Asbestos Survey Types

There are three types of asbestos survey and all serve different purposes. It is possible to mix the different types of survey and the options will usually be discussed fully prior to commencing the surveying project.

Type 1 Asbestos Survey
Location & Assessment (Presumptive) Survey

The aim of the type 1 asbestos survey is to locate the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in the building and to assess their condition.

The surveyor(s) will look closely at each aspect of the building with a view to identifying materials suspected as containing asbestos.

Because asbestos was used in such a wide range of building, insulation & fire-protective materials, they can crop in the most unexpected places.

Refurbishment carried out in the past might be hiding other surfaces that contain asbestos and for this reason, the surveyor will need to look into suspended ceiling voids, behind doors and into service risers.

If the surveyor cannot access these areas, the area will be presumed to contained asbestos.

Also, if it cannot be conclusively proven that certain materials do not contain asbestos, then they too will be presumed to contain asbestos.

All such materials need to be logged and their condition has to be assessed.

It is only possible to confirm or refute the presumption that a material contains asbestos by taking a small sample at or shortly after the time of the survey.

As a type 1 survey does not involve taking samples, you might wish to discuss the option of combining a type and type 2 survey before commencement of the exercise.

Type 2 Asbestos Surveys
Standard Sampling Identification and Assessment Survey

The type 2 asbestos survey is the same as a type 1 except that the surveyor will take samples of all suspected materials with a view to positively identifying that they contain asbestos.

The samples are taken by experienced asbestos surveyors, but depending on the location and types of asbestos, it might be necessary for the survey to be carried out outside of normal business hours to reduce the risk to your workforce.

Once taken, the samples are sealed into safe containers and transported to an independent asbestos analysis laboratory for microscopic examination.

The results of the sampling will be included in the surveyors report.

If asbestos is found to be in a poor condition that could present a danger to health, the surveyor will have to suspend the survey until a repair has been made to the material, or in severe cases, it has been removed.

Type 3 Asbestos Survey
Pre-Demolition / Major Refurbishment Survey

This type of survey is required prior to any major refurbishment works or when a building is to be demolished.

A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify the types of asbestos present in the building and also to calculate approximate volumes of materials involved.

This type of survey is particularly useful for the basis of tendering for the removal of ACMs from the building and as such, the survey does not assess the condition of the materials.

AsbestosSurveys.com is able to project manage asbestos removal contracts and liaise with the contractors on your behalf.

If required, we are also able to prepare tender documents and manage the tendering process for ther removal of asbestos on your behalf.

Please see the Asbestos Removal page for more information.

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