Terms of business

1. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1      All services supplied by Casa Environmental services Ltd will be conducted in accordance with the Casa Environmental Services Ltd quality system (as laid down in the Quality Manual, supporting documents and procedures), to fulfil the requirements of UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection) and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories). Casa Environmental Services are accredited by UKAS under accreditation number 7914, with copies of the schedules of accreditation available on request or at ukas.com.

1.2       Casa Environmental shall be responsible, through legally enforceable commitments, for the management of all information obtained or created during the performance of inspection activities. Casa Environmental shall inform the client, in advance, of the information it intends to place in the public domain.
Except for information that the client makes publicly available, or when agreed between the inspection body and the client (e.g. for the purpose of responding to complaints), all other information is considered proprietary information and shall be regarded as confidential.

NOTE Legally enforceable commitments can be, for example, contractual agreements.

When the inspection body is required by law or authorised by contractual commitments to release confidential information, the client or individual concerned shall, unless prohibited by law, be notified of the information provided.

1.3       Unless otherwise instructed Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall conduct:
a) Management Surveys and Demolition and Refurbishment Surveys in accordance with HSE Publication HSG264 (Asbestos: The Survey Guide)

b) Bulk sampling of materials for analysis of asbestos content in accordance with HSE Publication HSG264 (Asbestos: The Survey Guide) and HSG248 (Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide)

c) Analysis of materials for asbestos content in accordance with HSG248 (Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide)

d) Air monitoring for asbestos content and Four Stage Clearance processes in accordance with HSG 248 (Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide)

1.4      Instructions from the customer may be received in written, electronic, or verbal communication form, including phone, email etc, directly to member of Casa Environmental staff. Verbal instructions will be followed up with written confirmation, so that all parties have a record of the changes agreed.

1.5       Casa Environmental Services Ltd undertakes to perform all survey, bulk sampling and analysis but reserves the right to use the services of a sub-contractor holding relevant UKAS accreditation for the activities to be sub-contracted, for the whole or part of the work to be undertaken. Casa Environmental Services Ltd will obtain permission from the customer. In those cases where verbal agreement is obtained Casa Environmental Services Ltd will confirm the use of a sub-contractor in writing.

1.6       The customer shall be responsible to Casa Environmental Services Ltd for ensuring the accuracy of the terms of any order submitted by the client and for giving Casa Environmental Services Ltd any necessary information relating to the required services within sufficient time to enable Casa Environmental Services Ltd to perform the work in accordance with the agreed terms.

1.7       Casa Environmental Services Ltd reserves the right to withdraw its services if, in the judgement of its staff, it is thought that the services requested cannot be carried out without infringement of health and safety policy or law.

1.8       It is normal practice for Casa Environmental services Ltd to issue electronic reports, as PDF files.  Reports are provided within 15 working days of the completion of the programme of work.  Should the customer require a shorter turn round time then Casa Environmental services Ltd reserve the right to negotiate an additional charge.

If a customer requires a copy of the report in hard copy format then Casa Environmental Services Ltd reserves the right to make an additional charge.

Copies of the report, electronic or hard copy will only be forwarded to a third party upon receipt of a written, or verbal, request from the customer.

1.9       Changes to the original instruction from the customer will be accepted by written, electronic or verbal means. Any verbal instructions will need to be confirmed in written format to provide a record of the agreed change.

1.10     Where an account is held, payment is required within 30 days of the date of the supplied invoice. Casa Environmental Services Ltd reserves the right to require payment in advance of work carried out or payment before the issue of the report. Interest may be charged on overdue accounts

1.11 Where no account is held, Casa Environmental Services Ltd will require payment of the balance in full prior to the release of any completed report.

2. Specific Terms and Conditions Relating to Site Surveys

2.1       Once contracted to carry out the works, Casa Environmental Services Ltd will allocate the required labour to that particular contract as agreed. Should any works be cancelled within 48 hours of the commencement of the survey, a percentage cancellation fee of 30% of the quoted price will be chargeable to cover administrative costs (unless otherwise specified by the estimator at the time of quoting).

2.2       When contracted to carry out a Reinspection survey, should it become apparent that further inspections are required outside the scope of the reinspection areas (such as gaining access to a previously not accessed room), the client will be contacted for confirmation that surveying elements within these areas will become a Management survey as laid out within Section 1.3 a).

2.3       Surveyors will only access certain areas (e.g. lift shafts, electric switchgear) when appropriate certificates are available to confirm that the safety of Casa Environmental Services Ltd staff is not compromised.

