Your Asbestos Questions Answered

You may need an asbestos survey where asbestos could be present and you need reliable information before maintenance, refurbishment, demolition or property management. The right survey depends on how the building is used and what work is planned.

A Management Survey is generally used for buildings in normal occupation. A Refurbishment & Demolition Survey is used before intrusive refurbishment, strip-out or demolition in the affected area. Targeted sampling may be enough where only one specific material needs testing.

A Management Survey looks for asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during normal occupation and routine maintenance. A Refurbishment & Demolition Survey is more intrusive and investigates areas that will be affected by planned refurbishment or demolition work.

No. Testing confirms whether a particular sampled material contains asbestos. A survey assesses a property or defined area, records suspect materials and locations, and may include sampling where required.

A competent surveyor takes a controlled sample of the suspect material. The sample is then analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory to determine whether asbestos fibres are present and, where relevant, the asbestos type.

A photograph may help show that a material looks suspicious, but it cannot reliably confirm whether asbestos is present. Confirmation normally requires sampling and laboratory analysis.

The Duty to Manage is the process of establishing whether asbestos is present or likely to be present in relevant non-domestic premises, recording the information, assessing risk, preparing a management plan, communicating relevant information and keeping the arrangements under review.

Responsibility usually follows contractual or tenancy obligations for maintenance and repair, or control of the relevant part of the premises. In multi-occupied buildings, more than one party may hold responsibilities for different areas.

Not automatically. The key requirement is to have reliable information about asbestos where it may be present. If suitable existing information is not available, an appropriate survey may be needed to establish what must be managed.

An asbestos register is the live record of known or presumed asbestos-containing materials, including their location, condition and relevant management information. It should be kept accessible and updated when circumstances change.

An asbestos management plan explains how identified or presumed asbestos risks will be controlled. It should set out responsibilities, monitoring arrangements, contractor communication, planned actions and the process for keeping information current.

The management plan should be reviewed at least every 12 months and sooner where changes to the premises, the condition of materials or planned work make an earlier review necessary.

An asbestos survey is not automatically required for every property purchase, but it can provide useful information where the property is older, suspect materials are identified or renovation work is planned after purchase.

A homebuyer report may flag a suspect material but usually does not confirm whether it contains asbestos. Targeted sampling or a dedicated asbestos survey can provide clearer information before you make decisions.

Yes. The presence of asbestos does not automatically prevent a property being sold. The important issues are what material is present, its condition, whether it is likely to be disturbed and what information is available to the buyer.

Yes. Asbestos-containing materials do not always need removal simply because they are present. Materials in good condition may sometimes be managed in place where they are protected from disturbance and kept under review.

If planned work will disturb parts of a building where asbestos may be present, the affected areas should be properly assessed before intrusive work begins. A Management Survey may not be sufficient for refurbishment work.

If extension work will disturb or connect into parts of an older building where asbestos may be present, an appropriate survey of the affected areas should be considered before work begins.

Rewiring can disturb ceilings, walls, service routes, risers and other building materials. Where asbestos may be present, existing information should be checked and the affected areas surveyed if necessary before work starts.

Stop work in the affected area and avoid further disturbance. The material should be assessed and, where appropriate, sampled by a competent person before work resumes.

Anyone whose work could disturb asbestos-containing materials needs relevant asbestos information before work starts. The information should relate to the area and scope of the planned work and be clear enough for the contractor to act on it.

Survey costs vary according to the type of survey, property size, access, location, sampling requirements and the complexity of the inspection. Our cost guide explains the main price factors in more detail.

247 Asbestos Services provides reports within 48 hours, with 24-hour reporting available on request. Timing can also depend on laboratory analysis where samples are taken.

There is no simple expiry date that makes every survey invalid after a fixed period. The information must remain suitable for the property and intended work. Changes to the building, material condition or planned work can make an older survey inadequate.

The next step depends on the material, its condition, location and likelihood of disturbance. It may be managed in place, monitored, repaired, encapsulated or removed by an appropriate contractor where necessary.

No. Removal is not automatically required simply because asbestos is present. Materials in good condition that are unlikely to be disturbed can sometimes be managed safely in place.

Avoid further disturbance, restrict access where appropriate and obtain competent advice. The changed condition should be reflected in the relevant asbestos records and management arrangements.

Stop work and avoid further disturbance. Keep people away from the immediate area and seek competent advice so the material can be assessed and the appropriate next step determined.