Asbestos Survey Report

Getting an asbestos survey report can be required due to a number of different reasons. There are different types of reports available and you will need to ensure

that you select the right one for you needs. Here are just a few tips that should ensure that the asbestos survey report you commission will provide the information you requite.

• One thing you have to realise is that there are different types of asbestos survey report available and each of these will produce a different standard and scope of information. The most basic type of survey is the presumptive survey (this is also called the type 1 survey). The presumptive survey is very basic and just involves going to those parts of a building where asbestos can be reasonably expected to be found and reporting back on what is found there. It is important to note that this type of asbestos survey report does not usually involve taking any samples. The type 2 survey is similar to the type 1 but will also involve taking samples and so will provide a higher standard of information. The most extensive asbestos survey report available is the type 3 report as this will do a complete search of a building and involve more samples being taken.
• It is generally considered that the minimum requirement to meet your legal obligations in regards to asbestos management is to conduct a type 2 asbestos survey report. This should provide you with much of the information you need and inform you if there is any action that needs to be taken to keep the asbestos safe.
• Since 1999 the law is to no longer use asbestos as a building material. This means that it is only really buildings that were built prior to this that are the worry. Asbestos was used extensively in the sixties and seventies so any building that was build during this time period is likely to have the material and will need to be monitored closely.
• It is believed that asbestos is relatively safe when it is whole. The problems really begin when it becomes damaged and asbestos fibres can then get into the air. This is why there is a need for a full assessment before any type of renovation or demolishing occurs. If asbestos gets into the air it can have serious health consequences for those working on the project and anyone in the local vicinity. These fibres have been associated with many devastating diseases including some types of cancer.
• If you just want a basic assessment as a general fact finding mission then you might want to choose a type 1 survey. This won’t be enough to meet your legal obligations but it can be enough for planning. It is usual for those considering renovations to have a type 1 survey conducted at the start of the project and then have a type 3 survey conducted before the work actually starts.

So there you have just a few ideas about what to consider before choosing an asbestos survey report.