Surveying
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and was extensively mined and used in building construction throughout Britain between the 1950’s and the mid-1980’s. It was known as the magic mineral and was used for a wide variety of purposes, such as fireproofing, insulation and sound proofing. All building types built before 2000, whether domestic, commercial and industrial can potentially contain asbestos based materials.
Asbestos based materials in a good condition are safe and can be left in situ and suitably managed unless asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials are disturbed or damaged.
Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-domestic premises” of the “The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006” (CAR 2006), which places an explicit duty on the duty holder to manage the asbestos material and keep suitable up to date records.
MAST Consultants Ltd has over 35 years experience within the asbestos industry. Our aim is to help property owners (normally the Duty Holder) to comply with current legislation and guidance and manage their asbestos. The most effective way to manage your asbestos is to first carry out surveys of your premises. There are currently three types of surveys in accordance with MDHS100 and detailed below. However MDHS100 is currently under review and is due to be replaced later in the year by the new surveyors guide “Asbestos: Survey Guide (HSG Series Publication), the main changes being:
- Type 1 and Type 2 to be replaced and renamed “Management” survey.
- Type 3 surveys to be replaced and renamed “Refurbishment/ demolition” surveys.
- More emphasis on the Duty Holder to comply
- Specific guidance for “Client”
- Greater Clarity for Duty Holder and Surveyor
- New sections on survey strategy for domestic sector
- New sections on survey strategy for domestic sector
- Product “location & use” section updated
Asbestos Surveys Types
Asbestos surveys currently take the form of Type 1, 2 and Type 3 surveys in accordance with MDHS100 “Surveying, Sampling and assessment of asbestos containing materials. Surveys are a method of identifying where asbestos materials are within a property or may be present. The type of survey carried out will depend on the client’s requirements and any proposed refurbishment or demolition work due to be carried out. The survey types are detailed below/p>
Type 1 “Location and Assessment Survey (Presumptive Survey)
The purpose of this type of survey is to locate as far as reasonably practicable asbestos containing materials and assess the extent and condition of the material. This type of survey defers the need to take confirmative samples. All areas should be accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable i.e. above suspended ceilings, within risers, service ducts and lift shatfts etc. Some materials may be presumed to contain asbestos as a such the client (the duty holder) bears potential costs for managing non-asbestos containing materials.
Type 2 “Standard Sampling, Identification and Assessment Survey (Sampling Survey)
The purpose and procedures of this type of survey are the same as the Type 1 survey. However confirmative sampling of materials suspected of containing asbestsos are carried out and analysed for the presence of asbestos. Analysis confirms or denies the presence of asbestos.
Type 3 “Full Access Sampling and Identification Survey (Pre-demolition / Major Re-furbishment Survey)
This type of survey is used to locate as far as reasonably practicable all asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in the building and may involve destructive techniques where necessary to gain access to all areas.