Asbestos the Survey Guide

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Health and Safety

Executive

Asbestos: The survey guide

This is a free-to-download, web-friendly version of HSG264

(First edition, published 2010). This version has been adapted for online use

from HSEs current printed version.

Youcanbuythebookatwww.hsebooks.co.ukandmostgoodbookshops.

ISBN 978 0 7176 6385 9

Price 10.95

ThisheavilyillustratedpublicationreplacesandexpandsonMDHS100, Surveying,

sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials.Itisaimedatpeople

carryingoutasbestossurveysandpeoplewithspecificresponsibilitiesformanaging

asbestosinnon-domesticpremisesundertheControlofAsbestosRegulations

2006.Thebookcoverscompetenceandqualityassuranceandsurveys,including:

surveyplanning,carryingoutsurveys,thesurveyreportandthedutyholdersuseof

thesurveyinformation.Itincludesextensiveappendicesandreferences.

HSE Books


2/74Page2of74

Health and Safety

Executive

Crown copyright 2010

Firstpublished2010

ISBN9780717663859

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedin

aretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans(electronic,

mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise)withoutthepriorwritten

permissionofthecopyrightowner.

Applicationsforreproductionshouldbemadeinwritingto:

TheOfficeofPublicSectorInformation,InformationPolicyTeam,

Kew,Richmond,SurreyTW94DUore-mail:[email protected]

ThisguidanceisissuedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive.Followingtheguidance

isnotcompulsoryandyouarefreetotakeotheraction.Butifyoudofollowtheguidanceyouwillnormallybedoingenoughtocomplywiththelaw.Healthand

safetyinspectorsseektosecurecompliancewiththelawandmayrefertothis

guidanceasillustratinggoodpractice.

HSEwouldliketoacknowledgethecontributionsfrom

thefollowingindividualsandorganisationsinpreparing

thisguidance:

ALcontrolOn-SiteServices

AsbestosControlandAbatementDivision(ACAD)

AsbestosRemovalContractorsAssociation(ARCA)

BillSanderson(BureauVeritasUKLtd)BritishInstituteofFacilityManagement

BritishOccupationalHygieneSociety

JeanPrentice(McCroneConsultancyLLP)

NottinghamshireCountyCouncil

PeterIrvine(TetraConsulting)

RoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyors

UnitedKingdomAccreditationService

WorkplaceEnvironmentSolutionsLtd


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Health and Safety

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Contents

How to use this guidance 4

1 Introduction 6Legalrequirements 7

Appointedperson 10

Healthandsafetyissues 10

2 Competence and quality assurance procedures 11

3 Asbestos surveys 16Purpose 16

PresumptionoridentificationofACMs 17

Typesofsurvey 18Surveyrestrictionsandcaveats 21

Surveystrategy 22

4 Survey planning 26Dutyholdersplanning 26

Surveyorsplanningprocedure 27

Step1:Collectalltherelevantinformationtoplanthesurvey 27

Step2:Considertheinformation(desk-topstudy) 29

Step3:Establishingandagreeingthesurveyplanandreporting 30

Step4:Healthandsafetyplanandsurveyriskassessment 31

5 Carrying out the survey (surveying) 33

Introduction 33Bulksamplingstrategy 35

Bulksamplingprocedures 37

Bulksampling 38

Materialassessment 40

6 Survey report 42Executivesummary 42

Introduction 42

Generalsiteinformation 42

Surveyresults 43

Conclusionsandactions 45

Bulkanalysisresults 45

7 Dutyholders use of survey information 47

Appendix 1: Refurbishment and demolition surveys 49

Appendix 2: ACMs in buildings listed in order of ease of fibre release 53

Appendix 3: What ACMs look like and where to find them 58

Appendix 4: Material assessment algorithm 68

Appendix 5: Example of a survey and sampling equipment checklist 69

Appendix 6: Quality assurance and quality control 70

References 72

Further Information 74



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How to use this guidance

Greensummaryboxes:Thispublicationhasspecificguidanceforclients/

dutyholdersingreenboxes:

Box 1: Thepurposeofanasbestossurvey.

Box 3: Whattheclient/dutyholdershoulddotocheckthecompetencyof

thesurveyor.

Box 4: Areastobeinspectedaspartofamanagementsurvey.

Box 6: Informationtheclient/dutyholdershouldexpectfromthesurveyor.

Box 9: Informationrequiredforamanagementsurvey.

Box 10:Informationrequiredforarefurbishmentordemolitionsurvey.

Box 11:Whattheclient/dutyholdershoulddotochecktheaccuracyofthe survey

report.

Bluesummaryboxes:Thispublicationhasspecificguidanceforsurveyorsinblue

boxes

Box 2:Surveykeypoints.

Box 5:Informationthesurveyorneedsfromtheclient.

Box 7:Informationtobecollectedbythesurveyor.

Box 8:Exampleofasystematicsurveyinspection.

Box 1: The purpose of an asbestos survey

Tohelpmanageasbestosinyourpremises.

Toprovideaccurateinformationonthelocation,amountandconditionof

asbestos-containingmaterials(ACMs). ToassessthelevelofdamageordeteriorationintheACMsandwhether

remedialactionisrequired.

Tousethesurveyinformationtopreparearecordofthelocationofany

asbestos,commonlycalledanasbestosregister,*andanasbestosplanofthe

building(s).

TohelpidentifyalltheACMstoberemovedbeforerefurbishmentworkor

demolition.

*Note:theinformationintheregistershouldbeusedtoinformtheriskassessment

(egconsiderwhocoulddisturbasbestosonyourpremises),andtoestablishthe

managementplantopreventsuchadisturbance.



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Box 2: Surveykey points Beawarethatthesurveyisessentialfortheclient/dutyholdertosuccessfully

manageasbestos.

Allasbestosshouldbelocatedasfarasreasonablypracticablewithinthe

surveytype.

Ensurethattheappropriatesurveyisundertakenfortheclientsneeds.

Avoidcaveats.

Ensurethesurveyisreportedinaformatthatcanbeusedtopreparean

asbestosregisterandbuildingplan.

Informtheclientthatthesurveyisnottheendpointinmanagingasbestos.



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1 Introduction

1 ThisguidancehasbeenpreparedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive(with

thehelpofothers,seeAcknowledgements)tohelppeoplecarryingoutasbestos

surveysandthosewithspecificresponsibilitiesformanagingtherisksfrom

asbestosinnon-domesticpremisesunderregulation4oftheControlofAsbestos

Regulations2006(CAR2006). 1Itisalsodesignedtoprovideguidanceinsituations

wheresurveysmaybecarriedoutforotherpurposes,egformanagingasbestos

indomesticpremisesunderwiderhealthandsafetylegislationandformeeting

therequirementsoftheConstruction(DesignandManagement)Regulations2007

(CDM).2Itcomplementsandsupportsotherguidanceonmanagingasbestos. 3-6

2 Largeamountsofasbestos-containingmaterials(ACMs)wereusedforawide

rangeofconstructionpurposesinnewandrefurbishedbuildingsuntil1999when

alluseofasbestoswasbanned.ThisextensiveusemeansthattherearestillmanybuildingsinGreatBritainwhichcontainasbestos.Whereasbestosmaterialsarein

goodconditionandunlikelytobedisturbedtheydonotpresentarisk.However,

wherethematerialsareinpoorconditionoraredisturbedordamaged,asbestos

fibresarereleasedintotheair,which,ifbreathedin,cancauseseriouslung

diseases,includingcancers.

3 Workerswhodisturbthefabricofbuildingsduringmaintenance,refurbishment,

repair,installationandrelatedactivitiesmaybeexposedtoasbestoseverytime

theyunknowinglyworkonACMsorcarryoutworkwithouttakingthecorrect

precautions.Thepurposeofmanagingasbestosinbuildingsistopreventor,where

thisisnotreasonablypracticable,minimiseexposureforthesegroupsofworkers

andotherpeopleinthepremises.Topreventthisexposure,informationisneededonwhetherasbestosis,orislikelytobe,presentinthebuildings,sothatan

assessmentcanbemadeabouttheriskitpresentsandappropriatemeasuresput

inplacetomanagethoserisks.

4 Thisguidanceisaimedat:

Surveyors whocarryoutasbestossurveys.Itsetsouthowtosurveypremises

forACMs.Inparticular,itspecifiesthemethodologytouseincarryingout

surveysandhowtoreportandpresenttheresults.Italsogivesadviceonhow

torecogniseandsamplesuspectedACMs.Indoingso,theguidancebuilds

onandupdatesMDHS100Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-

containing materials,whichitreplaces.Italsocontainsaspecificsectionwhich

outlinesthesurveystrategytousewhensurveyinglargenumbersofsimilarproperties(egdomestichousing).

Those who commission surveys (eg clients/dutyholders).Itsetsouthowto

decidewhattypeofsurveyisappropriate,howtoselectacompetentsurveyor,

whattheclientshouldexpectfromasurveyorandwhattheclientshould

providetothesurveyor.Italsohighlightsissues(egrestrictedaccess,excluded

areasandothercaveats)whichnotonlyreducetheeffectivenessofthesurvey,

butalsohaveseriousimplicationsformanagingasbestos.Italsoexplainswhat

checksshouldbemadeonthesurveyreporttoensureitsvalidityandaccuracy

(iecontractmanagement).

5 Theguidancewillalsobeusefultobuildingprofessionals,suchasarchitects,

designers,buildingsurveyorsandparticularlydemolitionandasbestosremovalcontractors.Forexample,architectsandbuildingsurveyorsneedtobeawareof

therequirementtocarryoutasbestosbuildingssurveys(andindeedcanadvise

ontheneedforanasbestossurveybeforerefurbishmentanddemolitionprojects).

Theyshouldalsobeawareofthevarioustypesofsurveysandbeabletoreview



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completedsurveys.Contractorsneedtobeabletointerpretasbestossurveysso

thatrefurbishmentordemolitioncanbeplannedandcarriedoutsafely.

6 Theguidancedoesnotcoverairbornesamplingorsurveyingcontaminated

land.Thesearespecialisedsubjectsoutsidethescopeofthisdocument.

Legal requirements

The duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises*

7 Asbestos,acategory1humancarcinogen,issubjecttoaspecificsetof

regulations,CAR2006.Theseregulationscoverworkwithasbestos,prohibitions

ontheimportation,supplyanduseofasbestos,andlicensingofasbestos-removal

activities.Regulation4ofCAR2006containsanexplicitdutyontheowners

andoccupiersofnon-domesticpremises,whohavemaintenanceandrepair

responsibilities,toassessandmanagetherisksfromthepresenceofasbestos

(thedutyissummarisedinFigure1).Theriskswillvarywithcircumstancesandcanarisefromnormaloccupationofabuildingorfrominadvertentdisturbanceduring

therepair,refurbishmentanddemolitionofpremises.Theriskassessmentwillbe

usedtoproduceamanagementplanwhichdetailsandrecordswhatactionsto

taketomanageandreducetherisksfromasbestos.

