works.

Demolition Survey
This type of survey is to be undertaken prior to the demolition of a building (or part of it). Therefore, these surveys are fully intrusive and destructive to identify all ACMS within the affected part of the structure.

In accordance to guidance, these types of surveys are required only when a building is to be demolished and removed in its entirety.
Surveyors will utilise invasive surveying techniques to inspect the buildings, in addition to any areas that might have been inspected during a management or refurbishment survey, such as areas hidden within the structure of the building. This includes beneath floorboards, within wall and ceiling voids, behind claddings and partitions, within structural supports and any plant or machinery that may be present.

Due to the invasive nature of these techniques, a demolition survey can should only be conducted once a building is unoccupied, although can be completed in two stages if this will assist with preplanning.

Casa can offer the above survey types and a number of different services for all types of asbestos projects – you can read a full range here or get in touch with any queries here.