The Process, Step By Step
- Review construction drawings and define the work boundary.
- Vacate the survey area and arrange safe intrusive access.
- Investigate the affected fabric and record unresolved locations.
- Provide the report to the project team before construction starts.
Match The Survey To The Project
A refurbishment or demolition survey investigates materials within the work area, including those concealed by finishes and building fabric. The purpose is to identify asbestos that could be disturbed by the proposed construction. A management report for normal occupation does not provide the same level of investigation.
Send the actual scope of works, drawings and any available specifications. A small service penetration and a whole-building strip-out have different boundaries. If the construction design is still changing, identify the uncertainties so that the survey scope can be updated before contractors begin.
Arrange Vacant And Safe Access
Intrusive inspection can require opening up finishes, lifting floors or accessing concealed service routes. The survey area must be vacated while this work takes place. Agree how the area will be isolated from people working elsewhere in the building and who controls access.
Services, structural hazards and restricted spaces need planning before the visit. Tell the surveyor about live equipment, contaminated areas and fragile surfaces. Responsibility for making good should be written into the scope, since an intrusive investigation can leave openings that need separate repair.
Investigate Concealed Locations
The required investigation follows the intended construction rather than a simple room checklist. Wall cavities, floor build-ups, service risers and ceiling layers may matter depending on what the contractor will disturb. Each inaccessible area must be identified clearly in the report.
Where access was not achieved, do not treat a broad conclusion as permission to start work. Resolve the missing investigation or plan around the remaining uncertainty with competent advice. An exclusion inside the demolition footprint can have a direct effect on programme, cost and worker safety.
Use Findings In The Construction Plan
Give the report to the project team before tendering or starting enabling work. The findings can inform removal specifications, sequencing and site controls. Confirm that material locations can be matched to drawings and that sample references remain clear when plans are revised.
The surveyor must confirm the investigated area is fit for reoccupation after the survey. That confirmation is separate from any later removal clearance. Keep both records with your project documentation, and check that any change in construction scope has not taken the work beyond the surveyed boundary.
Cost And Programme Considerations
Survey cost depends on the project footprint, depth of intrusive access and complexity of the premises. Vacant access, service isolation and specialist access equipment can affect the programme. Sampling, reporting and any return visits should be explained in the proposal.
Avoid planning a start date around an assumed survey turnaround. Leave time to address findings and procure removal where required. Use our enquiry form to provide the site location, drawings available and proposed works, so the next discussion starts with the information needed to set a suitable scope.
Your Project Handover Checklist
Before accepting the final documents, check that the site address, inspected locations and agreed scope match the instruction. Ask for any restrictions to be explained in terms of the work you intend to carry out, with a clear next action for unresolved areas.
Keep a controlled copy where your facilities and project teams can find it. When responsibility passes to a new manager or contractor, transfer the records with the building information and explain any outstanding actions. A useful handover makes the limits of the evidence as clear as the findings.
Standards And Guidance
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 govern work with asbestos. The required competence, methods and records depend on the task. Use the relevant HSE guidance below alongside a site-specific assessment, and ask the proposed firm to confirm the credentials and scope appropriate to your instruction.
Refurbishment Surveys Questions
Which Asbestos Survey Do I Need?
The asbestos survey you need depends on the purpose of the inspection. A management survey supports ongoing occupation and maintenance, while a refurbishment or demolition survey investigates the fabric affected by planned works. Share your drawings and proposed activities before booking so the investigation can cover the right areas and identify access requirements.
How Much Does A Survey Cost?
Asbestos survey cost depends on the building, the investigation required and the access arrangements. Sample numbers, plant rooms, voids and occupied areas can all affect the scope. Ask for a proposal that identifies the survey type, deliverables and exclusions, then compare those details. Provide drawings and a description of the premises for a meaningful quotation.
Related Asbestos Services
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