8 Therequirementsareplacedondutyholders,whoshould:

takereasonablestepstodeterminethelocationofmaterialslikelytocontain

asbestos;

presumematerialstocontainasbestos,unlesstherearegoodreasonsnotto

doso;

makeandmaintainawrittenrecordofthelocationoftheACMsandandpresumedACMs;

assessandmonitortheconditionofACMsandpresumedACMs;

assesstheriskofexposurefromACMsandpresumedACMsandpreparea

writtenplanoftheactionsandmeasuresnecessarytomanagetherisk(iethe

managementplan);and

takestepstoseethattheseactionsarecarriedout.



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RECORD:Prepare asbestos

register

Yes

Appoint person

to manage asbestos

Find out if ACMs present:

Check plans/drawings

Carry out survey

Carry out

risk assessment

Prepare management

plan

ManageRepair/remove

Monitor

Maintenance workDamaged ACMs

ACMs in good

condition

No

RecordRecord: Asbestos

register plan/drawing

No further action

Are ACMs liable to be disturbed?

Who can be exposed?

Prioritise

- Train staff

- Manage contractors

- Checked all work against

plan/register- Control of work itself:

- Asbestos essentials

- Compliance with CAR

*Thetermpremiseshasaspecificdefinitionunderhealthandsafetylegislationandincludesvehicles,vessels,aircraft,

installationsonlandandoffshore,tentsandmoveablestructures.Whileinmostcasesthesurveywillonlybeneededon

existingbuildings(includingbasements,cellars,tunnels,undercroftsetc)andthesurroundingsite,theremaybesome

situationswheretherearehiddenundergroundstructuresorpipeswhichmayonlycometolightwhenrefurbishmentor

demolitionworkistotakeplace.Theseshouldbeincludedinthesurveyasappropriate.

Figure 1Summaryofthemainstepsinmanagingasbestos



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9 TomanagetheriskfromACMs,thedutyholderwillneedto:

keepandmaintainanup-to-daterecordofthelocation,condition,maintenance

andremovalofallACMsonthepremises;

repair,sealorremoveACMsifthereisariskofexposureduetotheircondition

orlocation;

maintainACMsinagoodstateofrepairandregularlymonitortheircondition;

informanyonewhoisliabletodisturbtheACMsabouttheirlocationand

condition;

havearrangementsandproceduresinplacesothatworkwhichmaydisturb

theACMscomplieswithCAR2006;and

reviewtheplanatregularintervalsandmakechangesifcircumstanceschange.

Management of asbestos in domestic premises

10Thedutytomanageasbestosrequirementsofregulation4ofCAR2006do

notnormallyapplytodomesticpremises.However,therequirementsdoapply

tocommonpartsofpremises,includinghousingdevelopmentsandblocksofflats,butdonotplaceanydirectdutiesonlandlordsforindividualhousesorflats.

Examplesofcommonpartswouldincludefoyers,corridors,liftsandliftshafts,

staircases,boilerhouses,verticalrisers,gardens,yardsandouthouses.The

requirementsdonotapplytoroomswithinaprivateresidencewhicharesharedby

morethanonehousehold,suchasbathrooms,kitchensetcinsharedhousesand

communaldiningroomsandloungesinshelteredaccommodation.

11TheHealthandSafetyatWorketcAct1974,7section2,requiresallemployers

toconducttheirworksotheiremployeeswillnotbeexposedtohealthandsafety

risks,andtoprovideinformationtootherpeopleabouttheirworkplacewhichmight

affecttheirhealthandsafety.Section3placesdutiesonemployersandtheself-

employedtowardspeoplenotintheiremploymentandsection4containsgeneraldutiesforanyonewhohascontrol,toanyextent,overaworkplace.Inaddition,the

ManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999 8requireemployers

toassessthehealthandsafetyriskstothirdparties,suchastenantswhomaybe

affectedbytheiractivities,andtomakeappropriatearrangementstoprotectthem.

12Theserequirementsmeanthatorganisationssuchaslocalauthorities,housing

associations,socialhousingmanagementcompaniesandotherswhoown,orare

responsiblefor,domesticproperties,havelegaldutiestoensurethehealthand

safetyoftheirstaff(andothers)indomesticpremisesusedasaplaceofwork.

Asemployers,theorganisationsalsohavedutiesunderthegeneralrequirements

ofCAR2006toidentifyasbestos,carryoutariskassessmentofworkliableto

exposeemployeestoasbestosandprepareasuitablewrittenplanofwork.

Construction work

13CDMrequiresarrangementstobeinplacetodealwithasbestosduring

constructionwork,includingrefurbishmentanddemolition.Whereconstruction

orbuildingworkistobecarriedout,theCDMclientmustprovidedesigners

andcontractorswhoarebiddingforthework(orwhotheyintendtoengage)

withproject-specificinformationaboutthepresenceofasbestos,sothatthe

risksassociatedwithdesignandconstructionwork,includingdemolition,canbe

addressed.Itisnotacceptabletomakegeneralreferencetohazardsthatmay

exist.Thereforesite-specificasbestossurveysshouldbecarriedoutinadvance

ofconstructionworktomakesurethattheinformationisavailabletothosewho

needit.



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Appointed person

14TohelpcomplywiththelegalrequirementsandtoensurethatACMsin

premisesareproperlymanaged,dutyholdersshouldidentifyaperson(andin

somecasesadeputy)withintheirorganisationwhowillberesponsibleforthat

management.Anappointedpersonwillbeessentialwherethedutyholderhasa

largeorcomplexbuildingportfolio.Theappointedpersonwillneedtheresources,

skills,trainingandauthoritytoensurethattheACMsaremanagedeffectively.Part

oftheirresponsibilitieswillincludemanagingthesurvey,includingcontractualand

reportingarrangements,qualityandsubsequentuseofthedata.

15Thesurveydataandinformationwillbeusedtocompleteanasbestosregister

andbuildingdiagram(s)showingtheACMlocations.Itwillalsofeedintotherisk

assessment,whichwillbeusedtodevelopthemanagementplan.Thedutyholder

needstoestablishclearlinesofresponsibilityforasbestosmanagementand

implementationoftheplan.

Health and safety issues

16SurveyingandsamplingACMscangiverisetoexposuretoasbestos.These

workactivitiesarecoveredbythemoregeneralrequirementsofCAR2006.The

regulationsrequireemployerstocarryoutariskassessment(regulation6)and

prepareaplanofwork(regulation7),settingoutthecontrolmeasuresandpersonal

protectiveequipment(PPE)tobeused.Theregulationsalsorequirethatadequate

information,instructionandtraining(includingrefreshertraining)(regulation10)

aregiventothesamplingpersonnel.Trainingshouldmeettherequirementsfor

non-licensableasbestosworkassetoutintheApprovedCodeofPractice, Work

with materials containing asbestos.SamplingACMsis,however,exemptfromtheregulationscoveringlicensing(regulation8),notificationofworkwithasbestos

(regulation9)andhealthsurveillance(regulation22)byvirtueofregulation3(2),as

theexposureissporadicandlowintensityandisunlikelytoexceedthecontrol

limit.Otherhazardsmayalsobepresent,suchasworkingatheightsandelectrical

cables.Ariskassessmentwillneedtobecarriedoutbeforestartingworkonsite

(seeparagraphs83-87).Itshouldincludeanysafetyaspectsandrecordanysafety

protocoltobeobservedonsiteaswellasfirealarmandevacuationprocedures.

Asbestos surveying and sampling is likely to be work with asbestos

and therefore will require a risk assessment and a plan of work (method

statement) under CAR 2006. Some activities may also involve physical work

with asbestos (eg moving asbestos insulating board (AIB) ceiling tiles) and

will require similar consideration.

Some direct work on asbestos to support the survey may have to be

carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor (see Appendix 1, paragraphs

6 and 7).



Health and Safety

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2 Competence and quality

assurance procedures17Surveyscanbecarriedoutbyin-housepersonnelorathirdparty.Ineachcase

thesurveyormustbecompetenttocarryouttheworkrequired.Tobecompetent,

thesurveyormust:

havesufficienttraining,qualifications,knowledge,experienceandabilitytocarry

outtheirdutiesinrelationtothesurveyandtorecognisetheirlimitations;

havesufficientknowledgeofthespecifictaskstobeundertakenandtherisks

whichtheworkwillentail;

beabletodemonstrateindependence,impartialityandintegrity;

haveanadequatequalitymanagementsystem;and carryoutthesurveyinaccordancewithrecommendedguidance(iethis

publication).

HSE strongly recommends the use of accredited or certificated surveyors

for asbestos surveys.

The dutyholder should not appoint or instruct an independent surveyor to

carry out a survey unless the surveyor is competent.

18Surveyorsshouldhavetrainingandexperienceinallaspectsofsurveywork

includingsurveyplanning,resources,technicalspecification,qualitycontrolandACMassessmentcriteria.

19Theasbestossurveyorneedsknowledgeofasbestosproducts(egtheir

nature,uses,hazards,samplingtechniquesetc)andalsoknowledgeofbuilding

construction,constructionmethods,fireprotectionandthevarioususesof

buildings.Surveyorsshouldbeawareofthedifferentformsofbuildingconstruction

(egsystembuild,traditional,industrialetc)andhowconstructiontechniquesaffect

asbestosuse.SurveyorsshouldalsohaveknowledgeoftheuseofACMsinfire

protectionsystemsandtheeffectofbuildingservicesonthedistributionand

locationofACMs.Forexample:

fireprotectioninsteel-framedbuildingsaroundcolumnsandbeams;

fireprotectionaroundelectricalandheatingsystems; fireprotectionseparatingmulti-occupancybuildings;

fireprotectioninliftshaftsandrisers;

buildingservicesinvoids,plenums,ducts,cavities,undercroftsandrisers.

20Surveyorsshouldbeawareoftherangeofbuildingcomponentsandstructures

whichcontainasbestos(egbargeboards,chimneycowls,ducts,eaves,fascias,

firedampers,flueterminalsandrisers,gables,plenums,soffits,studpartitions,

sandwichpartitionsetc).

21Knowledgeofbuildingconstructiontechniquesanddesignisparticularly

relevantforrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveys,tounderstandwhere(and

why)ACMsmayhavebeenusedinastructure.SurveyorsshouldalsobeawarethattherearemanyunrecordedadhocusesofACMsinbuildings.Someuses

arosesimplyfromtheconvenientpresenceofACMsasbuildingandengineering

materials.AIBpanelsandoffcuts,forexample,wereusedextensively,randomly

andimaginativelyasshutteringforconcrete,packersaroundcolumns,spacers



Health and Safety

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aroundwindowanddoorframes,andcavityclosers.OtherACMsmayhave

causedcontaminationinbuildingsfromthewaytheywereapplied,poorwork

practicesorlaterdisturbance,producingforexample:

oversprayandspreadofdustfromsprayedcoatings;

residuesfromthermalinsulationonbrickworkandinducts;

debrisfromAIBfirebreaksinceilingvoidsandalsoincavitywalls.

TheseACMsareoftenhiddenandunrecordedinbuildingplans.

22Surveythoroughnessisimportant.SimpleandobviousACMsaresometimes

missed,aswellasthosewhicharehiddenorobscured.Thesurveyshould

beperformedinastructured,methodicalandsystematicmanner.Theuseof

checklistsandastructuredapproachtothesurveyprocesswillminimisetherisk

ofACMsbeingmissed(seeBox8).Adequatetimemustbeallowedforthesurvey

inspectiontobedoneeffectively.

