Asbestos

An asbestos survey is an inspection of a building or structure, internally and externally, in order to locate, identify and quantify asbestos containing materials. Whatever type of survey is employed, the ultimate aim is to risk assess and prevent those occupying or working within the building from coming into contact within airborne asbestos fibres.

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Your asbestos survey will help to manage asbestos in the premises. An asbestos survey will tell you:

• The location and extent of any asbestos present in your premises, or those deemed to be your place of work.
• The types of asbestos containing material present, including which of the six regulated forms of asbestos were found.
• The condition of the asbestos containing material and it’s surface treatment (management surveys). Together with the product type, these form a ‘material assessment’ score signifying the relative risk they might pose to occupants.
• A basic recommendation for further action.

Whilst asbestos has been banned in the UK since 2000, asbestos materials were widely used in previous years. If your premises was built before the year 2000, it is very possible that asbestos is present.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are clear that there is a duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings (regulation 4) and so unless you have records proving that asbestos was not used in the construction of the premises (or installed since), you’ll need to establish if it is present. The most effective way of doing so is by engaging with a UKAS accredited surveying company such as Franks Portlock.

The control of asbestos regulation makes it clear that the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises falls to the owner or any person, or organisation, that has direct responsibility for its maintenance and repair – by a lease agreement for example.

The duty holder must ensure, ultimately, that asbestos fibres are not made airbourne by general occupancy or works within the premises through careful management, risk assessment, planning, communication and training.

We appreciate that this may be daunting and we have the expertise to help you through the whole process, which begins by assessing the site through an asbestos survey.

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