Safe and Compliant Asbestos Surveys For Property Developers & Construction Projects
As of 2024, 25% of property developers changed their strategies to meet new regulations and 23% did so to make it easier to obtain planning permission. With tight deadlines to meet, strict rules to follow, and financial risk at every stage, identifying asbestos early is crucial for keeping construction projects compliant, timely and within budget.
Whether you’re acquiring a site, planning a refurbishment or preparing for demolition, an asbestos survey is a legal requirement in many cases and demonstrates due diligence on your company’s behalf. Ignoring the problem only leads to project delays and serious health risks further down the line.
That’s why Pillars Environmental asbestos consultants offer a wide range of asbestos surveys and services for property developers and construction contractors alike, to ensure your project remains fully aligned with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines. Our expert team has over 35 years of experience in providing Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys (R&D Surveys) and Asbestos Management Surveys (AMS), as well as Asbestos Management Plans (AMPs), Asbestos Removal Management and Asbestos Re-Inspections.
OVER 40 YEARS
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ASBESTOS
Do Property Developers Need an Asbestos Survey?
Yes, as outlined in the Control of Asbestos Regulations, if the property was built or refurbished before 2000, property developers (or anyone who owns/maintains the building) do need an asbestos survey. As the owner of a building, it is your responsibility to keep any employees or contractors appointed to work on the site safe from the risk of asbestos exposure.
There are additional responsibilities related to refurbishment: if any refurbishment works are to take place, you must have a Refurbishment & Demolition Survey (R&D Survey) carried out to ensure that no asbestos will be disturbed due to the renovations.
Even if the property has already had an Asbestos Management Survey or asbestos register carried out in the past (prior to your ownership), you cannot undertake refurbishment works on the back of those documents. The survey will not have been intrusive enough or covered a wide enough area to guarantee safety, which means a new, R&D Survey will be legally required.
If you are developing a property that was built before 2000, it is your responsibility to have an asbestos survey carried out in order to keep contractors safe from the risk of asbestos exposure.
Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys vs Asbestos Management Surveys
According to the HSE, an asbestos survey aims to:
- Provide accurate information on the location, amount and condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
- Assess the level of any damage or deterioration of the ACMs and whether remedial action is required
- Provide information to produce an asbestos register and asbestos management plan for the premises
- Identify hidden ACMs to be removed before refurbishment work or demolition
There are two types of asbestos surveys: Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys and Asbestos Management Surveys.
BESPOKE
ASBESTOS SERVICES
ACCREDITED ASBESTOS SURVEYORS
Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys
Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys (previously known as Type 3 Asbestos Surveys) locate and identify all ACMs, including those hidden within the fabric of the building (as far as reasonably practicable), before refurbishment, significant maintenance or demolition works are due to take place.
Given the need for thoroughness, sampling methods can be destructive, as every accessible area will need to be inspected during the survey. This can mean potential asbestos disturbance, which is why we ask the premises to be vacant while our team is carrying out our sampling.
Once our inspections are complete, we will send the samples we have taken to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for asbestos testing. The laboratory’s analysts will then be able to confirm the presence of asbestos to us, as well as the type and condition (if ACMs have been found). Afterwards, our asbestos consultants will be better-informed to be able to advise you on the next course of action to take, should any be necessary.
Asbestos Management Surveys
Similarly, Asbestos Management Surveys (abbreviated to AMS, previously known as Type 2 Asbestos Surveys) are legally required if the building was built or refurbished before 2000. However, the aim is different to an R&D Survey.
The aim of an AMS is to help the dutyholder (building owner) produce an asbestos register and asbestos management plan. This will support the safe management of ACMs during the normal occupancy/use of the building.
You can remain on-site during an AMS, as the sampling methods are much less intrusive than that of an R&D Survey. If any areas are inaccessible at the time of the survey, our team will assume they contain asbestos and any such areas must be managed accordingly until they can be inspected.
Once we receive the results of our partner laboratory’s asbestos testing, our qualified surveyors will advise you on the next steps you should take (if required). If asbestos is found within the samples, the next steps usually include an Asbestos Management Plan or Asbestos Removal Management.
HELPING YOU STAY COMPLIANT
ACCREDITED ASBESTOS SURVEYORS
How Long Asbestos Surveys Take: Meeting Property Development Timelines
Over 800 high-rise projects in the UK were stalled last year due to safety approval delays, creating strain for property developers. So we understand how important it is to plan ahead to meet deadlines.
Most asbestos surveys can be completed within a few hours, but this depends on the size and complexity of the project. A small, domestic property may take 2-3 hours, but a large-scale, commercial site could take a full day or longer.
In terms of asbestos testing, samples must legally be analysed in a UKAS-accredited laboratory, meaning it can take anywhere between 24 and 72 hours for us to receive the results.
If our asbestos surveyors cannot access all areas of your building, this can lengthen the process, especially if it’s a complex project where additional containment or safety measures are required.
Should you need asbestos removal, our team can help you vet removal contractors and represent you in all site meetings to ensure agreed timescales and costs are upheld.
BOHS P402 Qualified Asbestos Surveyors
Contact our qualified asbestos surveyors to get your free, no-obligation quote today.
- Our fully qualified team has over 35+ years of experience
- We work with independent, UKAS-accredited laboratories
- Our asbestos survey company holds accreditations from the SSIP (formerly Acclaim) & ConstructionLine
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Asbestos Surveys For Property Developers: FAQs
Which types of asbestos are most common?
The most common types of asbestos include, but are not limited to:
- Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) – usually found around boilers (specifically sprayed insulation coated boilers), behind fuse boxes, in bath panels, ceiling tiles, airing cupboards or partition walls.
- Asbestos Toilet Cisterns.
- Vinyl Floor Tiles – often backed with asbestos paper and bitumen adhesive.
- Asbestos Cement Water Tanks, Roof Tiles/Slates, Gutters & Downpipes, Window Panels and Sheeting.
- Textured Decorative Coatings – e.g. Asbestos in Artex ceilings.
- Loose Fill Cavity Insulation.
- Asbestos in Felt Roofing.
Do property developers need an asbestos survey to get planning permission?
Yes, in most cases, if you have planning permission for a new property development, you may be required to supply an appropriate asbestos survey to the local authorities.
Do property developers still need an asbestos survey if someone else is funding the project?
Yes, there is no reason for a property development to be exempt from asbestos regulations. It doesn’t matter who funds it, what kind of building it is or how many dutyholders it has.
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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…