The dutyholder must ensure that adequate time and resources are made

available to the surveyor(s) to allow a thorough survey to be carried out.

23Organisationscandemonstratethattheyaretechnicallycompetentto

undertakesurveysforACMsthroughaccreditationtoISO/IEC17020. 9TheUnited

KingdomAccreditationService(UKAS)isthesolenationalaccreditationbodyin

theUnitedKingdom(UKAS,2147HighStreet,Feltham,MiddlesexTW134UN

Tel:02089178400www.ukas.com).Accreditationgivesanassurancethatan

independentandauthoritativebodyhasassessedthetechnicalcompetenceofan

organisation,includingitsunderpinningmanagementsystem.Theschemeshould

ensurethattheorganisationcanprovideavalidservicefortheservicesspecifiedonitsscheduleofaccreditation.

24Individualsurveyorscanalsodemonstratethattheyaretechnicallycompetent

toundertakespecifiedsurveysthroughholdingpersonnelcertificationfroma

CertificationBodyaccreditedbyUKASforthisactivityunderISO/IEC17024. 10

Personnelcertificationprovidesassurancethatanindividualhasachievedadefined

levelofcompetencetocarryoutspecificactivities.Currentlythereisoneaccredited

scheme:ABICS(AsbestosBuildingInspectorsCertificationScheme)whichis

operatedbytheFacultyofOccupationalHygiene,partoftheBritishOccupational

HygieneSociety(BOHS)(seewww.abics.org)(BOHS,5/6MelbourneBusiness

Court,MillenniumWay,PridePark,DerbyDE248LZ,Tel:01332298101

www.bohs.org).Anumberofpeoplehavealsobeencertificatedunderaprevious

schemeNIACS(NationalIndividualAsbestosCertificationScheme).CertificatedsurveyorsshouldalsoworkwithinageneralQualityAssuranceframeworkprovided

byISO/IEC17020(orISO9001 11asaminimum).

Accreditation and personnel certification are both valid schemes for

demonstrating competence in performing asbestos surveys. The schemes

are designed for different market segments and have different emphasis.

Both will ensure that surveys are carried out by competent people.

Accreditation is suitable for organisations of all sizes where the scale and

volume of surveying work dictates not only individual competence but also

the need for more formal and well-defined quality management systems.

Personnel certification is designed for individuals who may operate as soletraders or in organisations with only a few surveyors. The scheme focuses

on individual competence.



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25Individualswithoutpersonnelcertificationmaybeabletodemonstratethatthey

havesufficientcompetencytoundertakespecifiedsurveysthroughacombination

ofqualificationsandexperience.Inthissituation,experience(ieextentandrange)

isparticularlyimportant.ThemostwidelyheldtrainingqualificationintheUK

istheBOHSProficiencyModuleP402:Buildingssurveysandbulksampling

forasbestos(otherproficiencycoursesmaybeavailablefromothertraining

organisations).TheP402isabasicminimumqualificationforindividualscarrying

outasbestossurveysandonitsownitdoesnotdemonstratecompetency.

Therefore,inaddition,individualsmustalsohaveatleastsixmonthsfull-time,

relevant,practicalfieldexperienceonasbestossurveysunderthesupervisionof

experiencedandsuitablyqualifiedpersonnel.Theexperienceshouldcoverthe

propertysectorsincludingindustrial,commercialanddomestic,andshouldcover

managementsurveysandrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveys,asappropriate.

Traineeswillbeabletodemonstrateacertainlevelofcompetencethroughauditor

assessmentonanappropriatenumberofsurveys(egatleastfive)beforetheycan

beallowedtooperateastheleadsurveyor.

26Furthertrainingandexperiencewillbenecessarytoensurecompetencein

refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysparticularlyforlargepremises.Training

shouldcover,forexample,thepotentialadditionallocationstobeinspected,

accesstechniquesintocavities,wallsandpartitions,sandwichpartitionsetc.

TheProficiencyModuleP402canbesupplementedwithtworefreshermodules,

P402R,relatingtomanagementsurveys,andrefurbishmentanddemolition

surveysrespectively.Thesemodulescanbeausefulwayofprovidingongoing

annualrefreshertraining,aswellastheopportunitytoexchangeinformationand

experiencewithothers(asrequiredinISO/IEC17020).

The P402 qualification on its own does not demonstrate competency.

Individuals must have at least six months full-time, relevant, practical fieldexperience on asbestos surveys under the supervision of experienced and

suitably qualified personnel.

27TheBOHSS301course(Asbestosandotherfibres)isalsoarelevant

startingqualification,butagainonitsowndoesnotdemonstrateanindividuals

competence.However,individualscanthenobtainaCertificateofCompetence

inAsbestos(CoCA)fromBOHSafterobtainingtheS301,bycompletingsix

monthspracticalexperienceinasbestos,successfullysubmittingawrittenreport

(egonasbestossurveys)andpassinganoralexam.Thequalificationmuststillbe

supplementedbyadequatesupervisedfieldexperience.

28Personnelmayalsoholdanotherqualificationinsurveying:theRoyalSocietyforPublicHealth(RSPH)Level3Certificateinasbestosinspectionprocedures.

Thisqualificationwasdevelopedaspartofapersonnelcertificationschemeand

isstillavailableontheRSPHwebsite(www.rsph.org.uk).Thequalificationalone

doesnotdemonstratecompetency.Candidateswillalsoneedatleastsixmonths

supervisedandauditedpracticalexperience,asoutlinedfortheP402qualification

(seeparagraph25).

29Allsurveyingorganisationsshouldhaveaqualitymanagementsystem(iequality

assuranceandqualitycontrolschemes)inplacetoensurethehigheststandards.

Theseschemesshouldbewrittenandshouldincludeaminimumofthesethree

componentparts:

Aproportionofsurveysbeingre-inspectedbyanothercompetentsurveyor/

auditor,usuallywhilethesurveyisinprogress.Allaspectsofthesitework

(safetyassessments,inspectionprocedures,sampling,documentation,material

riskassessmentsetc)shouldbechecked.Itisrecommendedthatabout5%of



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surveysarereinspected(BS6002:2006). 12

Allthemanagementproceduresandsystemsofasurveyingorganisation

shouldbequalityassuredbycarryingoutauditsofcompletedsurveys.This

wouldnormallybeadesk-topaudit.

Thereshouldalsobeaqualitycontrolschemeforsurveyreports.Allreports

shouldbecheckedbeforebeingissuedtoclients.Simplebutthoroughchecks

shouldbemadethattheclientsrequirementshavebeenmet,aswellas

checksontheconsistency,technicalaccuracyandcompletenessofthereport.

30MoredetailsofaqualitymanagementsystemaregiveninAppendix6.

31Laboratorieswhocarryoutbulkanalysisforasbestosmustdemonstratethat

theyconformtotherequirementsofISO/IEC17025 13and,iftheyprovidethis

serviceforathirdparty,mustbeaccreditedbyarecognisedaccreditationbody,ie

UKAS.Thelaboratoryshouldbeabletodemonstrateitscompetencetocarryout

bulkasbestosanalysisthrough:

stafftrainingrecords;

certificatesfromexternaltrainingproviders;

participationinqualityassuranceschemes;

internalproficiencytestingprogrammes;

satisfactoryperformanceinnationalproficiencytestingprogrammes;

replicateanalysischecksofaproportionoftheroutinesamples.

32TheAsbestosinMaterialsScheme(AIMS)istheUKnationalproficiencytesting

programmeforbulkasbestosanalysis.Individualanalystsshouldalsodemonstrate

competencythroughtrainingrecordsandsatisfactoryperformanceinaninternal

qualityassurancescheme.

33Itistheresponsibilityofanyoneusingalaboratoryfortheanalysisofsamples

forasbestostomakesurethelabholdsthenecessaryaccreditation(detailscanbe

obtainedfromtheUKASwebsite:www.ukas.com).

34Samplesorrepresentativesub-samplesshouldbekeptforatleastsixmonths

afteranalysistoallowcheckstobemade.Samplesassociatedwithalegaldispute

orclaimmayneedtobekeptforlonger.



Health and Safety

Executive

Box 3: What the client/dutyholder should do to check the competency of

the surveyor

Thedutyholdershouldbesatisfiedthatthesurveyoriscompetenttocarryout

theworkrequired.

Thismeansthatthedutyholdershouldmakereasonableenquiriesasto

whethertheorganisationorindividualistechnicallycompetenttocarryoutthe

surveyadequatelyandsafely,andcanallocateadequateresourcestoit.The

competencyenquiryshouldbecarriedoutasatwo-stageprocess:

Stage 1:Anassessmentoftheindividualsorcompanyssurveyexpertise

andalso,theirknowledgeofhealthandsafety,todeterminewhetherthese

aresufficienttoenablethemtocarryoutthesurveycompetently,safelyand

withoutrisktohealth.

Stage 2:Anassessmentoftheindividualsorcompanysexperienceand

trackrecordtoestablishifitiscapableofdoingtheworkandthatitrecognisesitslimitations.

Stage 1: Establishtheaccreditationorcertificationstatusofthesurveyorand

anyrelevantasbestossurveyqualifications(seeparagraphs2328).Obtaina

writtendeclarationwhichstatesthatthesurveyorcanoperatewithindependence,

impartialityandintegrityandthatpersonnelcarryingouttheworkareadequately

trainedforallaspectsoftheworktakingplace.Inaddition,obtaincopiesofthe

currentinsurancecertificatesforemployersliability,publicliabilityand

professionalindemnitycoverandcheckthemtoseethattheycoverthe

proposedwork.

Stage 2:Obtaininformationonthesurveyorspastexperienceonthetypeofsurveyplannedandtheircapabilitytodothework.Referencesorevidenceof

recentsimilarworkshouldberequested.

Ifacompanyorsurveyorcannotdemonstratecompetencethroughcurrent

accreditationorpersonnelcertification,thedutyholderwillneedtoconduct

amoredetailedassessmentoftheircompetencetodothework.Thiswillinclude

requesting:detailsoftheirqualifications,copiesoftheirwrittenprocedures

(includingqualitycontrolpolicies)andreferencestootherevidenceofrecent

similarwork.



Health and Safety

Executive

3 Asbestos surveys

Purpose

35Thepurposeofthesurveyistohelpmanageasbestosinthedutyholders

premises.Thesurveyhastoprovidesufficientinformationfor:anasbestosregister

andplantobeprepared,asuitableriskassessmenttobecarriedoutandawritten

plantomanagetheriskstobeproduced.Theprocessisshownschematicallyin

Figure2.

SURVEY

Asbestos register

plan/drawing

Refurbishment or

demolition surveyManagement

survey

Management plan

Risk assessment

Figure 2Schematicdiagramshowingthelinkbetweentheasbestossurveyandthe

managementplan



Health and Safety

Executive

36Inmostcasesthesurveywillhavethreemainaims:

itmustasfarasreasonablypracticablelocateandrecordthelocation,extent

andproducttypeofanypresumedorknownACMs;

itmustinspectandrecordinformationontheaccessibility,condition*and

surfacetreatmentofanypresumedorknownACMs;

itshoulddetermineandrecordtheasbestostype,eitherbycollecting

representativesamplesofsuspectmaterialsforlaboratoryidentification,orby

makingapresumptionbasedontheproducttypeanditsappearanceetc.

