Professional Asbestos Survey Luton

The answer to this will really depend on what you are looking to use asbestos information for.

There are three types of asbestos surveys -

Asbestos Management Survey - These surveys are used to identified asbestos materials within a property where you are looking to safely manage asbestos. This is usually the first step towards compliance under the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic properties.

The purpose of these surveys is to locate the presence, extent and conditions of suspect asbestos containing materials which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including foreseeable maintenance.

This survey will often involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance, including the collection of suspect asbestos samples. This survey is not adequate if you are planning any intrusive or destructive refurbishment or upgrades which can include major maintenance works.

Asbestos Refurbishment Survey - As the name suggests, these surveys should be undertaken prior to any refurbishment, intrusive upgrades or major maintenance works.

The purpose of these surveys is to locate the presence and extent of suspect asbestos containing materials where refurbishment works are planned to take place. This can be specific areas or the whole building. These surveys are completed in line with your proposed refurbishment scope of works. A key element of getting the right asbestos refurbishment survey is having a detailed and confirmed scope of works for what you are planning for your refurbishment.

These surveys are intrusive and destructive in nature and will cause damage to areas where refurbishment works are planned. These surveys can only be undertaken in unoccupied areas.

Asbestos Demolition Survey - As the name suggests, these surveys should be undertaken prior to the demolition of a building or part of it. Demolition in these terms means the complete dismantling or removal of a building.

The purpose of these surveys is to locate the presence and extent of suspect asbestos containing materials where demolition will take place.

These surveys are fully intrusive and destructive in nature and will cause significant damage to the building which can leave locations irreparable. These surveys can only be undertaken in unoccupied areas and in most cases can not be reoccupied after.

This depends on a number of factors. When determining how much an asbestos survey costs some factors such as the type of building, the use of the building, the size of the building (square metre/square foot) and the age of the building need to be considered.

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It is not a legal requirement to have an asbestos survey. However, it is a legal requirement to "manage asbestos" in all non-domestic premises. This is detailed under Regulation 4, Duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises - Control of Asbestos Regulation 2012.

Asbestos surveys have an important role in assisting you with safely managing the asbestos within your building. They are usually considered the first step towards managing asbestos. To effectively manage your asbestos and prevent people from damaging or disturbing it, you first need to know where it is, what extent it is and what condition it is in. An asbestos survey will provide this information.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends the use of UKAS accredited asbestos surveying organisations.

If a company is not UKAS accredited it is the person employing the company responsibility to check they are competent to complete their work.​

How you can check surveyor competence?​

Is there sufficient training, qualifications and experience?​

• Training – proven time served in the field training​
• Qualifications - CCP Asbestos, BOHS P402, RSPH Surveying​
• Experience - proven time served in the field carrying the surveys out – UKAS businesses is a minimum of 6 months full time surveying – usually longer because of the audit process (5 per category – Domestic, Commercial, Industrial)​
• References – for similar work types ​

Do they hold knowledge of the specific tasks and risks?​

• Can they prove knowledge of similar types of surveys within similar building types?​

Can they prove independence, impartiality and integrity?​

• Policies in place? How is this checked?​ Does the company undertake asbestos removal, if they do, are the asbestos surveyors impartial? Does the asbestos surveyors recommendations sway towards asbestos works being needed if the company offers removals themselves?

Do they have an adequate quality management system?​

• Robust systems in place? How are these checked?​

Can they confirm adherence to HSG 264?​

• Can they prove their surveying technique and reports are in line with the HSG 264 survey guide?​

Can they prove continuing professional development?​

• Refresher training​

Survey checks in place?​

• Do they have a robust auditing system in place for management systems and surveys?​

Survey reinspections in place?​

• Proportion of properties to be reinspected – 5% minimum in UKAS organisations​

An asbestos management survey completed to the required standard should only need to be carried out once. Taking into account that all areas/ locations have been accessed and taking into account any restrictions placed on to the original survey. Where areas/locations have not been surveyed, further inspections maybe required.

As part of your ongoing asbestos management, information including your asbestos records and drawings should be regularly reviewed and as a minimum every 12 months.

Any identified or suspected asbestos material must be inspected and its condition assessed periodically, to check that it has not deteriorated or been damaged. The frequency of inspection will depend on the location of the ACMs and other factors which could affect their condition. These condition checks are usually referred to as Asbestos Reinspections.

Asbestos refurbishment surveys and asbestos demolition surveys should be undertaken as and when information is required to enable the proposed works.

Ideally, asbestos surveys should be undertaken when an area is unoccupied. This is particularly important whilst undertaking asbestos refurbishment surveys and asbestos demolition surveys.

Usually, asbestos management surveys can be undertaken during normal occupancy. However, sampling of suspect materials should be undertaken whilst that specific area is unoccupied.

No, you don’t. All our surveys are fully inclusive of an unlimited number of samples. We take as many samples needed during the survey at no additional cost to you.

All the surveyors at Acorn Analytical Services have been trained to the highest industry standards and hold one of two possible qualifications:

BOHS P402 – Buildings Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos or
RSPH Level 3 – Certificate in Asbestos Surveying qualification

They also all have several years of experience in carrying out the different types of asbestos survey in a wide variety of premises. As well as asbestos qualifications and competence here is a guide to additional qualifications and resources held by the Organisation.

