Asbestos Survey Reports

An asbestos refurbishment survey in action in Northampton

Do you know what should be in an asbestos survey report? In this article I will outline what information should be provided if the survey has been carried out in line with the HSE guidance document HSG 264.

Whilst it is not a legal requirement to have an asbestos survey carried out, it is a legal requirement to manage asbestos in all non-domestic premises. This responsibility will be for the person who owns the building or has the responsibility for its maintenance and repair of that building. An asbestos survey and therefore an asbestos survey report is the first step towards managing your asbestos risk.

The purpose of an asbestos survey report is to provide you with enough information so that an asbestos register, risk assessment and management plan can all be put into place. It is therefore important that asbestos survey reports are standardised and contain the same information regardless of who has completed it. This was the sole intention of the release of HSG 264.

The asbestos survey should identify the following:

  • The location of asbestos containing materials within your building
  • The particular type of asbestos product
  • The particular type of asbestos fibre
  • The condition of the asbestos materials

This information is then put together into an asbestos survey report which should include a comprehensive account of your situation.

At the beginning of an asbestos survey report an executive summary should give a brief overview of the report, including all of the key information such as location of identified ACMs, areas not accessed and notes on actions.

An introduction should then explain the scope and objectives of the asbestos survey report as well as describing the nature and age of the buildings concerned.

A section containing all of the general site information is then included which sets out the names and addresses of the people and buildings concerned, the date of the survey and the report as well as detailed descriptions of the areas included and excluded.

The survey results should be presented in a format which provides an ease of understanding with diagrams showing areas where ACMs were located and/or presumed. Details will also be included about the type of ACMs, the extent, and level of indication. This section may also include photographs which are beneficial to clients

The results section should also include the accessibility of ACMs, the amount of damage or deterioration, surface treatment if any has been carried out, material assessment score and any action required from the material assessment. This must be provided for all management surveys and where refurbishment surveys and demolition surveys are required for over six months.

The asbestos survey report should then include a conclusion and actions section which summarises the rooms where ACMs were found and any action that is required.

Also provided within an asbestos survey report is the bulk analysis results, which includes the certificate of analysis showing the actual results of the samples taken.

The final section of an asbestos survey report should be the plans section. The plans should include all areas which have been inspected during the asbestos survey. The plans should highlight asbestos locations and locations not inspected and presumed to contain asbestos.

If your asbestos survey report doesn’t contain the above, then it may need updating? We provide free advice and guidance for any asbestos issue. All of our highly trained consultants can provide competitive quotations to meet your requirements.

Get in contact today – Contact us or Get a survey quote!

Neil Munro

I work in a dual role at Acorn Analytical Services focused primarily on growing and leading the business from our Northampton office base. My focus is on overseeing all sales, marketing and financial activities from Northampton. I assist clients with high-level asbestos management strategies and training. Together with Ian Stone I host our weekly podcast – Asbestos Knowledge Empire and I'm Co-author of Asbestos The Dark Arts and Fear and Loathing of Health and Safety.

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