Presumption or identification of ACMs

37 ThedutytomanagerequirementinCAR2006regulation4allowsmaterialsto

bepresumedtocontainasbestos.Thereforeintheasbestossurvey,materialscan

bepresumedtocontainasbestos.Therearetwolevelsofpresumption:

1 Strong presumption:inthiscasethemateriallooksasifitisanACM,orthatit

mightcontainasbestos.Thisconclusioncanbereachedthroughvisualinspection

alonebyanexperienced,well-trainedsurveyor,familiarwiththerangeofasbestos

products.Examplesofstrongpresumptionwouldbe:

wherelaboratoryanalysishasconfirmedthepresenceofasbestosinasimilar

constructionmaterial;

materialsinwhichasbestosisknowntohavebeencommonlyusedinthe

manufacturedproductatthetimeofinstallation(egcorrugatedcementroof

andwallsheeting,cementguttersanddrainpipes,cementwatertanks,ceiling

tiles,insulatingboards);

materialswhichhavetheappearanceofasbestosbutnosamplehasbeentaken,egthermalinsulationonapipewherefibresareclearlyvisible.

2 A default situationwhereamaterialispresumedtocontainasbestos

becausethereisinsufficientevidence(egnoanalysis)toconfirmthatitisasbestos

free,orwhereadutyholder/surveyordecidesthatitiseasierundertheplanned

managementarrangementstopresumecertainmaterialscontainasbestos.Many

non-asbestosmaterialswillalsobepresumedtocontainasbestosusingthis

system.Thereisafurtherdefaultsituationwherematerialsmustbepresumed

tocontainasbestos.Thedefaultappliestoareaswhichcannotbeaccessed

orinspected.Inthissituation any area not accessed or inspected must be

presumed to contain asbestos, unless there is strong evidence that it

does not.

*Theexceptionisrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveyswhereinformationontheconditionofthe

asbestosisusuallynotrequired(seeparagraph52),astheACMwillberemovedsoonafterthesurvey.

However,incircumstanceswheretheremovalwillnottakeplaceforsometimeafterthesurvey(eg

morethanthreemonths),theACMswillhavetobemanagedduringthisperiod.Inthissituation,

theconditionoftheACMsshouldalsobedeterminedandremedialactiontakenasappropriate(see

paragraphs124and130).



Health and Safety

Executive

38Materialscannotbepresumedtobeasbestosfree(iecontainnoasbestos)

unlessthereisstrongevidencetoconcludethattheyarehighlyunlikelytocontain

asbestos.Thereareobviousmaterialswhicharenotasbestos,egwood,glass,

metal,stoneetc.Therearealsomanyexamplesofasbestosbeingpresentinside

materials,egasandwichlayerinsidedoors,insidecolumnsorundercolumn

casings,onthehiddensideofitems,egwoodpanelling,ceilingtiles,under

veneers.Reasonstoconcludethatamaterialdoesnotcontainasbestoswouldbe:

non-asbestossubstitutematerialswerespecifiedintheoriginalarchitects/

quantitysurveyorsplansorinsubsequentrefurbishments;

theproductwasveryunlikelytocontainasbestosorhaveasbestosadded(eg

wallpaper,plasterboardetc);

post-1985construction(foramphiboleACMssuchasasbestosinsulating

board,seeAppendix1);

post-1990constructionfordecorativetexturedcoatings(formulations

containingasbestoswereprohibitedin1988andsomesuppliersvoluntarily

ceasedusingasbestosin1984); post-1999construction(somechrysotileproductswereprohibitedin1993and

nearlyallwereprohibitedin1999).

39ItisnotalwaysstraightforwardtoconcludethatACMsareabsent.The

regulationsrequirethatreasonablestepsaretaken.Whileoriginalspecifications

maynothaveincludedACMsincertainbuildinglocations,workersmayhaveused

themfortheirconvenience.Forexample,workonbuildingsystems(egCLASP

systems14hasshownthatACMs,egasbestosinsulatingboard(AIB)off-cuts

wereusedasfiller/packingandsupportitemsinplaceswheretheirpresencewas

notrecorded.Therearealsomanyexamplesofpoorremovalpracticeleaving

asbestos-containingdebrisandresidues.Thereforeareaswhereasbestoshas

beenremovedpreviouslywillneedtobereinspectedaspartofthesurvey.

Areas where asbestos has been removed previously will need to be

reinspected.

Types of survey

40Thisdocumentdescribestwodifferenttypesofsurvey: management surveys

andrefurbishmentanddemolition surveys.

41Thetypeofsurveywillvaryduringthelifespanofthepremisesandseveralmay

beneededovertime.Amanagementsurveywillberequiredduringthenormal

occupationanduseofthebuildingtoensurecontinuedmanagementoftheACMsinsitu.Arefurbishmentordemolitionsurveywillbenecessarywhenthebuilding(or

partofit)istobeupgraded,refurbishedordemolished.Itisprobablethatatlarger

premisesamixtureofsurveytypeswillbeappropriate,egaboilerhouseduefor

demolitionwillrequirearefurbishment/demolitionsurvey,whileofficesatthesame

sitewouldhaveamanagementsurvey.Inlateryearsrefurbishmentsurveysmay

berequiredinroomsorfloorswhicharebeingupgraded.Insectorswherethere

arelargenumbersofproperties(egdomestichouses)orinternalunits(eghotels),

onlyparticularroomsmaybespecifiedforupgrading,egkitchens,bathroomsand

bedrooms.Refurbishmentsurveyswouldonlybenecessaryintheselocations.

42Itisimportantthattheclientandthesurveyorknowexactlywhattypeofsurvey

istobecarriedoutandwhere,andwhatthespecificationwillbe.Sothereshouldbeaclearstatementandrecordofthetypeofsurveythatistobecarriedout,

includingthereasonsforselectingthattypeofsurvey,andwhereitistobecarried

out.



Health and Safety

Executive

Management survey

43Amanagementsurveyisthestandardsurvey.Itspurposeistolocate,asfar

asreasonablypracticable,thepresenceandextentofanysuspectACMsinthe

buildingwhichcouldbedamagedordisturbedduringnormaloccupancy,including

foreseeablemaintenanceandinstallation,andtoassesstheircondition.

44Managementsurveyswillofteninvolveminorintrusiveworkandsome

disturbance.Theextentofintrusionwillvarybetweenpremisesanddepend

onwhatisreasonablypracticableforindividualproperties,ieitwilldependon

factorssuchasthetypeofbuilding,thenatureofconstruction,accessibilityetc.A

managementsurveyshouldincludeanassessmentoftheconditionofthevarious

ACMsandtheirabilitytoreleasefibresintotheairiftheyaredisturbedinsome

way.Thismaterialassessment(seeparagraphs124127)willgiveagoodinitial

guidetothepriorityformanagingACMsasitwillidentifythematerialswhichwill

mostreadilyreleaseairbornefibresiftheyaredisturbed.

45ThesurveywillusuallyinvolvesamplingandanalysistoconfirmthepresenceorabsenceofACMs.Howeveramanagementsurveycanalsoinvolvepresumingthe

presenceorabsenceofasbestos.Amanagementsurveycanbecompletedusing

acombinationofsamplingACMsandpresumingACMsor,indeed,justpresuming.

Anymaterialspresumedtocontainasbestosmustalsohavetheircondition

assessed(ieamaterialassessment).

Management surveys can involve a combination of sampling to confirm

asbestos is present or presuming asbestos to be present.

46Bypresumingthepresenceofasbestos,theneedforsamplingandanalysis

canbedeferreduntilalatertime(egbeforeanyworkiscarriedout).Howeverthisapproachhasimplicationsforthemanagementarrangements.Thedutyholder

bearspotentialadditionalcostsofmanagementforsomenon-ACMs.Anywork

carriedoutonpresumedmaterialswouldneedtoinvolveappropriatecontractors

andworkmethodsincompliancewithCAR2006irrespectiveofwhetherthe

materialwasactuallyanACMornot.Alternatively,beforeanyworkstarts,sampling

andanalysiscanbeundertakentoconfirmorrefutethepresenceofasbestos.

Theresultswilldeterminetheworkmethodsandcontractorstobeused.The

presumptionapproachhasseveraldisadvantages:itislessrigorous,itcan

leadtoconstantobstructionsanddelaysbeforeworkcanstart,anditismore

difficulttocontrol,seeA comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises.

Defaultpresumptionsmayalsoleadtounnecessaryremovalofnon-ACMs

andtheirdisposalasasbestoswaste.Defaultpresumptionsmaybesuitablein

someinstances,egsmallorsimplepremises,aspartofaclientsmanagementarrangements.

47SurveyorsshouldalwaysendeavourtopositivelyidentifyACMs.Asufficient

numberofsamplesshouldbetakentoconfirmthelocationandextentofACMs.It

islegitimatetoreducesamplenumberswherematerialscanbestronglypresumed

tobeACMs.Howeverthedefaultpresumptionoptionshouldbeavoidedwhere

possible,asitcanmakemanagingasbestosmoredifficultforthedutyholder.

Defaultpresumptionshouldonlybeusedincircumstanceswhereitisrequested

bytheclientand/orwhereaccessgenuinelycannotbeobtained.

48Whensamplingiscarriedoutaspartofamanagementsurvey,samples

fromeachtypeofsuspectACMshouldbecollectedandanalysed.Ifthematerialsampledisfoundtocontainasbestos,othersimilarmaterialsusedinthesameway

inthebuildingcanbestronglypresumedtocontainasbestos.Lesshomogeneous

materials(egdifferentsurfaces/coating,evidenceofrepairetc)willrequireagreater

numberofsamples.Thesamplenumbershouldbesufficienttoestablishwhether



Health and Safety

Executive

asbestosispresentornotintheparticularmaterial.Samplingmaytakeplace

simultaneouslywiththesurvey,orasinthecaseofsomelargersurveys,canbe

carriedoutlaterasaseparateexercise.

49Allareasshouldbeaccessedandinspectedasfarasisreasonablypracticable.

Areasshouldincludeunderfloorcoverings,abovefalseceilings,andinsiderisers,

serviceducts,liftshaftsetc(seeBox4). Surveying may also involve some

minor intrusive work,suchasaccessingbehindfasciaandpanelsandother

surfacesorsuperficialmaterials.Theextentofintrusionwilldependonthedegree

ofdisturbancethatisorwillbenecessaryforforeseeablemaintenanceand

relatedactivities,includingtheinstallationofnewequipment/cabling.Surveyors

shouldcomepreparedtoaccesssuchareas(iewiththecorrectequipmentetc).

Managementsurveysareonlylikelytoinvolvetheuseofsimpletoolssuchas

screwdriversandchisels.Anyareasnotaccessedmustbepresumedtocontain

asbestos.Theareasnotaccessedandpresumedtocontainasbestosmustbe

clearlystatedinthesurveyreportandwillhavetobemanagedonthisbasis(see

paragraph46),iemaintenanceorotherdisturbanceworkshouldnotbecarriedoutintheseareasuntilfurtherchecksaremade.

