The new “Duty to Manage” Asbestos Regulations made law in May 2004 places duties and expectations on companies, landlords, local councils and all Duty holders of all non-domestic property in the UK. 

The person responsible for the maintenance of any non-domestic property has now an added burden, i.e. they have a legal requirement to manage the asbestos in that building.  

West Coast Surveys can offer a cost-effective solution to managing asbestos hazards - our asbestos related services comprise of the following: 

  • Conducting MDHS 100 Asbestos Surveys - Types 1, 2 & 3.
  • Drawing up Asbestos Registers for buildings
  • Asbestos Management Plans tailored to individual needs
  • Asbestos Risk Assessments
  • Expert asbestos removal / encapsulation guidance
  • Asbestos bulk sampling

Asbestos Survey Types 

 Asbestos Surveys are required to be carried out in accordance with the guidelines as set out in MDHS 100 which details Surveying, Sampling and Assessment of Asbestos Containing Material in the Health and Safety Executive’s “Methods of the Determination of Hazardous Substances”.

There are 3 types of asbestos survey that can be carried out, depending on what is required:

There are three types of asbestos survey referred to in HSG 248.

 Asbestos Survey Type 1: Location and assessment survey (presumptive survey)

 The purpose of the survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACM’s in the building and access their condition. This survey essentially defers the need to sample and analyse for asbestos (or the absence thereof) until a later time (e.g. prior to demolition or major refurbishment). The duty holder bears potential additional costs of management for some non-asbestos-containing materials. All areas should be accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable or must be presumed to contain asbestos. Any materials, which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos, must be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to contain asbestos, there should be a strong presumption that it does. All materials, which are either presumed or strongly presumed to contain asbestos, must be assessed for potential fibre release.

 Asbestos Survey Type 2: Standard sampling, identification and assessment survey (sampling survey)

 The purpose and procedures used in this survey are the 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 surveyor’s judgement. If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos, other similar homogeneous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to 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.

 Asbestos Survey Type 3: Full access sampling and identification survey (pre-demolition / major refurbishment survey)

 This type of survey is used 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. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible ACMs. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering for the removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment and estimates of the quantities of ACMs are made. The survey does not assess the condition, surface treatment or accessibility of the asbestos or provide material risk assessments for potential fibre release.

 Asbestos Register

  It is a mandatory requirement to keep an Asbestos Register for a building, which is auditable along with normal Health & Safety at Work documentation.

WCS Ltd have an highly experienced team of Asbestos Surveyors who are well versed in carrying out all types of Asbestos Survey - the most appropriate type of asbestos survey will depend on client/property specific requirements.