The purpose of an asbestos survey is to aid in the management of asbestos containing materials within the premises. The asbestos survey is designed to collect sufficient information to enable the production of a detailed asbestos register, risk assessment and asbestos management plan.

Management Survey

A management survey is the standard survey. Its purpose is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing materials within a building which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy and to assess their condition. This survey is to include foreseeable maintenance and installation works.

Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys

A refurbishment and demolition survey is required before any refurbishment or demolition work is carried out. This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all asbestos containing materials within the area where the refurbishment work will take place or within the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach.

A refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required in other circumstances, eg when more intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out or for plant removal or dismantling.

Specific Bulk Sampling Survey

A specific bulk sampling survey can be undertaken in circumstances where a full management survey is not required, to confirm if and where asbestos containing materials are present within a specific area. Please note this type of survey is limited up to 10 samples.

Asbestos Re-inspection Survey

As part of the on going management of asbestos containing materials (ACMs), continual monitoring post asbestos survey is required at regular intervals. Any ACM identified or suspected ACM will need to be inspected periodically to check that it has not deteriorated or been damaged. As a minimum, ACMs should be checked every six to twelve months even if they are in good condition and not going to be disturbed, as it may for example be accidentally damaged. M3 Associates Ltd assists its clients in complying with these requirements.