Box 4: Areas to be inspected as part of a management survey

AllACMsshouldbeidentifiedasfarasisreasonablypracticable.Theareas

inspectedshouldinclude:underfloorcoverings,abovefalseceilings(ceilingvoids),

lofts,insiderisers,serviceductsandliftshafts,basements,cellars,underground

rooms,undercrofts(thislistisnotexhaustive).

50Managementsurveysshouldcoverroutineandsimplemaintenancework.

Howeverithastoberecognisedthatwheremoreextensivemaintenanceorrepairworkisinvolved,theremaynotbesufficientinformationinthemanagement

surveyandalocalisedrefurbishmentsurveywillbeneeded.Arefurbishment

surveywillberequiredforallworkwhichdisturbsthefabricofthebuildinginareas

wherethemanagementsurveyhasnotbeenintrusive.Thedecisionontheneed

forarefurbishmentsurveyshouldbemadebythedutyholder(probablywithhelp

fromothers).

Refurbishment surveys will be required for all work which disturbs the

fabric of the building in areas where the management survey has not been

intrusive.

The dutyholder will need to make the decision but probably with help

from others.

Refurbishment and demolition surveys

51Arefurbishment and demolition surveyisneededbeforeanyrefurbishmentor

demolitionworkiscarriedout.Thistypeofsurveyisusedtolocateanddescribe,

asfarasreasonablypracticable,allACMsintheareawheretherefurbishment

workwilltakeplaceorinthewholebuildingifdemolitionisplanned.Thesurveywill

befullyintrusiveandinvolvedestructiveinspection,asnecessary,togainaccess

toallareas,includingthosethatmaybedifficulttoreach.Arefurbishmentand

demolitionsurveymayalsoberequiredinothercircumstances,egwhenmore

intrusivemaintenanceandrepairworkwillbecarriedoutorforplantremovalor

dismantling.

52ThereisaspecificrequirementinCAR2006(regulation7)forallACMsto

beremovedasfarasreasonablypracticablebeforemajorrefurbishmentorfinal

demolition.RemovingACMsisalsoappropriateinothersmallerrefurbishment



Health and Safety

Executive

situationswhichinvolvestructuralorlayoutchangestobuildings(egremovalof

partitions,walls,unitsetc).UnderCDM,thesurveyinformationshouldbeused

tohelpinthetenderingprocessforremovalofACMsfromthebuildingbefore

workstarts.Thesurveyreportshouldbesuppliedbytheclienttodesignersand

contractorswhomaybebiddingforthework,sothattheasbestosriskscanbe

addressed.Inthistypeofsurvey,wheretheasbestosisidentifiedsothatitcan

beremoved(ratherthantomanageit),thesurveydoesnotnormallyassess

theconditionoftheasbestos,otherthantoindicateareasofdamageorwhere

additionalasbestosdebrismaybepresent.However,wheretheasbestosremoval

maynottakeplaceforsometime,theACMsconditionwillneedtobeassessed

andthematerialsmanaged(seeparagraph124).

53 Refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysareintendedtolocatealltheasbestosin

thebuilding(ortherelevantpart),asfarasreasonablypracticable.Itisadisruptive

andfullyintrusivesurveywhichmayneedtopenetrateallpartsofthebuilding

structure.Aggressiveinspectiontechniqueswillbeneededtoliftcarpetsandtiles,

breakthroughwalls,ceilings,claddingandpartitions,andopenupfloors.Inthesesituations,controlsshouldbeputinplacetopreventthespreadofdebris,which

mayincludeasbestos.Refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysshouldonlybe

conductedinunoccupiedareastominimiseriskstothepublicoremployeesonthe

premises.Ideally,thebuildingshouldnotbeinserviceandallfurnishingsremoved.

Forminorrefurbishment,thiswouldonlyapplytotheroominvolvedorevenpart

oftheroomwheretheworkissmallandtheroomlarge.Inthesesituations,there

shouldbeeffectiveisolationofthesurveyarea(egfullfloortoceilingpartition),and

furnishingsshouldberemovedasfaraspossibleorprotectedusingsheeting.The

surveyedareamustbeshowntobefitforreoccupationbeforepeoplemoveback

in.Thiswillrequireathoroughvisualinspectionand,ifappropriate(egwherethere

hasbeensignificantdestruction),reassuranceairsamplingwithdisturbance.Under

nocircumstancesshouldstaffremaininroomsorareasofbuildingswhenintrusivesamplingisperformed.

54Theremaybesomecircumstanceswherethebuildingisstilloccupied(iein

use)atthetimeademolitionsurveyiscarriedout.Forexampleintheeducational

sector,refurbishment/demolitionsurveysmaybeconductedinschoolsorcolleges

duringoneclosureperiod(egholidays)andtheworknotundertakenuntilthe

nextholidayperiod.Also,ademolitionsurveymaybeconductedtoestablishthe

economicfutureorviabilityofabuilding(s).Thesurveyresultswoulddeterminethe

outcome.Insuchsituations,thesurveywillneedextremelycarefulmanagingwith

personnelandequipment/furnishingsbeingdecantedandprotected(asnecessary),

whilethesurveyprogressesthroughthebuilding.Again,thereshouldbeeffective

isolationofthesurveyareasandthesurveyedareamustbeshowntobefitfor

reoccupationbeforepersonnelreoccupy(seeparagraph53).

Survey restrictions and caveats

55Thevalueandusefulnessofthesurveycanbeseriouslyunderminedwhere

eithertheclientorthesurveyorimposesrestrictionsonthesurveyscopeoronthe

techniques/methodusedbythesurveyor.InformationonthelocationofallACMs,

asfarasreasonablypracticable,iscrucialtotheriskassessmentanddevelopment

ofthemanagementplan.Anyrestrictionsplacedonthesurveyscopewillreduce

theextenttowhichACMsarelocatedandidentified,incurdelaysandconsequently

makemanagingasbestosmorecomplex,expensiveandpotentiallylesseffective.

56Inmanagementsurveys,surveyorsshouldbeproperlypreparedforaccessing

allreasonablypracticableareasinallpartsofthebuilding(seeBox4).Potentially

difficulttoenterareas(includinglockedroomsetc)shouldbeidentifiedinthe

planningstagewiththedutyholderandarrangementsmadeforaccess(egMEWPs



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Executive

forworkatheight,roomsunlocked,doors/corridorsunblockedetc).Insituations

wherethereisnoentryonthedayofthesurvey,arevisitshouldbemadewhen

accesswillbepossible.Wheretherearehealthandsafetyrisksassociatedwith

someactivities(egheight,confinedspaces),theseshouldbeadequatelyassessed

andarrangementsmadetocontrolthem(seeparagraphs8391).Anyareanot

accessed(andwherenootherinformationexists)mustbepresumedtocontain

asbestosandbemanagedonthatbasis.

57Inrefurbishmentsurveys,theareaandscopeoftheworkwillneedto

beagreedbetweenthedutyholderandthesurveyor.Inthesesurveysandin

demolitionsurveysthereshouldbenorestrictionsonaccessunlessthesiteis

unsafe(egfire-damagedpremises)oraccessisphysicallyimpractical.Thelevel

ofintrusionwillbesignificantlygreaterthanwithmanagementsurveys.Itwill

includeaccessingstructuralareas,betweenfloorsandwallsandunderground

services.Someareasmaybedifficulttogainentrytoand/ormayneedspecialist

assistanceorequipment.Accessarrangementsneedtobefullydiscussedinthe

planningstageandformpartofthecontract,particularlywhereassistancehastobeengaged.Whereaccesshasnotbeenpossibleduringrefurbishmentand

demolitionsurveys,theseareasmustbeclearlylocatedonplansandinthetextof

thereporttoallowtherefurbishmentanddemolitionprocessestobeprogressive

inthoseareas.AnyACMsmustbeidentifiedandremovedatthistime.Itisnow

recognisedthatevenwithcompleteaccessdemolitionsurveys,allACMsmaynot

beidentifiedandthisonlybecomesapparentduringdemolitionitself.Surveyors

needtobecompetenttodoalltherelevantworkandtasksinthisclassofsurveys

(seeSection2:Competenceandqualityassuranceprocedures).Theywillneed

someknowledgeofconstruction,beabletocarryouttheworksafelyandwithout

risktohealth,havethecorrectequipmenttodotheworkandhavetheappropriate

insurance.

58Ifanyrestrictionshavetobeimposedonthescopeorextentofthesurvey,

theseitemsmustbeagreedbybothpartiesandclearlydocumented.Theyshould

beagreedbeforeworkstarts(egatthepreliminarysitemeetingandwalk-through

inspectionorduringdiscussion(seeparagraphs7778))andarelikelytoformpart

ofthecontract.Ifduringthesurvey,thesurveyorisunabletoaccessanylocation

orareaforanyreason,thedutyholdermustbeinformedassoonaspossibleand

arrangementsmadeforlateraccess.Ifaccessisnotpossible,thenthesurvey

reportshouldclearlyidentifytheseareasnotaccessed.Limitationsshouldbekept

toanabsoluteminimumbyensuringthatstaffareadequatelytrained,insuredand

havetheappropriateequipmentandtools.

Survey restrictions and caveats can seriously undermine the

management of asbestos in buildings. They should be included onlywhere absolutely necessary and should be fully justified. Most can

be avoided by proper planning and discussion. They must be agreed

between the dutyholder and the surveyor and documented in the survey

report.

Survey strategy

Non-domestic premises

59Inthenon-domesticsector,thereisanexpectationthateverybuildingwillbe

surveyedonanindividualbasistoidentifythepresenceandconditionofasbestos.

Inpremiseswheretherearelargenumbersofsimilarornear-identicalrooms(egofficesorhotels),asurveystrategycanbeadoptedwhichreflectsthescaleand

natureofthebuildings.Allroomsshouldbevisuallyinspected,asthereclearlycan

bedifferencesinroomsduetolocation(egpresenceofrisers,services)orfunction/

facilities.Subsequently,similarroomscanbeplacedintogroups(ieroomswith



Health and Safety

Executive

similarlocationsorfacilities,suchasnexttolifts,containingrisers,gableendor

middlebuildingrooms,plantroomsetc).Inthesegroupsthereislikelytobegreater

uniformityinthepresenceofACMs,egfireprotectionnexttoliftshafts).Within

thesegroups,therewillbelessneedforsamplinginallrooms.Samplingcanbe

conductedinarepresentativenumberofroomsand,whereACMsareidentified,

thesameitemsinotherroomsinthisgroupcanbestronglypresumedtocontain

asbestos.

Domestic premises

60Inthedomesticsector,localauthoritiesandhousingassociationshave

responsibilityforverylargenumbersofpropertieswhichneedarangeof

maintenanceandrepairworkaswellasgeneralimprovementandupgradingor

occasionallydemolition.Workscanincludeelectricalrewiring,structuralrepairsand

alterations,replacementwindows,centralheating,insulation,renewalofbathroom

andkitchenfittingsorcompleterenovations.Theworkmaybenecessaryon

individualorsmallnumbersofpremises(egemergencyworkduetofire/water/stormdamage)oronlargenumberswheretherearemajorimprovementor

upgradingschemes(egtheDecentHomesImprovementprogramme).

