What are the differences between the asbestos surveys ?

Row of residential homes, addressing the steps to take if asbestos is found in a home.

What are the differences between the asbestos surveys ?  Asbestos surveys are critical for identifying the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in buildings, helping to manage and mitigate health risks associated with asbestos exposure. In the UK, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 governs how asbestos must be handled, including the types of surveys required. The two main types of asbestos surveys are the Asbestos Management Survey and the Refurbishment and Demolition (R&D) Survey. Understanding the differences between these two surveys is essential for ensuring compliance and maintaining a safe environment.

Asbestos Management Survey

The Asbestos Management Survey is the more common of the two and is typically carried out in buildings that are in use and not undergoing major renovation or demolition. Its purpose is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspected ACMs that could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including maintenance and installation work.

This survey is generally non-intrusive, meaning that surveyors do not carry out extensive destructive sampling. Instead, they may take small samples from suspected materials, examine building plans, and inspect areas that are accessible without major disruption. The surveyor will then assess the condition of any identified ACMs and provide recommendations for their management. This might include labeling, sealing, or ongoing monitoring, rather than immediate removal. The survey report helps building owners create or update an asbestos management plan, which is a legal requirement for duty holders under the regulations.

Refurbishment and Demolition Survey

The Refurbishment and Demolition Survey is much more invasive and is required before any major building work is carried out. This includes demolition, structural alterations, or significant refurbishment projects. Its purpose is to locate all ACMs in the building (or in the specific area of planned work), including those hidden behind walls, under floors, or above ceilings.

Due to its nature, the R&D Survey involves destructive inspection techniques. This allows the surveyor to gain access to all parts of the structure that might contain asbestos, including voids, ducts, and other concealed areas. The building (or section of it) often needs to be vacated before the survey is conducted, especially if there’s a high risk of disturbing asbestos. This type of survey is crucial to ensure that workers are not exposed to asbestos during construction work, which can release dangerous fibers into the air.

Key Differences

The main differences between the two surveys lie in their purpose, intrusiveness, and timing. The Management Survey is for ongoing occupation and focuses on preventing accidental disturbance of ACMs, while the R&D Survey is a pre-construction requirement, aiming to uncover all potential asbestos hazards before work begins.

Another important distinction is the level of disruption. Management Surveys are minimally disruptive and suitable for occupied buildings, whereas R&D Surveys often require temporary evacuation and extensive inspection to comply with safety regulations.

Conclusion

Both types of asbestos surveys serve vital roles in maintaining health and safety. Selecting the correct survey depends on the building’s current use and any planned work. Misidentifying the required survey can lead to regulatory non-compliance and serious health risks. Therefore, building owners and duty holders must understand the differences and engage qualified professionals to carry out the appropriate survey.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm

What to Do If You Find Asbestos in Your Home

Row of residential homes, addressing the steps to take if asbestos is found in a home.

Asbestos is a material which was often used when building homes between the 1950s and 1990s. Therefore, if your house has been built during this time period there is a chance that asbestos is present.

The problem with asbestos is that the material was deemed a health risk when damaged or disturbed. Consequently, the use of asbestos is now regulated by law and the material is banned from use in building work. We have put together this blog to help you understand asbestos and know exactly what to do if you find it in your home.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of thin fibres. Before people understood the associated dangers, it was used in homes as a strong, low cost and effective building material. However, it was discovered that the fibres in asbestos are extremely toxic and dangerous when they become airborne and are inhaled. As the fibres are so strong, your body cannot break them down. As a result, they begin to cause damage to the lung tissue. Fibres will only become airborne when the material becomes damaged.

In many cases, the asbestos present is undisturbed, so won’t pose an immediate health risk. But to ensure health and safety, we always recommend that you get a professional to check out the areas of risk and remove the material if required.

Where Could Asbestos Be in My Home?

Asbestos was a very effective building material and used throughout many homes. For example, the substance was added into plaster and cement to add strength. Common places you might find asbestos in your home include:

  • Vinyl flooring
  • Insulation boards within walls
  • Roofing felt and tiles
  • Coatings and textured paints on walls and ceilings
  • Cement water tanks
  • Cement gutters and rain pipes
  • Bathroom elements such as bath panels, toilets and sinks

If you suspect asbestos, it is critical to keep the item in place. Then, trained professionals can help you survey and remove the material. If you try to remove it yourself, you risk breathing in some of the tiny and dangerous fibres.

Steps to take if you find asbestos in your home:

  1. Don’t panic! Leave the area alone. If you have accidentally damaged the asbestos, don’t try and clear up the mess. By doing this, you could make the situation worse.
  2. Contact professionals who can give you a detailed survey. This will determine whether or not asbestos is present in your home. Additionally, the report will advise on the areas the material can be found within your home. The team will then provide you with recommendations on how the asbestos needs to be dealt with in order to keep your home safe.
  3. Use the recommendations given to guide you moving forward. If the asbestos containing material is dangerous and a risk to your health, you will need to organise professionals to remove the asbestos. However, if the material containing asbestos poses little to no health risk, the advice may be removal is not required.

