Management Asbestos survey

The purpose of a Management survey is to identify and manage Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) during normal occupation of a building. This survey is undertaken by an asbestos surveyor who will conduct a visual survey of the property and fix an asbestos warning sticker to any ACMs found within the building.  The surveyor will then compose a report of their findings along with photos and locations.  If any ACMs are damaged or debris is found the surveyor can provide guidance on best practices for the management of ACMs.

ACMs are generally only a hazard if disturbed allowing fibres to become airborne.  Best practice recommends undisturbed ACMs found within an occupied building should be left in situ.  The survey must be shown to any person undertaking maintenance within the building to prevent asbestos being drilled or disturbed in anyway. This survey should then stay with the building for the life of the building being passed on to any new occupation.

Refurbishment and Demolition Survey 

A Refurbishment and Demolition Survey will be required when premises whether in full or in part require upgrading, refurbishing or demolition. This survey is also known as an intrusive survey as the asbestos surveyor will penetrate the fabric of the building back to its core fabric i.e.: expose the bare brick work or timber joists, looking for ACMs that may have been covered over or used within inaccessible areas such as fire breaks.  The surveyor will then take samples of their findings and submit them to a laboratory to confirm if the material is an ACM, type of asbestos and its hazmat rating.  

The survey will then be passed on to an asbestos removal specialist to formulate a method for removal and the submission of a notification to the HSE (known as an ASB5 notification) of the works to be undertaken.  Asbestos removal is a heavily regulated industry overlooked by the HSE.  Any asbestos disturbance or removal must be undertaken by a licenced contractor only and documented through every step of the process from works set up, to removal, transportation and disposal.

• Corrugated cement roof sheets commonly found on top of domestic garages and old warehouses

• Cement boiler flues commonly found penetrating a house roof or through an external wall

• Cement base water tanks commonly found within a roof space

• Square plastic in appearance floor tile commonly found adhered to a solid floor. These are commonly stuck down with a black bitumen adhesive on the back which contains asbestos fibres.

• Artex ceilings commonly found in houses 

• Old black coloured toilet systems and toilet seats. 

• Asbestos insulated board (AIB) commonly used as a wall or ceiling covering in place of plasterboard. AIB is normally softer than plasterboard and commonly found within old commercial and public properties.

• Old fuse board have an off white fabric appearance material behind the fuses

• Fascia boards around the outside of a building