When Do You Need Asbestos Survey In Devon?

If you own a property or are responsible for managing one in Devon, then you need to know about asbestos surveys. Asbestos was used widely in construction materials, especially in buildings built before the year 2000. While this material was once prized for its insulation and fire-resistant properties, it is now known to be highly dangerous to human health. To avoid exposing yourself, your employees, or your family members to asbestos, you need to know when you require an asbestos survey in Devon.

Who Should You Contact for Asbestos Surveys in Devon?

If you live or work in Devon, the South West of England, or even other parts of the UK, you will require affordable asbestos removal services. At Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon, we are a trusted local company that offers a complete range of asbestos-related services, including surveys, management, and removal. We serve both residential and commercial properties in Devon and the neighbouring areas. You can reach us via our telephone number (01962 458066) or email ([email protected]). Our website, (www.affordable-asbestos-removal-devon.co.uk) offers in-depth information on all our services.

What is an Asbestos Survey?

An asbestos survey is a professional inspection service carried out by a qualified asbestos surveyor. The surveyor will identify the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in a given building and evaluate their condition. ACMs are materials that contain asbestos fibers, which can become airborne when disturbed. Examples of ACMs include insulation materials, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roof shingles, and cement products. An asbestos survey can help to locate any ACMs in your buildings structure, such as its walls, floors, roofs or infrastructure.

Why Do You Need an Asbestos Survey?

The most important reason for needing an asbestos survey is to ensure the health and safety of the people who work or live in a building that may contain asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to several serious diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. These diseases can take many years to develop and can have extremely poor prognosis or be fatal.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 require business owners and property managers to manage the risk of asbestos exposure within their premises.

An asbestos survey is often required as part of the duty-to-manage asbestos in a building. According to the regulations, if you own or manage a non-domestic property, you are responsible for maintaining an asbestos register and an asbestos management plan. If the property was built before the year 2000, then it is likely that ACMs are present, and that an asbestos survey is needed to determine the presence and extent.

An asbestos survey is also required before any major renovation or demolition work can take place on buildings that might contain asbestos.

What Are the Different Types of Asbestos Survey?

There are two types of asbestos survey available: Management Survey and Refurbishment Demolition Survey.

Management Survey

A management survey is the most common type of survey which is used to identify asbestos-containing materials that are likely to be disturbed during normal maintenance or daily activities of a building. The main function of this survey is to ascertain the presence, location and extent of asbestos-containing materials within the premises. The survey does not include destructive investigation and materials such as wall cavities and underground ductwork are not investigated.

Refurbishment Demolition Survey

A Refurbishment Demolition Survey is undertaken if you plan to carry out any refurbishment or demolition work on a building, to identify asbestos within the premises, with the purpose of the removal of the material prior to the works starting.

Where Do You Require an Asbestos Survey in Devon?

There are several areas within buildings where ACMs are more likely to be found. These include:

Ceiling voids, eaves, and roof spaces.

Any space above ceilings or within roof structures that are not easily accessible to human reach should always be treated with suspicion as potential ACM.

Boiler rooms, plant rooms, and service risers.

These are areas commonly used to connect and house pipe-work, electrical cables and heating systems. It is common for ductwork and pipework insulation to contain asbestos.

Fire Protection Systems

Older fire-resistant materials such as limpet spray can contain asbestos fibers. Such materials can often be found around columns, and steel beams.

Lift shafts

Lift shafts may contain ACMs in rope hangers or elevator guides installed prior to 2000.

Floor tiles

Floor tiles and cement products formed using asbestos were commonly used in buildings prior to 1999.

How Do You Manage Asbestos in Your Property?

Once you have completed an asbestos survey, you need to determine how to manage any identified ACMs within your property. The management of asbestos is governed by legislation, which sets out strict guidelines and regulations for the safe handling and removal of asbestos.

As an owner, or duty holder of a property, you should provide an asbestos management plan which should include; an asbestos register; an assessment of the risk the asbestos present, and a plan for managing the risk. The plan should have clear details of scheduled management activities, like periodic inspections to ensure no disturbance of the asbestos-containing material has occurred.

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon, we assist property owners and managers to manage asbestos risks in their buildings by providing them with bespoke asbestos management plans. We also provide asbestos removal services if necessary.

What Are the Main Health Safety Regulations Associated with Asbestos?

Asbestos is a dangerous substance and exposure to it can lead to severe illness and health problems. To this end, there are several health and safety regulations in place that govern the management and removal of asbestos in properties.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 outlines your duty to manage the risk of asbestos. Consequently, if you have an existing building (including workplaces, communal areas or a rental property), you will be responsible for creating and maintaining an up-to-date asbestos register, management plan and ongoing inspections.

In addition to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 require property owners and managers to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of their staff and anyone who enters their property.

When Is an Asbestos Survey Required by Law?

An asbestos survey is legally required in several situations, including:

• Before buying or selling a building built before the year 2000.
• Before any significant or intrusive building work, renovation, or demolition is planned.
• Every 6 months for any building containing ACMs or once a year for any non-domestic building that doesnt contain ACMs.

How Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon Can Help You?

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon, we are dedicated to providing excellent service to our clients. Our fully trained and experienced asbestos surveyors are competent to carry out both types of survey management surveys and refurbishment demolition surveys in accordance with HSG264 industry standard. We also provide a range of other services, including:

• Asbestos management plans and risk assessments.
• Asbestos removal, encapsulation and waste collection.
• Crisis incident management and asbestos remediation.
• Asbestos emergency call-out services.

We understand that asbestos surveys can be a daunting prospect but rest assured that we are here to help if you require our service. We are happy to provide a free, no-obligation quote for all our services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are the owner or manager of a building in Devon, then you should consider hiring Affordable Asbestos Removal Devon for an asbestos survey. Asbestos is a dangerous material that can lead to severe health problems if you are exposed to it. An asbestos survey can help you maintain the safety of your property and avoid any legal issues arising from non-compliance with regulations.