Asbestos Surveys Before Refurbishment: What Property Owners Need to Know

Asbestos was widely used in UK buildings until it was fully banned in 1999. That means many older commercial and residential buildings still contain asbestos-containing materials. If they are disturbed during refurbishment, fibres can be released, so knowing what is in the building before work starts is essential. This article is general information and does not replace professional advice.

Where asbestos can be found

• Insulation boards, ceiling tiles and partition panels

• Pipe lagging and boiler insulation

• Textured coatings and certain floor tiles

• Roofing sheets, soffits and cement products

The survey before refurbishment

For work on non-domestic premises, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require those responsible for the building to manage asbestos. Before refurbishment or demolition, a refurbishment and demolition survey is used to locate asbestos in the areas that will be disturbed. This is more intrusive than a management survey, which is used for day-to-day occupation.

Homes and landlords

Domestic homeowners do not have the same formal duties as commercial building managers, but the risk is the same. If your home was built before 2000, it is sensible to have suspect materials tested before building work starts, and contractors should always be told about any known asbestos.

Licensed and non-licensed work

Some asbestos work must be carried out by a contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive. Other lower-risk work may be done by trained non-licensed contractors, and the correct category depends on the material and its condition. Disposal must follow waste regulations.

Build the survey into the programme

Surveys and any removal take time, and they should be completed before other trades start. Including them at the start protects the programme, the budget and the people on site.

Learn about our approach to full refurbishment projects.

Planning a commercial project in London? Contact Tota Design & Build to discuss your requirements.