Compliant Asbestos Surveys For Flats
The responsibility to carry out asbestos surveys for flats in the UK lies in the hands of the landlord. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the dutyholder of a building (in this case, the landlord) has a legal duty to manage the risk of asbestos within their premises and must protect people from potential exposure (including people who work in their buildings, as well as live in them, or use them in other ways). The duty to manage asbestos is part of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012), and covers all non-domestic premises (e.g. factories and shops), as well as ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises (e.g. purpose-built flats). These areas can include foyers, corridors, staircases, lifts and externals.
This is where Pillars Environmental can help you. As a licensed asbestos survey company, we have over 35 years of experience in this field, as well as specialist asbestos services which will support you in remaining compliant and keeping all users of your building safe.
We have a wide range of asbestos services on offer, that can be tailored to projects of any size or sector. Our expert asbestos consultants carry out a wide range of asbestos management services for flats across England, including: Refurbishment & Demolition Asbestos Surveys, Asbestos Management Surveys (AMS), Asbestos Management Plans, Asbestos Removal Management and Asbestos Re-Inspections.
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ASBESTOS
Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys For Flats
Most asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are safe to be left in situ, as long as they are in good condition, and are unlikely to be disturbed for any reason. However, in the event of any refurbishment, demolition or significant maintenance works being carried out at a block of flats, it is a legal requirement to undertake a Refurbishment & Demolition Survey (or an R&D survey, previously known as a type 3 asbestos survey) before these works can proceed. This is because any structural or demolition work will disturb potential ACMs present within the fabric of the building, causing their fibres to become airborne and posing serious health risks for those who inhale them (e.g. asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural thickening, etc.).
An R&D asbestos survey adopts a visual and invasive method, in order to locate the presence of all potential ACMs, and thoroughly assess the type and condition of any materials that have been identified. Due to this invasive approach, it is vital that the building remains vacant during the survey, in order to remain compliant with health and safety regulations, and ensure all building users are safe. As licensed asbestos specialists, we will only ever extract samples according to HSG264 Asbestos: The Survey Guide. Once these samples have been tested at an independent UKAS-accredited laboratory, we will then be able to confirm the presence of asbestos within your building, and begin planning the next steps with you, should any course of action be required.
“The duty to manage asbestos in buildings covers ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises, like purpose-built flats”
Asbestos Management Surveys For Flats
Utilising a more modest approach (e.g. accessing dry risers, removing ceiling tiles, etc.) in comparison to the intrusive methods of an R&D survey, an Asbestos Management Survey (or an AMS, formerly referred to as a type 2 asbestos survey) aims to locate any ACMs that could be disturbed during the normal occupancy of a building.
Due to the adoption of a more modest approach, the building can remain occupied during an AMS. Our professionally trained team will ensure minimal disruption is caused. To achieve this, our specialist asbestos consultants will only ever survey or collect samples from empty or unoccupied areas of your flat. After assessing the status of your building, our contractors will then be able to advise you on how best to manage any potential ACMs accordingly, either through an Asbestos Management Plan or Asbestos Removal Management.
BESPOKE ASBESTOS SERVICES
OFFERING
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EXPERT
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Asbestos Removal Management Surveys For Flats
Asbestos removal and repair can be a complicated and lengthy process, but with the help of our experienced Asbestos Removal Management team – it doesn’t have to be. Our friendly and knowledgeable asbestos consultants can provide project management support to ensure that your outsourced asbestos removal works are undertaken in a safe, fully compliant and timely manner – tailored to your needs.
Adhering to HSE recommendations, it is advised that only fully trained and experienced asbestos specialists safely and effectively manage any ACMs detected within your premises. We will also guide you through the more intricate details of UK health and safety law, helping you get to grips with the obligations of a dutyholder and ensuring your building remains compliant, as well as safe, throughout the whole process.
Our Asbestos Removal Management services include:
- Preparing the specification for the works, remaining compliant with regulations and communicating your requirements to your enlisted contractors throughout.
- Managing the tendering process, e.g. assessing quotations and vetting removal contractors based on their experience and compliance.
- Performing regular site audits to monitor progress and ensure your enlisted contractors are undertaking the asbestos removal works safely/compliantly.
- Advising and representing the best interests of the client in all site meetings to make sure that agreed timescales and costs are met.
- Producing documentation showing that the removal works were completed to a good standard by the end of the project.
Asbestos Re-Inspection Surveys For Flats
If any ACMs detected during your asbestos survey were in a good condition overall, our asbestos consultants may advise you to leave them in situ, but have regular compliance checks carried out to monitor their status.
This is where our Asbestos Re-Inspection services come in. This service is most often advised as part of an Asbestos Management Plan, usually as a method of assessing any ACMs that have been left in situ within your block of flats. This is especially significant for constructions built before 2000, as older buildings pose a higher risk of containing ACMs with deteriorated conditions and inspection reports that may have passed their expiry date.
THOROUGH & DETAILED SURVEYS
Asbestos Surveys For Flats FAQs
Where is asbestos commonly found in domestic properties?
There are several common locations for asbestos to be found in domestic properties, including but not limited to:
- Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) – particularly around boilers.
- Toilet cisterns.
- Vinyl floor tiles backed with asbestos paper and asbestos in bitumen adhesive.
- AIB or asbestos cement bath panels.
- AIB ceiling tiles.
- Pipe lagging.
- Textured decorative coatings, e.g. asbestos in artex.
- Asbestos loose-fill insulation.
How long will an asbestos survey take?
This depends on the type of asbestos survey needed for your premises. If your building is an older construction, it may require a more invasive method, such as an R&D survey, which may take longer. Whereas, an AMS utilises a more modest approach, taking up less time. It is also vital to assess any ACMs that have been left in situ, which may require re-inspections, in order to evaluate the status of their condition and their potential to pose health risks to building users.
What is the cost of an asbestos survey?
Asbestos survey costs can vary significantly depending on the individual requirements of the survey, such as specific location(s), the location of suspected ACMs, any specialist equipment needed, etc.
For a better idea, get in touch with us today for a free quote.
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Areas We Offer Asbestos Surveys
ASBESTOS
SURVEYS
We undertake Asbestos Management Surveys and Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys, both of which are HSG264-compliant…
ASBESTOS
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Our Asbestos Management Plans detail how you can manage asbestos in your property, in line with legislation…
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
We can oversee Asbestos Removal projects to ensure a thorough, safe and compliant job is being undertaken…
