Asbestos Surveys
Management Survey
The Management Survey is required to manage ACM's during the normal occupation and use of premises. The duty-holder can make a Management Survey where the premises are simple and straightforward. Otherwise, a surveyor is needed.
A Management Survey aims to ensure that:
Nobody is harmed by the continuing presence of ACM's in the premises or its equipment.
That any ACM's remain in good condition
That nobody disturbs it accidentally.
It involves minor intrusion and minor asbestos disturbance to make a Materials Assessment.
Refurbishment / Demolition Survey
The Refurbishment / Demolition Survey is required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbished or demolished. The Survey does not need a record of the ACM's condition. The survey aims to ensure that nobody will be harmed by working on ACM's on the premises. Such work will be done by the right contractor in the correct way.
The survey must locate and identify all ACM's before any structural work begins at a stated location or on stated equipment at the premises. It involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance. The area surveyed must be vacated and a Licensed Contractor may need to assist with the survey. Coventry Property Surveys can arrange this and will ensure that the area is certified fit for reoccupation after the survey.
Scope
The purpose of the survey is to make a 'Material Assessment’. Any materials suspected as containing asbestos will be sampled.
These samples will then be sent to a laboratory to ascertain if the material contains asbestos, and what type it is.
Our surveyor will then compile a full-colour report, including the laboratory analysis, and then give guidance on how to manage the material.
Facts about Asbestos
Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the roads.
Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure. However, asbestos is not just a problem of the past, it can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now.
Legislation
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006) and more specifically Regulation 4: ‘Duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic properties’ sets a legal requirement for owners and occupiers of non-domestic buildings to have an Asbestos Survey and up to date Asbestos Register in place.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 came into force on 6 April 2012, updating previous asbestos regulations to take account of the European Commission’s view that the UK had not fully implemented the EU Directive on exposure to asbestos (Directive 2009/148/EC).
The above regulations have now been updated. Please click here for more information.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 place an absolute legal “Duty to Manage” asbestos in non- domestic premises. Coventry Property Surveys can assist with this by providing the relevant surveys for your needs and we also offer assistance with developing Asbestos Management Plans.
In addition to criminal, civil and HSE sanctions for non-compliance, property transactions are often delayed because the owner and/or occupier has failed to have an assessment carried out to comply with the law, and has to address this before being able to proceed with a sale or letting of premises.
Failure to comply with the regulations can result in criminal and civil liability including the payment of a fine of up to £20,000 per offence.
Fines can be unlimited.