These are very important steps to take if you find asbestos in your home. You will minimise the risk to your own health by employing trained professionals to deal with your situation.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/faq.htm

Should You Have an Asbestos Survey When Buying a Property?

While buying a new property is exciting, there are some significant aspects to check out. This helps you know exactly what you are purchasing! One of the important questions to ask is whether or not the property is likely to contain asbestos.  Should You Get an Asbestos Survey When Buying a Property?

This blog will help you identify if you should have an asbestos survey when buying a property.

Is an Asbestos Survey a Legal Requirement When Buying a Property?

Carrying out an asbestos survey is not a legal requirement when buying a property for homes built after 2000. However, there are many reasons why it is a good idea. Most importantly, carrying out a survey will help you confirm that the property you are purchasing is safe from the health risks of asbestos. If asbestos is present, the survey will issue you with recommendations for dealing with the material safely. 

When is a Property Likely to Have Asbestos? 

If your property was built before the year 2000, there is a chance the material is present. 

Asbestos was widely used by builders due to its strong, low cost, insulating, water and chemical resistant properties. However, the fibres the material is composed of are extremely toxic and dangerous when airborne and inhaled. The fibres do remain safe if left alone and the material is not damaged or disturbed.

Unfortunately, Asbestos was used in properties and building work up until as recently as 1999. Since then, there has been a ban on use of the mineral within the UK. This has led to research suggesting that around half of all homes in the UK are at risk of asbestos. And this figure is even steeper for other types of buildings, with a government report finding that a massive 75% of schools in the UK are at risk of having asbestos containing materials within the properties! 

There may not be an immediate risk if the asbestos is left alone. However, there is still the possibility of a significant health risk within a property containing asbestos as the fibres can become disturbed. For example, water damage to a ceiling containing asbestos could disturb and disperse the dangerous fibres. Additionally, many insurance policies will not cover the damage if the material is found. They will however sometimes cover the cost of asbestos removal as part of your claim. 

Where Would Asbestos Be in a Property? 

If you suspect there may be asbestos within a property, there are some places you are most likely to find it. Two of the most common places are within decorative ceiling coatings and vinyl floor tiles. Other common areas include insulation, internal garage roofs, storage tanks, rainwater pipes and gutters. 

If there is a chance asbestos is present in the building you are interested in buying, an asbestos survey is always recommended. This is the same regardless of whether the property is a residential home or a commercial property. 

If you are looking for a qualified and experienced team to carry out an asbestos survey for a property you are buying, contact us as South East Asbestos Surveys Ltd for a free quote. 

Two types of asbestos survey: which one is right for me?

Asbestos is a dangerous material when not handled correctly and is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in UK. As a result of this, asbestos surveys are required by law when asbestos is found in buildings. There are two types of asbestos surveys; Management Asbestos and Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys. So which survey do you need, and when do you need to conduct an asbestos survey? Two types of asbestos survey: which one is right for me?

Asbestos Management Surveys

As the name suggests, a management asbestos is necessary when asbestos containing materials are expected to be present, but are not going to be disturbed. This type of survey is necessary if you are the duty holder of any non-domestic building built before 2000 as the use of asbestos containing materials wasn’t banned until 1999. Whilst management asbestos surveys are not usually required for domestic buildings, they are required for communal areas in flats or houses of multiple occupancy. Communal areas include corridors and foyers, for example.

A management survey will usually include a visual inspection of asbestos containing materials, assessing the condition and any risk involved with normal usage. A surveyor may take minimal samples to be sent for analysis or presume some materials are without samples based on their own judgement. A management survey will provide you with all the necessary information to manage and monitor any asbestos containing materials. A surveyor will prepare an asbestos registry and present you with an asbestos management plan. No further action will be required, providing the asbestos materials found do not present any risk to normal occupancy. 

Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys

A refurbishment and demolition survey is required when carrying out any construction or renovation work in all buildings built before 2000. This type of survey is comprehensive and in-depth to ensure that any asbestos containing materials are found and removed to prevent risk of fatal diseases and illness. Asbestos only becomes dangerous once disturbed, hence why a comprehensive survey by a qualified, license professional is required.

As a refurbishment and demolition survey is much more comprehensive than a management survey, you may be required to vacate the building during the survey to ensure any occupants are not exposed to asbestos. A surveyor will take multiple samples of materials and send them off to a specialist laboratory for testing. This is to ensure that all types of asbestos are found, this includes materials within the building structure that may be hidden behind other materials. It should be noted that you are not required to have the entire building surveyed if you are only carrying out one in one room or area. 

It is vital that no construction, renovation or demolition work is carried out until the analysis of the samples has been carried out, and you have received the results from the laboratory. Some asbestos materials come with a license and if your building contains any licensed asbestos materials, work will need to be carried out by a licensed contractor. 

If you would like any further advice on the which survey is right for you or when you may need to conduct a survey, please contact our experienced team who will be able to assist you.