Devon & Dorset Building Management Limited

Asbestos Surveying 

We are pleased to offer our clients the full range of Asbestos Surveys as defined within the HSE document “MDHS 100 Surveying, Sampling & Assessment of Asbestos-Containing Materials”, these three types are as follows:

TYPE 1: Location & Assessment Survey

(Presumptive Survey)

The purpose of this type of survey is to locate as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACM’s in the building and assess their condition. This type of 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 however will bear potential additional costs for the management for some materials presumed to contain asbestos, that later proves through analysis a non-asbestos-containing material. All areas should be accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable (e.g. above false ceilings and inside risers, service ducts, lift shafts, etc) or must be presumed to contain asbestos. Any material 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 presumed to contain asbestos must be assessed.

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

The purpose and procedures used in this type of 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 judgment. 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 a Type 1 survey has been completed.

Type 3: Full access sampling and identification survey (Pre-Demolition/Major Refurbishment Surveys)

This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACM’s in the building and may involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify possible ACMs and estimates of the volume and surface area of ACMs made. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACM’s from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment so 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.

Good Advice

When considering surveys Although different types of survey can be specified and used depending on the circumstances, it is important that the building owner, employer and the surveyor know exactly what type of survey is needed to be carried out and what the specifications for each type are and in which areas they are to be used. It is recommended that the type of survey used conforms to a standard (e.g. the MDHS 100), otherwise interpretation of the survey reports may be difficult and the management plan produced may not adequately minimise the risks involved.