Asbestos Refurbishment Survey | Asbestos R&D Survey

AMC Asbestos offer asbestos refurbishment surveys across the UK and Ireland. Our experienced asbestos surveyors have supported schools, colleges and universities, hospitality businesses, manufacturers and many other industries safely manage their refurbishment projects.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), refurbishment surveys are mandatory before any significant work, such as renovations, refurbishments, or demolition, are undertaken in buildings that contain, or may contain, asbestos.

This planned work could disturb asbestos containing materials (ACMs), resulting in a significant danger to health through the accidental release of asbestos fibres. Refurbishment surveys provide business owners and the construction team the information they need to manage this risk appropriately.

If you’re planning work on your building and it was built before the year 2000, when the use of asbestos was banned, please get in touch to arrange your survey.

When are asbestos refurbishment surveys required?

If there is asbestos on site, or if there is likely to be asbestos in usually inaccessible areas, a refurbishment survey is required before any work can begin. Pre-refurbishment surveys are needed to prevent exposure during construction work.

For example, if a hotel wants to refurbish its on-site restaurant, a refurbishment survey will be conducted to determine the presence of asbestos in materials like flooring, ceiling tiles, and insulation. These surveys are designed to uncover hidden asbestos-containing materials that might be disturbed during the planned work.

The survey is only required to be conducted on the area that the work will take place. Whenever we undertake an asbestos survey for a business, we aim to keep disturbance to normal operational functions to an absolute minimum.

Who can carry out the survey?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides clear guidance on asbestos surveys under CAR 2012. It highlights the importance of having a refurbishment survey conducted by a competent and accredited asbestos surveyor who can properly assess risks and ensure the safety of those working on the site.
All our refurbishment surveyors are fully accredited to give our clients the confidence in our commitment to health and safety. This is the UK’s gold standard accreditation body and upholds strict criteria for its members.

If, once the survey results are returned, there is asbestos on the site that must be removed before work can begin, it is important that you employ a licensed asbestos contractor to do so. Depending on the type of work being undertaken, the HSE must be notified at least 14 days before the renovations are due to start.

What will the survey include?

Pre-work surveys are more intrusive than ongoing asbestos management ones. Sampling is likely to be required from materials suspected to contain asbestos, including floors, ceilings, walls, and insulation. These will be sent to a laboratory for testing before the report can be finalised.

A surveyor will also have to access usually hidden or difficult to reach areas that will be disturbed during the planned work to ensure there are no asbestos containing materials that would pose a threat. They may need to get inside cavities and ceiling spaces during their inspection.

Once completed, the survey will have identified all ACMs in the renovation area and assessed their condition. The business owner can expect to receive a full report of the findings with details of any actions required before the work can begin.

Post survey report and required actions

When your surveyor has had all the results back from the samples taken from materials on your site, they will create a detailed report of their findings. In this document, you can expect to have information on:

The location of the ACMs
The type and condition of the materials
Risk assessments for each ACM
Any recommendations on how to manage or remove the asbestos safely

It is then your responsibility to manage the risk posed by any asbestos containing materials. If asbestos is found in poor condition and at risk of releasing fibres, it must be removed or repaired by a licensed contractor before any work starts.

Where ACMs are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, they may be able to remain in place with ongoing monitoring and management. However, appropriate control measures must be implemented to always prevent exposure to asbestos fibres. If work is going to disturb the ACMs, specific procedures must be followed to avoid exposure.

Your duty to manage asbestos

Under CAR 2012 regulations, refurbishment surveys are mandatory before any significant work takes place in buildings that may contain asbestos. These surveys are crucial for identifying asbestos containing materials that could be disturbed during work and ensuring they are managed safely.

Failure to comply with asbestos health and safety regulation poses a significant risk to health for anyone working on or visiting the site. Companies can face very large fines and the individuals responsible for the safe management can face imprisonment for negligence.

If you are planning renovations to your buildings and there could be asbestos present, please contact AMC Asbestos. We can arrange your refurbishment survey and keep you on the right side of health and safety law.

Asbestos refurbishment surveys

When are asbestos refurbishment surveys required?

Who can carry out the survey?

What will the survey include?

Post survey report and required actions

Your duty to manage asbestos