How we can Help with Asbestos Safety

Differing Types of Asbestos Survey

We carry out different types of asbestos survey depending on the building's circumstances. We ensure that the building owner/employer know exactly what type and specification of survey is to be carried out, where and why.

To make the interpretation of the asbestos survey results easier to interpreted for all concerned parties, we adopt the UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) MDHS100 standard for this.

All areas are accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable (e.g. above false ceilings and inside risers, service ducts, lift shafts, etc) or will be presumed to contain asbestos. Any material which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos will be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to contain asbestos, we will make a strong presumption that it does.

In larger premises, a mixture of survey types may be appropriate – e.g. a boiler house due for demolition will require a pre-demolition survey, while offices at the site may only have a presumptive survey.

Asbestos Surveys Explained

The table below summarises the main types of asbestos survey we carry out.

Type 1 (T1) - Asbestos Location and Assessment Survey (Presumptive Survey)
Purpose of Survey	Why do it?	Scope
To locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the building and assess their condition.	Defers the need to sample and analyse for asbestos (or its absence) until a later time (e.g. prior to demolition or major refurbishment).	All materials which are presumed to contain asbestos will be assessed.
Type 2 (T2) - Standard Sampling, Identification and Assessment Survey (Sampling Survey)
Purpose of Survey	Why do it?	Scope
Same as for Type 1, except that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos.	Samples from each type of suspect ACM found are collected and analysed to confirm or refute the our surveyor’s judgement. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos, we will presume that other similar materials used in the same way in the building contain asbestos. Less homogeneous materials will require a greater number of samples. The number should be sufficient for the surveyor to make an assessment of whether asbestos is or is not present.	Sampling may take place simultaneously with the survey, or as in the case of some larger surveys, can be carried out as a separate exercise, after the Type 1 survey is complete.
Type 3 (T3) - Full Access Sampling and Identification Survey (Pre-demolition/Major Refurbishment Surveys)
Purpose of Survey	Why do it?	Scope
To locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach.	1) To identify possible ACMs and estimate the volume and surface area of ACMs. 2) To be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment.	The survey does not assess the condition of the asbestos, other than to note areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be expected to be present.

If you would like to arrange for a survey, please contact us on the numbers above, or use the enquiry page to send us a message.