Legislation Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAW) places a legal duty on those parties responsible for maintaining and repairing the premises, (owners, managing agents, employers, self-employed), to manage the risk from asbestos. The first step in managing the risk from asbestos is to determine the location of materials likely to contain asbestos and to assess their condition.

The three main elements to an asbestos survey are:
It must locate and record the location, extent and product type of any presumed or known asbestos containing materials (ACMs). Secondly, inspect and record information on the accessibility, condition and surface treatment of any presumed or known ACMs. Finally, it should determine and record the asbestos type, either by collecting representative samples of suspect materials or by making a presumption based on the product type.

There is usually a long delay between the first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease, varying between 15 and 60 years. The majority of people currently dying were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 1960s when the use of asbestos was widespread. Even so exposure is still occurring resulting in a slow death for many employees. The name asbestos is a generic term for various forms of fibrous metallic silicates. It is a natural mineral, which can be broken down into very fine fibres.When these fine fibres are released into the air they can by pass the body’s defences, move into the lungs and then attach themselves to the lung wall, causing in time lung cancer, scarring and damage to lung tissue (asbestosis), plural plaques and mesothelioma. All asbestos is now banned for general commercial use in the UK.

Type 1:
Location and Assessment Survey (presumptive survey) This type of survey will identify so far as reasonably practicable the presence and extent of any ACMs. The survey defers the need to take samples until a later time (i.e. pre-demolition or refurbishment). Any material that can be reasonably expected to contain asbestos must be presumed to contain asbestos and be treated accordingly. The duty holder therefore bears potential additional management costs for the materials that may not contain asbestos.

Type 2:
Standard Sampling Procedures for surveying are same as in Type 1 surveys with the addition that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos. If materials are found to contain asbestos then other homogeneous materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to contain asbestos.

Type 3:
Full Access Sampling and Identification Survey (pre-demolition/major refurbishment) This type of survey is used to locate and describe, so far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs. This may involve destructive inspection, as necessary to gain access to all areas. The survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the removal of ACMs prior to the demolition or major refurbishment. The survey as such does not assess the condition of the asbestos other than to note areas of damage.