Although a final UK ban on the supply and use of asbestos came in 1999, the harmful material still remains in thousands of buildings. As such, identifying and managing asbestos containing materials in homes, workplaces and beyond is an imperative concern. The first step towards achieving this, and maintaining strong health and safety standards, is to conduct asbestos surveys that provide duty holders with crucial knowledge.
Accredited Asbestos Surveys
Accredited to UKAS standards ISO 17025 and ISO 17020, North Star Environmental Ltd employs a highly qualified team of surveyors across the nation. All staff members are committed to enacting our company ethos of upmost integrity and persistent innovation. We have a wealth of experience completing surveys across all sectors, tailoring our approach to provide accurate and unbiased expertise in line with the highest industry standards.
Please see below for details on the various types of asbestos surveys we provide.
Asbestos Management Surveys
This is a core survey aimed at identifying, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence, extent and condition of asbestos containing materials within certain premises.
A management survey will also provide duty holders with a register of all building materials, including the identification of those areas suspected of containing asbestos. This information, coupled with a projection of potential future fibre releases then enables the duty holder to prepare a plan for the effective management of said materials, which could be dangerous if disturbed during usual occupancy.
In turn, these steps will help duty holders comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, especially the duty to manage clauses inherent therein.
A management survey is not fully intrusive and can be completed while a property is occupied if necessary. A thorough visual inspection will be completed, with surveyors checking all relevant surfaces for the presence of asbestos.
In this regard, the North Star Environmental Ltd team is trained to work in a respectful and diligent manner, taking a personalised approach to each unique project and satisfying the specific needs of each client.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
As stated in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, all asbestos containing materials must be removed from an area or building before refurbishment or total demolition work can commence. Therefore, as the name suggests, an asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey is an essential step in many different building projects.
The main purpose of such a survey can vary. In the case of a refurbishment survey, it is imperative to locate and describe all asbestos containing materials in the specific area to be refurbished. This process will be extended to the whole building for a full demolition survey. The resulting survey report will become a crucial document in the process of arranging asbestos removal and, by extension, ensuring the smooth continuation of building works.
Asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys are fully intrusive and may involve destructive inspection in order to access all areas, including those that are difficult to reach. Such areas will need to be unoccupied, minimising the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres.
Before people can return to a property, it must be shown to be fit for reoccupation. This involves a thorough visual inspection and, if needed, reassurance air sampling with disturbance.
Asbestos Re-Inspection Surveys
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 also state that the condition of asbestos containing materials must be inspected regularly, with all records updated accordingly. Re-inspection surveys allow a competent person to monitor and record the condition of any previously identified asbestos containing products, maintaining the accuracy of internal information.
Asbestos can degenerate over time, and the associated risks can worsen. As such, asbestos management plans must be reviewed every six months, with remedial actions carried out where necessary. North Star Environmental Ltd can guide you through this process, assessing the quality of all previous surveys and the asbestos containing materials they identified.
Tailored Surveys
In certain instances, where the project dictates, North Star Environmental Ltd can produce tailored asbestos surveys. For example, a management survey can also include a targeted demolition or refurbishment adjunct, depending on whether this is required.
Call Us
For more information or to book services, contact North Star Environmental on 0800 048 6000 today.