61Domesticpropertiespresentparticularchallengesforsurveyingasbestos.The

mainissuesarethescale(ielargenumberofproperties(andconsequentlywhatis

reasonableandpracticable)),therealextentofsimilarityinbuildingmaterialsand

thepersonalnatureoftheproperty.Asbestoswasextensivelyusedindomestic

propertiesbetween1930and1980.HoweverthepresenceofACMscannow

bequitevariableandunpredictableevenwithinthesamearchetypalgroup.The

contentvariesforseveralreasonsincluding:

inconsistent/variableinitialuse; randomuseofwastepiecesandoffcutsbybuilders;

previousunrecordedremovalofasbestos;

modificationsofpropertiesbytenants(presentandpast)andhousing

associations(removingandaddingACMs).

62Domesticdwellingsoftenfallintoparticulararchetypalgroupsintermsofstyle,

designandage,egflatswithinblockswouldgenerallybesimilaratconstruction.

Thesefactorscanbeusedtodevelopthesurveystrategy.Thefollowing

paragraphsoutlinethegeneralstrategytouseforsurveyingdomesticproperties.

Therearethreecomponents:establishtheasbestosstatusofproperties,carryout

managementsurveysandcarryout,asnecessary,refurbishmentsurveys.

Establish asbestos status of properties63Carryoutadesk-topstudytoestablishtheprobableasbestosstatusofgroups

ofproperties.Inthisexercise,propertiescanbeplacedintoarchetypalgroups

basedonvariousparametersincludingconstructiondate(egestatesphases),

housedesignandlocation.Thesegroupsofpropertiescanbeseparatedintothe

followingcategories:asbestosfree,containACMsandpossiblycontainACMs.

Themaincriteriainvolvedhereforconcludinggroupsareasbestosfreewouldbe

anypropertyconstructedin2000orlater.Itmayalsobepossibletoconclude

thatgroupsareasbestosfreebasedonotherinformation,suchasoriginal

constructioninformation,buildingmaterialspecification,previousasbestossurveys

orremovalsorotherrecords.Theevidenceforthiswouldneedtobestrongand

recordscomplete.Thesesourcesofinformationwouldalsobeusedtoconclude

thedefinitepresenceofasbestosinparticularpropertygroups.Otherpropertiesconstructedpre-2000shouldbeclassedaspossiblycontainingACMs(unlessthere

isevidencetoshowotherwise(egprevioussurveysetc)).



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Management surveys

64Managementsurveysshouldbecarriedoutonpropertieswhichcontain

orpossiblycontainACMs.Asbestos-freedwellingsshouldberecordedas

suchinthemanagementplananddonotneedsurveying.Howeverworkersin

suchpremises(particularlypre-2000)shouldalwaysbevigilant.Aproportion

ofpropertiesineachcategory(iecontainorpossiblycontainACMs)andeach

archetypalgroupshouldbesurveyed.Exactsamplingratioscannotbespecified,

astheproportionwilldependonthevariabilityofhousingstock.Aproportion

shouldbesurveyeduntiltheresultsdemonstrateasfarasreasonablypracticable

thatthereisconsistencyintherangeofACMsinthepropertytype.Notevery

propertywillcontainalltheACMitemsbuttherangeofACMsinthepropertytypes

willbeknown.Everynon-surveyedpropertyhasthepotentialtocontainallthe

ACMsintherangeandtheACMsshouldbemanagedonthatbasis.Wherethere

isconsiderablevariability,theratiosurveyedwillbehigh.

65Informationfromthemanagementsurveyscanbeenhancedwithdatafrom

moreintrusivesurveyswhenthecircumstancesallow,egwhenpropertiesarevacant.Informationfromrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysshouldbeusedto

updatetheasbestosregisterforthatparticulartypeofproperty.

66Managementsurveys,supportedbyrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveys,

shouldbeusedastheprimarymeansofmanagingroutinemaintenanceworkin

domesticpremises.Howeverdutyholdersmustrecognisethatthesesurveysare

limitedintheirscopeandextentofintrusionandthereforedonotprovidesufficient

informationonthepresenceofACMsforlargerscalerefurbishmentandother

improvementprojects.

Refurbishment surveys

67Refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveyswillberequiredwhererefurbishmentworkorotherworkinvolvingdisturbingthefabricofthebuildingiscarriedout.

Thesurveystrategyforrefurbishmentworksissimilartothatformanagement

surveys.Refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysshouldalsobecarriedouton

aproportionofpropertiesintheworkprogramme.Theratioagainwilldepend

onasbestosvariabilitywithinthehousingstockandmaybehighwherethereis

substantialvariation.Aproportionshouldbesurveyeduntiltheresultsdemonstrate

asfarasreasonablypracticablethatthereisconsistencyintherangeofACMs

inthepropertytypeandthereisanaccuratepictureofasbestospresence.The

refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveywillonlybenecessaryinthespecificarea/

locationwheretheworkswilltakeplace,egcupboard,partofaroom,kitchen/

bathroom.Howeverfurtherrefurbishmentanddemolitionsurveyswillbenecessary

inotherlocationswhennewimprovementschemesareproposed.Theselocalised

refurbishmentanddemolitionsurveysshouldhavethespecificpurposeofidentifyingACMsforremoval,controloravoidanceduringtherefurbishmentworks.

68Forhouseimprovementschemesandotherprojectwork,refurbishmentand

demolitionsurveysshouldbeincorporatedintotheplanningphaseofsuchworkas

faraspossible.Thiswillavoiddelaysanddisruptionetc.Wheretheworkisurgent

(egessentialoremergencymaintenance,repairandinstallation),therefurbishment

surveysmayhavetobecarriedoutjustbeforetheworkitself.Surveysshouldbe

performedwithduediligence.

69Theabovestrategyrequiresmanagementarrangementswhichreflectthe

circumstancesanduncertaintyofACMsindomesticpremises.Therewillalways

bethepotentialforACMsnottohavebeenidentifiedbeforemaintenanceandrefurbishmentworkiscarriedout.Inthesesituationsthemanagement

arrangementsmustincludethefollowing:



Health and Safety

Executive

adequateasbestostrainingoftradespeople(egtocoverawareness,including

identification)andworkprocedures;

arrangementsmustbeinplacetoensurethatasbestosregistersorrecordsare

checkedbeforeworkcommencingandthereareproceduresfordealingwith

anysuspect/suspicious/unknownmaterial,iestopwork,checkmaterialetc;

adequatesupervisiontoensureproceduresareimplementedandfollowed.



Health and Safety

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4 Survey planning

70Thekeytoaneffectivesurveyistheplanning.Thedegreeofplanningand

preparationwilldependontheextentandcomplexityofthebuildingportfolio.

Single,simpleone-storeyfactorybuildingswillbedifferentfromaschooloralarge

hospitalcomplex.Surveysonsiteswithmanyandvariabletypesofbuildingswill

needconsiderableplanningandprioritising.Theprinciplestobeusedinplanning/

structuringandconductingthesurveywillbesimilarinallcases.Thesurveyis

notaboutjustturningupandtakingsamples.Thereneedstobeasufficientinitial

exchangeofinformationbetweenthedutyholderorclientandthesurveyorand

aclearunderstandingbybothpartiesofwhatisrequired.Theinformationwillbe

usedtoformthecontractbetweenthedutyholderandthesurveyorincludingwhere

thesurveyisperformedin-house.

Box 5: Information the surveyor needs from the client

Detailsofbuildingsorpartsofbuildingstobesurveyedandsurveytype(s).

Detailsofbuilding(s)use,processes,hazards,priorityareas.

Plans,documents,reportsandsurveysondesign,structureandconstruction.

Safetyandsecurityinformation:firealarmtesting,specialclothingareas(eg

foodproduction).

Accessarrangementsandpermits.

Contactsforoperationalorhealthandsafetyissues.

Box 6: Information the client/dutyholder should expect from the surveyor

Surveyor(s)identity,qualifications,accreditationorcertificationstatus,quality

controlprocedures.

Referencesfrompreviouswork.

Insurance(professionalindemnitycover).

Costs.

Proposedscopeofwork.

Planofwork,includingplansforsamplingorasbestosdisturbance.

Timetable.

Detailsofcaveats.

Report,includingareasnotaccessed/notsurveyed).

71ThekeypointsaresummarisedinBoxes5and6.Thedutyholdershouldknowwhattoexpectfromthesurveyorandviceversa.

Dutyholders planning

72Thedutyholderneedstoconsiderthepurposeofthesurveyandwhat

informationitneedstoprovide.Thedutyholderwillbetheclientandshould

consider:

Whythesurveyisneeded?

Whattype(s)ofsurveyisneeded?

Whatinformationmustthesurveyprovide? WhatformatdoIwantthereportin(asbestosregister,drawings,electronic,

printedetc)?

Whatinformationwillthesurveyorrequire?



Health and Safety

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Surveyors planning procedure

73Thesurveyorshouldestablishthetypeofsurvey(s)required.Itmaybethat

morethanonesurveytypewillberequired,egamanagementsurveyformost

ofthepremises,butarefurbishmentsurveyinonebuildingorpartofabuilding.

Establishingthesurveytypeshouldbedoneinconsultationwiththeclient.The

surveyplanningshouldbestructuredandincludethevariousstepsoutlinedbelow.

Thesestepsarelistedseparatelybutinpracticetherewillbeoverlaportheywill

runconcurrently/simultaneously.Theremaybesomesituationswhereallthesteps

arenotnecessaryorpossible(egsmallorsimplepremises,fire-damagedpremises

andpre-purchasesurveysetc).Wherethesurveyinvolvessamplingorasbestos

disturbance,asite-specificassessmentandplanofworkisrequiredunderCAR

2006.

Step 1: Collect all the relevant information to plan the survey.

Step 2: Consider the information (desk-top study).

Step 3: Prepare a survey plan (including how data will be recorded).

Step 4: Conduct a risk assessment for the survey.

Step 1: Collect all the relevant information to plan the survey

74Itisessentialthatthesurveyorcollectsallthenecessaryrelevantinformation

toensurethatthesurveyiscompletedefficiently,effectivelyandsafely,andthatit

meetstheclientsrequirements.Theinformationshouldbegatheredasearlyas

possibletoenablethoroughplanning.Theidealsituationwouldbetoarrangeapreliminarysitemeetingandhaveawalk-throughinspection.Thisisessentialfor

largeandcomplexpremises.However,pre-surveysitevisitsmaynotalwaysbe

possible(egsmallsurveyswherethecostofasecondvisitoutweighsadvantages

orwheretherearemultiplepremises(egchainstores)anditisnotpracticaltovisit

themall).Insuchsituationstheinformationwillneedtobegatheredthroughother

means(egbycorrespondencesuchasphone/e-mail/post,orbyapreliminary

meetingandwalk-throughimmediatelybeforethesurvey).

75TheinformationrequiredislistedinBox7.Itisofteneasiertoobtainthis

informationthroughdirectdiscussionwiththeclient.Themeetingisalsoan

opportunitytoexplainfurtherthenatureofthesurveyandmaterialassessments

andagreethenatureandformatoftheresultsandreport.

76Accurateplansofthebuilding(s)andthefloorlayoutshouldbeobtainedat

thisstagewherepossible.Buildingplansshouldbeusedforcomplexpremises.

