All commercial properties require a management survey by law. This is so the information gained can be used to make an asbestos management plan. We can also provide management plans.
The aim of a management survey is to locate all ACMs that might be encountered during the normal day to day use of a building. For example, asbestos wall panels or ceilings would be logged and sampled as would pipe lagging in a boiler-room, or vinyl floor tiles in a kitchen area.
Areas that would require causing damage to a property in order to access would not be covered by a management survey. This would include areas inside wall voids, under floors or above fixed ceilings. Hard to access areas such as high ceilings would need a means of access agreed before a survey starts in order to arrange specialist access equipment.
The result is that the client gets a register of ACMs helping them to ensure the safe day to day operation of their business. The ACMs located will have a numerical ‘risk factor’ attributed to them so that the client knows where the more relevant hazards are. No significant disturbance will have taken place during the survey and there will be minimal damage to the decorative order of the building. Mostly, the survey can be carried out in an occupied property although there may be the occasional requirement to vacate an area during sampling.
MANAGEMENT
SURVEYS.
Refurbishment surveys set out to identify all ACMs in a building (or within a specific scope of works), both the accessible and inaccessible.
Before refurbishment works are carried out in a property an asbestos refurbishment survey must be completed. A refurbishment survey involves intrusive access into all areas unless the client specifically says otherwise. We would clarify what areas need to be accessed before attending site. A refurbishment survey covers everything a management survey would plus access into places like wall voids, above fixed ceilings, behind door frames and under window sills. A clear scope of works is necessary for a thorough refurbishment survey to be completed that does not cause unnecessary damage in areas that may not be affected by refurbishment works. It is best for an area to be unoccupied for a refurbishment survey.
The result of the survey type is that the client gets a register of all* ACM's within the refurbishment scope which can be passed on to contractors who will develop a strategy and cost for removing all asbestos materials from the site prior to commencing works.
REFURBISHMENT
SURVEYS.
Demolition surveys set out to identify all ACMs in a building both the accessible and inaccessible.
Demolition surveys must be carried on buildings that are to be destroyed or on sections of buildings that are going to be demolished. A demolition survey accesses all areas. We will offer core sampling in order to test concrete floors, walls and columns. A property needs to be vacant before a demolition survey can be carried out.
The result of the survey type is that the client gets a register of all* ACM's in the property which can be passed on to contractors who will develop a strategy and cost for removing all asbestos materials from the site prior to demolition.
DEMOLITION
SURVEYS.
RE-INSPECTION
SURVEYS.
Re-inspection surveys involve inspecting previously identified asbestos materials within a premises using a previously completed management survey as reference. These surveys should be carried out annually in order to monitor the condition of asbestos items and keep risk assessments up to date. All commercial premises are required to manage asbestos.