2.4       Work over 3 metres will only be undertaken if safe to do so and if any necessary supporting equipment (eg cherry picker) is made available and can be operated by Casa Environmental Services Ltd staff.

2.5       Wherever possible customers are required to provide copies of plans for the buildings to be surveyed or monitored.

2.6       Wherever possible information from previous surveys shall be made available to Casa Environmental Services Ltd in advance of work being undertaken.

2.7       Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall not be liable for the provision of personal protective equipment for non Casa Environmental Services Ltd personnel or customer’s representatives

2.8 Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall endeavour to ‘make good’ any damage caused during the taking of samples during ‘Management Surveys’. Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall not be liable for repair to existing damage or for cleaning of areas, other than at sampling points, following surveys. Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall not be liable for repair of damage caused to gain required access to potential asbestos containing materials.

2.9 If an area to be surveyed is deemed unsafe to access for any reason it will not be surveyed, and the customer will be notified immediately.

3. Specific Terms and Conditions Relating to Supply of Bulk Samples to Casa Environmental Services Ltd.

3.1       Samples not taken by Casa Environmental Services Ltd may be supplied for analysis to the Willsbridge Office at Londonderry Farm, Keynsham Road, Willsbridge, Bristol, BS30 6EL
or the Southampton Office at Unit 313 Solent Business Centre, Millbrook Road West, Southampton, SO15 0HW.

3.2       Casa Environmental Services Ltd cannot verify that samples submitted by the customer have been sampled in accordance with the requirements of HSG248 (‘Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide’).

3.3       In such cases it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure the following:

1. a) Samples are double bagged with both inner and outer bags labelled with some means of unique identification and preferably details of the type of sample (eg insulation board, cement sheet, loose insulation etc)
2. b) Clear details of when, where etc the sample was taken

3.4       Sample description and all information supplied by the customer are taken at face value. Casa Environmental Services Ltd cannot verify any information submitted with samples and cannot be held liable for the inaccuracies of information supplied by the customer.

3.5       Casa Environmental Services Ltd reserve the right to refuse to accept samples where in their opinion

1. a) they are not suitably packaged
2. b) there is insufficient information relating to the identity of the sample
3. c) the size, nature or condition of the sample may lead to misleading results.

3.6       Casa Environmental Services Ltd will agree and record service level agreements on an account application form with all clients.

3.7       Receipt of bulk samples will be recorded on the database along with analysis certificate issue dates enabling audits to be effectively undertaken.

4. Specific Terms and Conditions Relating to Air Monitoring

4.1       Once the client has instructed Casa Environmental Services Ltd to undertake air monitoring works, they are to ensure they send their Plan of Works & ASB5 (where applicable) to their point of contact at Casa Environmental Services Ltd prior to the planned attendance on site, or immediately wherever possible.

4.2       In addition to 4.1, Casa Environmental Services Ltd may request to visit the site where air monitoring is required prior to the air monitoring exercise taking place. In this instance, we reserve the right to suggest changes to the Plan of Works that has been submitted to us and/or offer advice to ensure adequate time is allowed for on-site to carry out a Four Stage Clearance correctly.

4.3       If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Casa Environmental Services Ltd analyst attends site and deems that the job is not achievable within the timeframe advised to them by the client, an extra charge may be applicable to cover additional time spent on site. In the event of the analyst having pre-arranged commitments elsewhere which means they cannot spend the required additional time on site, a cancellation charge may also be applicable if they are unable to commence/complete works following their arrival. Wherever possible, Casa Environmental Services Ltd will endeavour to re-allocate labour and ensure works can be completed & any impact on the client is minimised.

4.4      Once contracted to carry out the works, Casa Environmental Services Ltd will allocate the required labour to that particular contract as agreed. Should any works be cancelled within 24 hours of the planned commencement of the air monitoring, a percentage cancellation fee of 50% of the quoted price will be chargeable, to cover administrative costs. This is also applicable to cover aborted visits as described within section 4.3.

4.6       Unless otherwise agreed, all access equipment to facilitate working at height is to be provided by the client. Should the works involve fixed/powered access equipment (eg scaffolding/scissor lift), a record of the daily checks undertaken is to be made available to the attending Casa Environmental Services Ltd operative.

4.7       Casa Environmental Services Ltd shall not be liable for the provision of personal protective equipment for non Casa Environmental Services Ltd personnel or customer’s representatives.