Theplansshouldcontainthemainfeaturesofeachroom,corridors,stairsetc.

Theplansshouldbemarkedwithuniquefloorandroomnumberstohelpidentify

individuallocations.Theplansshouldbecheckedforaccuracyandcompleteness.

Ifplansarenotavailable,anaccuratedrawingofthepremiseswillneedtobe

madebythesurveyorbeforethesurveystarts.Insomepremises(egsmall/

uncomplicated),asimpledrawingshowingthesalientfeaturesmaybesufficient.In

othersituations,moredetaileddrawingswillhavetobemade.Theseplanswillbe

usedtorefertoandrecordthepositionofanysuspectmaterialandthelocationof

anysamplestakenforidentification.Theplansshouldalsobeusedtolocateand

recordanysensitiveorrestrictedareasandhazards.



Health and Safety

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Box 7: Information to be collected by the surveyor

Descriptionanduseofproperty(ieindustrial,office,retail,domestic,

education,healthcareetc).

Numberofbuildings:age,typeandconstructiondetails.

Numberofrooms.

Anyunusualfeatures,undergroundsections.

Detailsaboutwhetherthebuildingshavebeenextended,adaptedor

refurbished,andiftheyhave,whentheworkwasdone.

Anyplantorequipmentinstalled.

Whetheralistedbuilding,conservationareaetc.

Extentorscopeofsurveyrequired(possiblymarkdetailsonasiteplanor

architectsdrawings).

Whetherthesurroundinggroundandassociatedbuildingsorstructuresare

tobeincludedinthescopeofthesurvey.

Currentplansordrawingsofthesite.

Previousplans,includingarchitectsoriginaldrawingsandspecificationsandsubsequentplansformajorchangesandrefurbishment.

Whetherthepremisesarevacantoroccupied.

Anyrestrictionsonaccess.

Specialrequirementsorinstructions.

Responsibilityandarrangementsforaccess.

Whethersurveydamageistobemadegood(refurbishment/demolition

surveys).

Site-specifichazards(mechanical,electrical,chemicaletc).

Responsibilityforisolationofservices,power,gas,chemicalsetc.

Workingmachineryorplant(includinglifts)tobemadesafe(theseare

coveredingreaterdetailinStep4).

Ifphotosaretobetaken. Howmanybulksampleswillbenecessary.

Thelocationofallservices,heatingandventilationducts,plantrooms,riser

shaftsandliftshafts.

Detailsofanypreviousasbestossurveys(Type1/2/3Surveys),current

asbestosregistersandallrecordsofasbestosremovalorrepairs.

InformationonpossiblerepairstoACMs,egpipe/thermalinsulation.

Historyofthesite:anybuildingspreviouslydemolished;presenceof

undergroundductsorshaftsetc.

Preliminary site meeting and walk-through inspection

77Awalk-throughinspectionwillbeextremelyvaluableforplanningthesurvey

andidentifyingpotentialissuesandproblems.Theinspectionwillenablethesurveyortobecomefamiliarwiththelayoutofthepremises,includingthelocation

ofequipmentandfurnitureetc,whichmayimpedeaccessorsampling.In

addition,itwillallowthesurveyortogainanappreciationofthesizeoftheproject

andtoestimatetheextentofsamplingrequired.Theinspectionalsoallowsany

specifichazardstoberecognisedanddiscussedtominimisetherisks.Itwillalso

enableotherpotentialissuestobeidentifiedorraised(andresolved).Possible

issuesincludeentryoraccessrestrictions(egtoceilingvoids,highareasand

crawlspaces),samplingmatters(egsamplingonlywhentheareaisunoccupied,

materialsordecorationswhichcannotbedisturbed,labellingofsamplelocations,

futureplacementofasbestoswarninglabels(seeFigure3),measuresusedto

reducedustreleaseandclean-upetc)andthepotentialneedforalicensed

asbestoscontractor(egtogainaccessthroughAIBceilingtiles).Whereaccessisrequiredtohighareas,arrangementsshouldbemadefortheuseofscaffolding,a

towercraneorMEWP.Thewalk-throughinspectionshouldalsobeusedtocheck

theaccuracyofthebuildingplans.



Health and Safety

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Figure 3Asbestoslabel

78Ifapre-surveysitemeetingandwalk-througharenotpossible,theinformation

listedinBox7shouldbecollectedthroughdiscussionandcorrespondencewiththeclient.Anyinformationnotcollectedwillneedtobeobtainedatthesiteprior

tothesurveystarting.Inaddition,plansanddrawingswillneedtobecheckedat

thistime.

Step 2: Consider the information (desk-top study)

79Thesurveyorneedstocollateandconsiderallthecollectedinformation(eg

onthepremises,buildingstructures,processes,plantandmachinerytypes)so

thesurveycanbeproperlyplanned.Thisisadesk-topexercisetoreviewthe

information,planthesurveystrategyandconsiderifthereareanygapsinthe

information.Thesurveyorshouldalsoconsidertheresourcesandequipmentetc,

whichwillbenecessarytocompletethework.Thesurveyorshouldconsidertheinformationonthefollowing:

competencytoundertakethework;

availableresources;

intendedprogrammeofworks;

expectedequipmenttobeusedforaccess:

intothestructure;

tohighlevels;

intocontaminatedareasorconfinedspaces;

throughknownACMs;

theneedforadditionaltrades(joiner,electrician,builder)togainaccessduring

thesurveyortoreinstateareasoncompletion;

bulksamplingstrategyandexpectednumberofsamplestobetakenwith

referencetothesiteplan.



Health and Safety

Executive

80Manypremiseswillberelativelysimpleandstraightforward,egoneortwo

buildingsandnoadditionallandorground,nomachinery,liftsandoutbuildings

andnopreviousrefurbishmentordemolition.Thedesk-topreviewisthetimeto

focusonthenatureofthepremisesandthetypeofsurvey.Refurbishmentand

demolitionsurveysinparticularwillneedmuchconsideration.

Step 3: Prepare a survey plan (including how data will be recorded)

81Afteralltherelevantinformationhasbeencollectedandthepreliminarysite

inspectionanddesk-topstudyhavebeencompleted,awrittenplanforthemain

surveycanbeproduced.Theplanessentiallysetsoutthecontentofthesurvey

andcanformthebasisofthecontractwiththeclient.Theplanwillnormallyspecify

thefollowing:

Scope

Thescopeofthebuildingssurvey.

Anyexternalareastobeincluded.

Anyareastobeexcluded.

Thetypeofsurvey(managementorrefurbishmentanddemolition).

AnypossibleorknownACMs,nottobeincludedinthesurvey.

Survey procedure

Thesurveyprocedure(eghowitwillbeconducted)andsamplingstrategy

including:

agreednumbersofsamplesandsamplingmethods;

agreednumbersofphotographs; proceduresformakinggood;

agreedsurveytimesofwork;

agreedsignage;

keyaccess;

agreedstartandcompletiondates;

thematerialassessmentmethodandtheparameterstobeassessed(eg

producttype,location,extent,conditionandaccessibilityofACMs);

theinformationtoberecordedandthemethodandformattobeused;

thequalityassurancechecksandprocedurestobeundertaken;

anyknownareawhereaccesswillnotbepossible.

Personnel and safety issues

Namesofsurveyors(forsecuritypurposes). Safetyprecautionsfromthesurveyorsriskassessment,includingstepsto

minimiseasbestosdisturbanceandpreventasbestosspread.

Sitesafetyproceduresforemergenciesincludingdecontaminationetc.

Report

Reportformatwithheadings(seeparagraph132).

Whatdatawillbereported.

Howthedatawillbepresented(eachroom/areashouldbeindividually

recorded).

Thewaythesurveydatawillbestored,accessedandupdated(egapaper

copyinthesitemanagersofficeoracomputerdatabaseaccessibleona

networkortheinternet). Thewayphotographicorvideorecordsandmarked-upplanswillbestored

andreported.



Health and Safety

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Howtorecordasbestoslook-alikematerials(ifnotsampled).

Otherinformationrequiredbytheclientthatmayhavebeenagreed,eg

detailingfixings.

82Thesurveyreportshouldcontainasummaryoftheresultsinaformatthat

canbeusedasthebasisforanupdatableregisterofACMs(ietheasbestos

register)andadiagram(iebuildingdrawings)indicatingthelocationsofACMs(see

paragraphs131144).Thisregisterwillneedtobereadilyaccessibletoallinvolved

ininitiatingmaintenanceorotherworkonthefabricofthebuilding.Itshouldbe

availableinhardcopyformatand,whereappropriate,storedelectronically.

Step 4: Conduct a risk assessment for the survey

83Surveyingwillpresenthealthandsafetyissuestothesurveyorsandothers.

Thereforebeforeasitesurvey,itisimportantthatanassessmentoftherisksto

thehealthandsafetyofsurveyors,samplingpersonnelandbuildingoccupantsiscarriedout.Theclientshouldprovideinformationrelatingtoanyhazardsspecific

tothesiteattheStep1stage.Thetypesofnon-asbestoshazardswhichmaybe

associatedwithsurveysinclude:

workingatheights,inceilingvoidsoronafragileroof;

workingonoperablemachineryorplant;

workinginconfinedspaces;

chemicalhazards;

electricalhazards;

biologicalhazards;

noisehazards;and

loneworking.

84Theremayalsobeotherspecifichazardsincertaintypesofpremises,eg

hospitalsandnuclearplanthaveradiologicalhazards.

85Theriskassessmentshouldbepreparedbyacompetentperson(normallythe

surveyor)anditshouldbewrittendown.Itshouldestablishallthehazardsatthe

particularpremisesandgoontoidentifythecorrectprecautionsandprocedures

inaplan of workforthesurvey.Inmanycases,surveyorswillonlyseethesite

forthefirsttimeatthesurvey,sotheywillhavelittlechancetoevaluatethesite-

specifichazardsthatareinvolvedandwillrelyontheriskassessmentmadebased

oninformationcollectedatStage1.Theriskassessmentshouldalsospecifically

addresstheasbestosissues,including:

theneedtopreventdisturbanceofACMsasfaraspossible;

theneedtopreventthespreadofACMs;

identificationofsafeworkprocedures(egcontrolstobeusedwhiletaking

samples,arrangementsforenteringcontaminatedareas);

PPEtobeused;

decontaminationanddisposalarrangements.

86 Informationonsafesystemsofworkforasbestossamplingissetoutin

paragraphs110111.

87Refurbishment/demolitionsurveysaremorelikelytopresentsomeserious

healthandsafetyhazardsduetotheintrusiveanddestructivenatureofthework,eghiddenelectricalcablesorpipesorunstablebuildings.Thehazardswillneedto

beproperlyaddressedwithproceduresinplacetodealwithemergencies.



Health and Safety

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Safe work procedures

88Ideallyasurveyshouldbeconductedwithateam(s)oftwopeople.Thishasa

numberofadvantages,forexampleinassistingwithcarryingequipmentsuchas

stepladders,labellingofsamplebagsanddocumentation.Incasesofremoteor

dangerouslocations(egderelictbuildingsoritemsidentifiedinparagraphs8384),

ateamoftwoshouldbespecifiedasasafetyrequirement.Teamworkingalso

allowsfieldtrainingofnewsurveyorstobecarriedoutinasupervisedpractical

environmentandgivesabetterchanceoffindingACMs.Furtherinformationon

safeworkingprocedurescanbefoundinparagraphs110111.

