Asbestos Surveys

The current types of Asbestos survey that can be undertaken are defined in HSG 264 published by the HSE.  This details the current requirements for surveying, sampling and outlines areas of best practice.  

Asbestos Management Survey (Previously Type 1 & 2)

A management survey is the standard survey. Its purpose is to locate, as far
as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect ACMs in the
building which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including
foreseeable maintenance and installation, and to assess their condition.
Management surveys will often involve minor intrusive work and some
disturbance. The survey will usually involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or
absence of ACMs. However a management survey can also involve presuming the
presence or absence of asbestos. A management survey can be completed using
a combination of sampling ACMs and presuming ACMs or, indeed, just presuming.
Any materials presumed to contain asbestos must also have their condition
assessed (ie a material assessment).

Asbestos Refurbishment Surveys - Asbestos Demolition Surveys (Previously Type 3 Survey)

A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any refurbishment or
demolition work is carried out. This type of survey is used to locate and describe,
as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where the refurbishment
work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned. The survey will
be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access
to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A refurbishment and
demolition survey may also be required in other circumstances, eg when more
intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out or for plant removal or
dismantling.