Asbestos Surveys

If you do not have an up to date, qualifying Asbestos Survey you are liable to prosecution, in relation to this, should any employee or other person fall ill due to the presence of Asbestos in your building and you have not properly assessed the risk, you will be liable for:

Huge claims in compensation
Personal fines of up to £20,000
Custodial sentences
Closure of the premises
Disqualification of directorship

Further to this Insurance companies may refuse to renew your policy unless the correct procedures and legislation are in place.

Assist Facilities Management Ltd provides three types of asbestos surveys depending on the level of survey requiredby the client. The definitions are as provided in the draft MDHS 100 for Surveying and Assessment of Asbestos Containing Materials in Premises for Management Plans.

Standard Sampling, Identification and Assessment Survey (Sampling Survey)

The purposes and procedures used in this survey are the same as for type 1, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos. Samples for each type of suspect asbestos containing materials found, are collected and analysed to confirm or refute the surveyors judgement. If the material is found to contain asbestos, other similar homogeneous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos. Other less homogenous materials and some materials which are non-asbestos will need to be sampled more frequently to confirm whether asbestos is present or not. Sampling may take place simultaneously with the survey, or as is the case with some larger surveys can be carried out as a separate exercise, after the type 1 survey is complete.

Full Access Sampling and Identification Survey (Pre-Demolition / Major Refurbishment Surveys)

This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as is reasonably practical, all asbestos containing materials in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible asbestos containing areas and estimates of the volume and surface area. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering for the removal of asbestos containing areas from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment. The survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos other than to note areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be expected to be present.