Personal protective equipment

89Disposablecoveralls,overshoesandglovesshouldbewornwhenthereis

alikelihoodofasbestoscontaminatingthesurveyorsclothingandduringbulk

sampling.Thecoverallsshouldbethetypenormallyusedforasbestoswork(ie

Type5coverall)andshouldhaveahoodandelasticatedcuffsandankles.They

canusuallybewornovernormalclothing,butshouldbecarefullyremovedafter

usebyturninginsideout,andbedisposedofasasbestoswaste.Coverallsshouldnotbereusedaftertheyhavebeentakenoff.Thecoverallsareusuallyrolled

insideouttominimisespreadsothattheoutsidemakescontactwiththeinside:if

reusedtheywillcontaminatenormalclothing.Takecaretopreventthespreadof

asbestos.Forsomedirtyorcontaminatedsites,Wellingtonbootswillberequired,

andtheseshouldbewipedorwashedcleaniftheybecomecontaminated.They

shouldalsobecleanedaftersamplingiscompleted.Forsomesites,morestringent

decontaminationproceduresmaybeneeded(seeparagraph91). There should

be an appropriate statement in the generic plan of work as to what type of

situation will trigger this, so that even at sites where a preliminary meeting

etc was not feasible, appropriate precautions can be taken by the surveyor.

90AppropriateRPEshouldbewornduringsamplingorwhensurveyingareaswheretheasbestosislikelytobedisturbedduringtheinspection(egcrawl

tunnelsandabovefalseceilings).Thesurveyandsamplingpersonnelmusthave

beenproperlytrainedintheselection,useandmaintenanceofRPEandfollow

theguidancegiveninAsbestos:The analysts guide for sampling, analysis and

clearance procedures.15InmanycasesadisposableFFP3respiratororahalfmask

fittedwithaP3filterwillprovideadequateprotection.Face-fittestsshouldbe

carriedouttoconfirmthatthemaskfitsthewearer.

Decontamination and disposal arrangements

91Ifthesurveyorhastoenterareaswherethereissignificantcontamination

(egthermalinsulationincrawltunnels,sprayinsulationinceilingvoids),thereisa

greaterpotentialforcontaminationofclothingandfootwear.Theriskassessment

musttaketheseconditionsintoaccount,asadditionalsafetyprecautionsanddecontaminationprocedureswillbeneeded.Itmayinvolveahigherstandardof

personalprotection(egpoweredfull-facepiecerespiratorfittedwithaP3filter)and

morecomprehensivedecontaminationprocedures(eguseofadecontamination

unit).Whereentryintotheselocationsisnecessary,surveyorsmustbeadequately

trainedintheuseofhigh-performanceRPEandindecontaminationprocedures

(decontaminationproceduresarecoveredinAsbestos: The analysts guide

for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures).Surveyorsshouldnotwear

theirownclothesundercoverallsinthesecircumstances.Inaddition,there

shouldbeappropriatediscussionbetweenthesurveyorandclienttoensurethe

relevantdecontaminationproceduresareemployed.Ifsignificantcontamination

isunexpectedlyencounteredinthecourseofthesurvey,thenemergency

proceduresshouldbeimplemented,egleavetheareaanddiscusswiththeclient.



Health and Safety

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5 Carrying out the survey

(surveying)Introduction

92Surveysshouldbecarriedoutmethodically,systematicallyanddiligentlyto

makesureACMsarenotmissedandallareasofthepremisesareinspected.

Buildingplansshouldbeusedtopreparethesurveystrategyandforchecking

progressthroughthepremises.Plansshouldbeinspectedtomakesurebuilding

featuresandservices(egvoids,cavities,risers,ducting,undercroftsetc)are

included.Therearevariousoptionsforasystematicsurveyinspection.One

exampleisshowninBox8.

93EachareashouldbesurveyedwithduecaretoavoidmissinganyACMs.

Surveyorsshouldbeinquisitiveanduseinitiative.Materialsshouldbetappedand

prodded.Everythingshouldbecheckedandinspected.Donotpresumeeveryitem

isthesamejustbecauseitlookssimilar.Thisisparticularlyrelevantwhenassuming

itemsarenon-asbestos.Sampleandtakephotographsasyougoalong.Lookout

forunusual,potentialsourcessuchasoversprayorpackers.Allowenoughtimefor

thesurvey.Itisgoodpracticetosurveyinpairsietwopeopleworkingtogether,

withbothinspectingoneareaatthesametime.Recheckareaswhicharecomplex

orhavemanyitems(egplantrooms).ACMswillbemissedwheresurveyorsare

tired,rushedormakeassumptions.Doafinalwalkthrough,checkingnotesagainst

plans.Largepremiseswillrequiremoredetailedsurveyprocedures,particularlyif

severalsurveyorsareinvolved,egitmaybeappropriatetocarryoutaseparatesurveyonthebuildingservices,machineryandanylargefloorandceilingvoids;

andrecapsandchecksshouldbecarriedoutfrequently.

Box 8: Example of a systematic survey inspection

External areas:

Workdownwardsfromhightolow.

Workfromtheperipheryinwards.

Internal areas:

Workupwardsfrombasementtoroof.

Inspecteachareaindividually.

Workaroundeachareaclockwisefromthedoorofentry. Inspecteachcomponentinsideeachcompartmentinthefollowingorder:

ceiling,walls,floors,fixturesandfittings,equipmentandservices.

Lookateachitemindividually.

General:

Checkandinspecteverything.

Sampleandtakephotographsasyougoalong.

Recheckareaswhicharecomplexorhavemanyitems.

Doafinalwalk-through,checkingnotesagainstplans.

Types, location and appearance of asbestos-containing building products:Appendices

94Appendices23providedetailedinformationonACMsinbuildings.Appendix

2summarisesthemaintypesandusesofACMsinthefabricofabuildingand

infixedinstallationssuchasheating,waterandelectricalsystems.Itliststhe



Health and Safety

Executive

mainproducttypes,theirlocationanduse,asbestoscontent,datelastusedand

commontradeorproductnames.Theproducttypesarelistedapproximately

inorderoftheirabilitytoreleasefibresassumingnosurfacetreatmentshave

beenapplied.Thelocationsofmanyoftheseproductsinbuildingsisshown

diagrammaticallyinAppendix3togetherwithanextensivepicturegalleryofmany

asbestosproductsasanaidtoidentifyingACMs.

Older industrial machinery and plant

95Olderequipmentislikelytocontainasbestosduetoitsageorhigher

performancerequirements.Theequipmentisalsolikelytoneedservicingand

maintenance.Thesurveyorshouldinspecttheaccessiblepartsofmachinery

andplantwhichprovideheatandelectricalinsulation,high-performanceseals

andfrictionalperformance(egdrivingbelts,clutches,brakesandbearings).The

surveyorshouldnotsampleorworkonanymachineryunlessqualifiedtodoso.

Engineersormaintenancepersonnelmaybeabletohelpinthesesituations.

Ifsamplingisnotcarriedout,theequipmentshouldbepresumedtocontain

asbestosunlessthereisevidencethatitcontainsnon-asbestosmaterials.

Older consumer electrical products

96Olderconsumer-typeindustrialelectricalproductsmayalsocontainsome

ACMs(eghairdryers,irons,washingmachines,dishwashers,tumbledryers).

Howeverastheasbestosinthistypeofequipmentisnotreadilyaccessibleand

presentsonlyaverylowrisk,itisnotpracticaltoinspectorsampleforit.However,

productswhichareusedfororrequiresignificantheatinsulationshouldbe

inspectedduringthesurvey.Thesewillincludesimmeringmats,ironstands,fire

curtainsandblankets,catalyticgasheaters,alltypesofwarmair,storageorradiant

heaters,andcookerdoorseals.

What to assess and record97ThemanagementsurveyrequiresthattheconditionoftheACMsandtheir

abilitytoreleasefibresareassessed(ieamaterialassessment).Therefore,for

amanagementsurvey,theinformationlistedinBox9shouldbeobtainedand

recordedforeachACMorpresumedorsuspectACM.Refurbishmentand

demolitionsurveysnormallyrequirelessinformationasdetailsofACMconditionare

notrequired(seeBox10butnotetimereference).

Box 9: Information required for a management survey

Asbestosproducttype(s).

Locationofthematerial(s).

Extent(orquantity)ofthematerial(s).

Asbestostype(s). Accessibilityand/orvulnerabilityofthematerial(s).

Amountofdamageordeterioration.

Surfacetreatment(ifany).

Box 10: Information* required for a refurbishment or demolition survey

Asbestosproducttype(s).

Locationofthematerial(s).

Extent(orquantity)ofthematerial(s).

Asbestostype(s).

*Wheretherefurbishmentordemolitionworkwillnot

takeplaceforasignificantperiodafterthesurvey(egthreemonths),thentheinformationrequiredfora

managementsurveyshouldbeobtained(seeparagraph52).



Health and Safety

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Presumed ACMs

98Ifasampleisnottaken,theremustalsobeapresumptionmadewhetherthe

materialisasbestosornon-asbestos.Surveyorsmayvisuallyassesstheedgesand

damagedareasofsuspectmaterialsandrecordthefollowing:

whethervisiblefibresarepresentoncloseinspection(seeAsbestos: The

analysts guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures);

thecolourofthefibres,ifvisible;and

whetherfibresarevisuallyconsistentwithasbestos(egformbundleswith

splayedends).

99Somematerials,liketexturedplasters,paintsandvinylfloortiles,maycontain

veryfinedispersedchrysotileasbestoswhichmaynotbeseenbyeyeorwith

amagnifyingglass,andthesematerials(ifold)willhavetobepresumedto

containasbestosunlesstheyaresampledandcarefullyanalysedbyacompetent

laboratory.Asimportedmaterialsmayhavecontainedchrysotileasbestosuntil

1999andlaboratoriesoftenmissthefineasbestos,someadditionalchecksmaybenecessarywiththesetypesofmaterials.Otherusefulcharacteristics(egsurface

texture,soundwhenknocked,warmthtotouch,surfacehardness/deformationwith

aprobe)mayalsobeusedbyexperiencedsurveyorstohelpcomparethematerial

withothermaterialstheyhavepreviouslyencounteredandhadsamplesidentified.

Unlessthesurveyorisconvincedthatthereisadequateevidencetoconcludethat

thematerialisasbestos-free(egplaster,plasterboard,woodetc),apresumptionor

strongpresumptionshouldbemadethatitisanACM.

Asbestos type

100Thematerialassessmentrequiresinformationonthetypeofasbestos.Inthe

absenceofanalyticaldataandwheresimilarproductshavenotbeenidentifiedin

thesurvey,themostlikelyasbestostypemustbeallocatedbasedontheproducttypesandageinAppendix2.Itmayalsobepossibletoobtaininformationon

thetypeofasbestosfromcloseinspectionofthematerial,egiffibresarevisible

intheproduct,thesecangivesomeadditionalclu

Documents

Asbestos the Survey Guide