High Level Access – whatever the height we’re trained to get to it, safely.

• IPAF Operator 3a & 3b
• PAMMA Mobile tower

Confined Space Access – we’re trained to get into hard to reach areas, safely.

• Confined Space Entry (with Escape Sets)
• Confined Space Rescue

Construction Skills – we’re trained to work safely on any premise.

• CSCS Cards
• CITB Training

We've implemented an appropriate quality system as evidenced by our UKAS accreditations:

• Asbestos Surveys (ISO 17020)
• Laboratory Testing of Asbestos Samples (ISO 17025)
• Full details of our accreditations can be viewed here - Inspection Body & Testing

Our quality department rigorously audit our team members to ensure standards are maintained at all times. This gives you the client the reassurance that all of our team meet all of the requirements of the asbestos regulations. This is independently verified through our UKAS accreditation.

Surveys need to be carried out methodically, systematically and diligently to make sure all asbestos is identified and all areas of the premises are inspected. This can take from as little as an hour to days, weeks, months or even years to complete.

An example of an asbestos survey methodology would be:

External areas:

• Work downwards from high to low.
• Work from the periphery inwards.

Internal areas:

• Work downwards from roof to basement.
• Inspect each area individually.
• Work around each area clockwise from the door of entry.
• Inspect each component inside each compartment in the following order: ceiling, walls, floors, fixtures and fittings, equipment and services.
• Look at each item individually.

General:

• Check and inspect everything.
• Sample and take photographs as you go along.
• Recheck areas which are complex or have many items.
• Final walk-through, checking notes against plans.

Our general lead time for surveys is 1 week. However, we can mostly always accommodate any situation. We understand that you may need a super-fast turnaround to meet important deadlines. It’s not uncommon for us to provide 24-hour turnaround and we’ll always bend over backwards to help you, just tells us what you need!

This will depend on the type of the survey you’re having.

Generally, asbestos management surveys can be carried out during normal occupation with minimal disruption. If we need to take samples of suspect materials, we may need to ask you or your occupants to leave the room.

Don’t worry though because our surveyors are trained to ensure that this is completed safely and can work round your requirements to keep your operations up and running.

Asbestos refurbishment surveys and demolition surveys are intrusive. Generally, these will need to be undertaken in unoccupied areas/buildings. This really is for your safety and the safety the occupants normally present within these areas. Because of the instructive nature of these surveys, we must use intrusive surveying techniques to open elements of the building to inspect for suspect asbestos materials.

All types of surveys will involve sampling of suspect asbestos materials, unless there isn’t any present within your building. During the survey visual inspections are undertaken of all areas to be included within your survey.

Where the survey identifies a suspect material, a sample will be collected. The size, frequency and location of the samples can vary, but each sample will be about 3-5cm² or 20 cm² for textured coatings (textured coatings are usually collected from several locations of a ceiling, so we don’t removal 20cm² square section of the coating from your ceiling). Each sample location is sealed after we have taken it. This again varies dependant of material and location, however paint is the most frequently used sealant.

Asbestos refurbishment surveys and demolition surveys are intrusive and destructive and will cause damage to the building. However, the damage will always be in locations where works are planned. For example, if a ceiling is to be removed as part of a refurbishment, then our surveyors will need to create an inspection hole/holes within it

That really is up to you. Our surveyors are trained to be discreet when working within your premises. We understand that “asbestos” can be an emotive word and sometimes occupants fear the worst when they hear that word. We can change the terminology of the surveys when working on-site to help you manage that situation.

Equally, our surveyors are trained and have the knowledge to help you overcome and any awkward questions you may encounter from occupant’s whist the survey is being carried out.

On completion of the site works all data collected will be transferred to our ems database. Samples will be booked into our inhouse laboratory where they will be analysed to confirm if asbestos is present within them or not.

Once the sample results are confirmed and quality checked the reporting processed will be undertaken. This will involve collation of all the data collected, sample results will be inputted, recommendations made, and further actions provided. Plans of the survey areas will be drawn and sample results added to them.

Once the report is produced it will be quality checked by the surveyor to make sure the report is a true reflection of their findings during the survey.

All of our survey reports are produced within a guaranteed industry-beating turnaround. Make sure you tell us what you need.

This will depend on what we identify during the survey and be based on the overall asbestos risk.

Generally, air testing or monitoring would only be required if we identified damaged asbestos within your property and you required reassurance or evidence of exposure from the materials.

Air monitoring may also be required for reassurance purposes where intrusive surveys have been completed (refurbishment or demolition) and the areas are to be reoccupied following the survey.

Don’t worry we can advise you as and when this may be required, and we have the in house capability to complete this for you.

Our quality management system includes rigorous procedures to ensure the integrity of every asbestos survey we perform. All the asbestos surveys we perform are carried out in accordance with our ISO 17020 UKAS accreditation. As a fully independent asbestos consultancy, we have no links to any other asbestos company. This allows us to always provide best practice advice always with your best interest in mind.

You can engage Acorn Analytical Services in the confidence that all the requisite insurances are in place and that we have a number of procedures to cover any necessary issues which may arise during an asbestos survey.

Choosing a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited company ensures you’re appointing a competent asbestos surveying organisation that will meet your requirements.