What Happens In An Asbestos Survey In Devon

If you own or manage a property in Devon, South West England, it may be important to get an asbestos survey done. Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon is a licensed asbestos survey company in Devon that provides comprehensive and affordable asbestos surveys for residential and commercial properties. This landing page will give you an overview of what an asbestos survey is, why it is important, and what to expect during an asbestos survey with Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon.

About Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon

Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon is a leading asbestos survey company in Devon that specializes in providing affordable asbestos survey solutions. The company is fully licensed and insured and is committed to providing high-quality and reliable services to the clients. As a licensed asbestos survey company in Devon, the team at Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon is trained to identify and assess the presence of asbestos in your property and provide you with a report with recommendations for the next steps.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in building construction from the 1940s to the 1980s until its carcinogenic properties were discovered. Asbestos was widely used in the building industry because it has excellent insulation properties and is highly resistant to heat, chemicals, and abrasion. However, the fibers in asbestos can easily become airborne and when inhaled, can cause serious health problems. As a result, the use of asbestos in construction and building materials was banned in the UK in 1999.

Why is asbestos survey important?

An asbestos survey is important because it helps to identify the presence of asbestos in your property. If your property was built before the year 2000, there is a likelihood that it may contain asbestos. An asbestos survey is an important first step in managing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and complying with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR).

By undertaking an asbestos survey, you can identify where asbestos is located and what condition it is in. This helps to determine the potential risk of exposure to asbestos fibers and what control measures may be necessary. An asbestos survey report can also help to inform the best course of action for managing asbestos in the property.

Types of Survey and Survey Management

There are two types of asbestos surveys: Management Survey and Refurbishment/Demolition Survey.

Management Survey

A management survey is what is typically used to identify asbestos-containing materials in a buildings current state. It is used to determine if there are asbestos-containing materials within the building, if they are in the correct condition or if they pose a hazard, where they are, and what type of asbestos is contained.

Refurbishment/Demolition Survey

Refurbishment/Demolition Survey, on the other hand, is conducted when a building is about to undergo changes, such as refurbishment or demolition. This type of survey is full intrusive and it aims to inspect all areas of the building, including those that are not accessible. The surveyor will take samples of any suspected asbestos-containing material for analysis.

What Happens in an Asbestos Survey?

During an asbestos survey, surveyors from Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon will visit your property to inspect and survey the building thoroughly. The surveyors will then collect samples from each asbestos-containing material that they have located. Each sample is carefully labelled and taken to a UKAS accredited laboratory for analysis.

Samples can either be presumed or analyzed, a presumed sample will be taken when it cannot be disputed that the material sampled contains asbestos, and in these instances, no laboratory analysis is necessary. The surveyor will note this on the report as a presumed sample. The samples analyzed in the UKAS accredited laboratory will give a breakdown of the percentage of asbestos fibers present in the sample that was taken.

After the survey, the survey report will be prepared by the surveyors at Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon. Depending on what was uncovered in the survey, the report will include one of the following types of surveys:

Type 1 Survey

This type of survey is usually used when there is a need to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and to manage them appropriately.

Type 2 Survey

This survey is conducted when ACMs have been identified but remain in good condition. The survey may involve taking some samples of the ACMs to confirm what type of asbestos-containing material it is.

Type 3 Survey

This survey is required where any intrusive work is planned to be done in the property, such as alterations or demolition. It is also used when the building is undergoing repairs or maintenance, and asbestos-containing materials may have been disturbed. This type of survey will be detailed and may require a preparatory meeting between surveying team and any contractor that will be carrying out work on the site.

Why is an Asbestos Survey Report Important?

An asbestos survey report is important as it outlines the types of asbestos-containing materials found in the property, including where they are located within the building. The report recommends the best course of action for managing asbestos-containing materials that are present in the property.

Asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition and not causing any harm can usually be left in place. However, damaged or deteriorating asbestos-containing materials must be removed or repaired as soon as possible to avoid any risk of exposure.

What do you need to do?

If your property was built before 2000, it is highly likely that there may be asbestos-containing materials present in the building. If you are planning any refurbishments, building work or maintenance, it is important to have the property surveyed before commencing any work.

To book an appointment for an asbestos survey or for any inquiries, please contact Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon at 01962 458066 or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively, visit our website at affordable-asbestos-removal-devon.co.uk for more information.