Refurbishment / demolition survey

Tell the surveyor you want a refurbishment/demolition survey.

The refurbishment / demolition survey is required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. The survey does not need a record of the condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Normally, a surveyor is needed for refurbishment / demolition surveys.

A Refurbishment / demolition survey aims to ensure that:

nobody will be harmed by work on ACM in the premises or equipment;

such work will be done by the right contractor in the right way

The survey must locate and identify all ACM before any structural work begins at a stated location or on stated equipment at the premises. It involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance. The area surveyed must be vacated, and certified 'fit for reoccupation' after the survey.

Provide the surveyor with the site layout, building plans, building specifications or architect's drawings, and any history of asbestos work. Point out your site hazards, including means of safe access to heights. Provide keys, etc.

Report

The reports should state the location, presence and extent of asbestos-containing materials and debris. It does not assess the asbestos condition but the surveyor should mention any that is in a dangerous state.

The report should state where the surveyor or sampler did not survey or sample. You should presume that areas that the surveyor has not accessed do contain asbestos.

Asbestos management survey

Tell the surveyor why you want a 'management survey'.

The purpose of the management survey is to manage asbestos-containing materials (ACM) during the normal occupation and use of premises. The duty-holder can make a management survey where the premises are simple and straightforward (See Having samples taken). Otherwise, a surveyor is needed.

A Management Survey aims to ensure that:

nobody is harmed by the continuing presence of ACM in the premises or equipment;

that the ACM remain in good condition; and

that nobody disturbs it accidentally

The Survey must locate ACM that could be damaged or disturbed by normal activities, by foreseeable maintenance, or by installing new equipment. It involves minor intrusion and minor asbestos disturbance to make a Materials Assessment. This shows the ability of ACM, if disturbed, to release fibres into the air. It guides the client, eg in prioritising any remedial work.

Provide the surveyor with the site layout, building plans, building specifications or architect's drawings, and any history of asbestos work. Point out your site hazards, including means of safe access to heights. Provide keys, etc.

The area should be vacated during the survey.

Report

The report should state the asbestos type, location, extent, condition and any surface treatment - the 'Materials assessment'. The report may comment on priorities for any remedial work.

The report should state where the surveyor or sampler did not survey or sample. You should presume that areas that the surveyor has not accessed do contain asbestos.

I have been investigating how to remove artex, I have been advised

that the best method is to use a wallpaper steam stripper, this

'bubbles' the stuff off and keeps it wet so that no dust is

generated. This can then be bagged for safe disposal by the council.

Does anyone know when they stopped using asbestos in Artex? I am

buying a house which has artex on the walls and am wondering whether

this might contain asbestos.

Late 80's I think but it would be far easier for you to get some samples

tested first - it's alot of work to go to if it doesn't contain asbestos.

The problem is, that although the use of asbestos in artex may have been

banned on a certain date, lots of contractors would have had lots of stock

to use up so just because the house was built or refurbished a year or so

after it was banned - doesn't mean that the stuff won't have asbestos in it.

Testing is the only way. As for method - can't help. Try a specialist

contractor.

Artex

3-5% Chrysotile(white asbestos) was added to Artex upto 1984 although

non-asbestos forms were available from the mid-seventies. The 1992

prohibition regs can be accepted as a fairly safe cut-off period beyond

which artex should be asbestos free.

However, as Sarah Jowett points out contractors may still have been using up

old stocks beyond 1984. Laboratory analysis is the only way to determine

for certain if the artex contains asbestos. I would urge caution with

sampling the material as the asbestos content is low and can be concentrated

in patches. Therefore ensure that you sample sufficient material from

several places. I would advise using a UKAS accredited laboratory for the

analysis. Many offer a sampling service at relative low cost.

Most licensed asbestos removal companies use a wet method for removal to

reduce the potential for generating airborne asbestos fibres. In any case

use of power tools should be avoided.

I'm in Glasgow and a few months ago there was a steam pipe that ruptured

and caused a large plume (about 10 stories high). I was outside with

my small child at the time – the closest point I was at was about 500

ft. from the plume. I also know that I was upwind from the plume as a

video from a local tv station clearly showed the plume blowing in the

opposite direction.

I tried to get info. on this and consulted the local environmental

dept. I was unable to get the levels in terms of f/cc, but was told

that the levels were "low" and that there was something like 1 fiber

detected in half the air samples done. Other tests done by the steam

unit of the electric company found no asbestos in their air & debris

sample that the pipe (which was relatively new) was actually made of

fiberglass. As such, I don't know if the low levels that were found

would have been detected anyway. Both told me that it was a "wet

explosion" as it was caused by a fire hydrant breaking and leaking

cold water onto the steam.

Does anyone know if, in an accidental release of asbestos in the

outoor air, such as this one, what is the typical distance away from

the plume that would be considered "safe." Would expsoure to any

fibers be likely, given the details (being 500 ft away upwind, given

the "wet" explosion, etc.) Does the fiber concentration dissipate

significantly in the outdoor air, and is there a signifcant

difference between upwind and downwind direction in terms of possible

fiber dispersion?

I bought a house about a year ago and started to remodel by laying

ceramic tile. In order to do this, I had to take up some existing

flooring. I read about the possibility of asbestos being in the

vinyl sheet flooring, but was assured by flooring outlets that since

it was laid in the late 80's, the chances were very slim that it

contained any asbestos. Based on this, I soaked the floor with water

and began to take it up. After reading on the Internet about

organizations that would test samples for asbestos, I sent a sample

to be tested. I was surprised to find out that the backing was about

30% Chrysolite Asbestos. There are no specific statistics on the

Internet (that I could find) on how much exposure was considered too

much. I guess my question would be "Is taking up around 100 square

feet of WET vinyl flooring enough exposure to warrant concern"? Most

of the information that I was able find on the Internet dealt with

occupations where people had been exposed to asbestos for years.

Should I be worried?

Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands. It's famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.