Asbestos Surveying

Chartered Surveyors AJN have extensive surveying experience and understand the construction process together with the regulations and laws surrounding it. We are aware of where asbestos could have been used in the construction and alterations. We have experience of surveying a wide range of buildings, and provide a professional service supported by years of surveying experience.

We also have professional indemnity insurance as required by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

AJN Asbestos surveyors hold British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) to a minimum standard of BOHS P402 (Buildings Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos (including Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategies) Proficiency

• What is Asbestos
• Asbestos containing material (ACM's)
• Legal requirement
• Types of survey
Report format
• Example of asbestos report
• Useful links

Asbestos was only fully banned from use in 1999, so if your premises were built or refurbished before then, there is a possibility that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) could be present. Refurbishments after 1999 and work using imported materials could also contain ACMs.

When work with asbestos or which may disturb asbestos is being carried out, the Asbestos Regulations require employers and the self-employed to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.

What is Asbestos

Asbestos is a group of microscopic natural minerals that divisible into millions of very fine fibres which are naturally fire resistant and flexible there are 3 main types of fibres, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue).. It is this ability to brake down to microscopic level that makes asbestos so dangerous. Usually there are other materials present which prevent the asbestos particles from being released into the air. However, when these materials become damaged, the danger becomes very real.

• There is no safe level of exposure when it comes to asbestos. Quite simply, the more exposure you have, the greater the risk of long term health problems.
• One of the common diseases from asbestos is Asbestosis. This is common amongst workers who manufacture products containing asbestos, or work within areas containing loose or damaged asbestos.

Another common disease caused by exposure to asbestos is Mesothelioma. This disease is a form of cancer of the cells that line the outside of the lungs, the inside of the ribs, and around the abdominal organs.

Asbestos containing materials (ACM’s)

• 1. Sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packing - generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids.
• 2. Moulded or preformed lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipe and boilers.
• 3. Sprayed asbestos - used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work.
• 4. Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, partitioning and ducts.
• 5. Some ceiling tiles.
• 6. Certain textured coatings ("Artex")
• 7. Fire protection within factory heating units
• 8. Millboard, paper and paper products used for insulation of electrical equipment. Asbestos paper has also been used as a fire-proof facing on wood fibreboard.
• 9. Asbestos cement products, which can be fully or semi-compressed into flat or corrugated sheets. Corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding.
• 10. Other asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater pipes
• 11. Bitumen roofing material and damp proof courses.
• 12. Vinyl or thermoplastic floor tiles, black toilet seats and cisterns

Legal requirement

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 came into force on 13 November 2006 (Asbestos Regulations - SI 2006/2739) The Asbestos Regulations also include the ‘duty to manage asbestos’ in non-domestic premises Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, Approved Code of Practice and guidance L127 It is the duties of building owners, tenants and anyone else with legal responsibilities for such premises to

• taking reasonable steps to find asbestos-containing materials in premises and checking their condition;
• presuming materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence to suppose they do not;
• keeping an up-to-date written record of the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials;
• assessing the risk of exposure to asbestos-containing materials; and preparing and putting into effect a plan to manage the risk.

Useful links

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
http://www.bohs.org/standardTemplate.aspx
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006

Types of survey

There are 3 types of survey for asbestos that can be carried out, depending on the requirement.

Type 1 Location and assessment survey (Presumptive survey)

The purpose of this type of survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACM’S in the building and assess their condition. No samples are taken for analysis, all areas of the building will be accessed as far as is reasonably practicable and any martial which can be reasonably be expected presumed to contain asbestos with all materials which are presumed to contain asbestos recorded and assessed.

Type 2 Standard sampling, identification and assessment survey (Sampling survey)

The same procedures as used in Type 1 survey with samples of all materials that are likely to contain asbestos are taken in a non- destructive manner from all reasonably accessible areas. Samples from each suspected ACM are sent to accredited scientific laboratories for testing to confirm or refute surveyors judgment. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos other similar Homogenous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos.

Type 3 Full access, sampling and identification survey (Pre-demolition / major refurbishment survey)

This type of survey is used to locate and describe as far as is reasonably practicable all ACM’s located within the construction of the building and will include intrusion into sealed voids, under floors, in ducts and enclosed spaces and all other more inaccessible areas. A full sampling programme is to be undertaken to identify all possible ACM’s. This type of survey is recommended before building works take place or demolition.

Work during surveys frequently involves working close to, or with, asbestos. During inspection and sampling, the area is cordoned off and possible fibre release is minimised to ensure the safety of the surveyors and the building’s users or occupiers.

Report formats

On completion of the survey, depending upon the type of survey carried out you will be supplied with following

Type 1 Asbestos Survey - Health and Safety Compliance (MDHS100)

• Site Map
• Detailed Floor Plans showing locations
• Photographs of the locations
• Asbestos register of presumed ACMs

Type 2 Asbestos Survey Health and Safety Compliance (MDHS100)

• Site Map
• Detailed Floor Plans showing locations
• Photographs of the locations
• Sampling of all accessible areas (without damage) of concern of ACM’s (Asbestos Containing Materials)
• Risk Assessment
• Asbestos register of presumed and identified ACMS

Type 3 Asbestos Survey Health and Safety Compliance (MDHS100)

• Site Map
• Detailed Floor Plans showing locations
• Photographs of the locations
• Sampling of all areas of concern of ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) utilizing destructive inspection methods
• Risk Assessment
• Asbestos register presumed identified ACM