Types of Surveys
Asbestos Surveys
To confirm whether asbestos containing materials are present the approved code of practice as recommended by the HSE is to appoint competent, trained correctly equipped and adequately insured persons / Company. To ensure this criteria is met the use of a UKAS accredited company demonstrates the correct level of competency and compliance.
R.T.A. is accredited as an inspection body by UKAS to ISO/EC 17020:2012 standard (Accreditation Number 0245) to undertake “Management” and “Refurbishment & Demolition” asbestos surveys in accordance with HSE Guidance – HSG264: Asbestos: The Survey Guide.
RTA are also accredited by UKAS to carry out “Priority Risk Assessments”, providing the client with the necessary material and risk algorithm scores to correctly manage asbestos containing materials within their properties.
Holding UKAS accreditation gives the client the confidence that the company is audited regularly to ensure that policies and procedures comply with all current legislation and that all surveying staff are competent in carrying out their duties.
All surveying work is carried out by our specialist teams of qualified and experienced surveyors. All surveying personnel also hold CCNSG Safety Passports, current CSCS cards, specialised Confined Space Training and are D.B.S. (former C.R.B.) checked.
Management surveys
Prior to 2010 “Management” asbestos surveys were formally known as “Type 2 sampling surveys”.
The purpose of a “Management” survey is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in the building which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including foreseeable maintenance and installation, and to assess their condition.
The locations to be inspected should include: – under floor coverings, above false ceilings (ceiling voids), lofts, inside risers, service ducts and lift shafts, basements, cellars, underground rooms, under-crofts etc. These locations may not have been accessed on the former “Type 2” survey and therefore it is recommended any existing documentation is reviewed and where necessary updated to be compliant with the current guidance.
The survey will usually involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or absence of ACM’s. However, a management survey can also involve presuming the presence or absence of asbestos. A management survey can be completed using a combination of sampling ACM’s and presuming ACM’s or, indeed, just presuming.
Any materials presumed to contain asbestos must also have their condition assessed (ie a material assessment).
This management survey information is recorded in the form of an asbestos register to enable the client to manage the asbestos containing materials within their properties.
Our survey reports will include: –
- Introduction
- Executive Summary
- Survey results / Asbestos Register
- Conclusions & Recommendations
- General Site & Survey Information including:-
- Sampling strategy for asbestos materials
- Methods of Bulk Sample analysis
- Asbestos Survey strategy
- Report definitions
- Material Assessment
- Priority Risk assessment
- Assessment of Risk Assessment Algorithm Scores
- Assessment of Management Priority of Each Asbestos Element
- Management options
- Detailed site description for each room surveyed *
- Material assessment data sheets with digital photographs
- Bulk sample analysis certificate
- Marked-up plan drawings
* The Detailed Site Description is a narrative text which outlines the construction of each aspect of the room whether or not these are asbestos containing materials. This will include: – Floor coverings & floors beneath, walls, ceilings, ceiling / roof voids, windows, pipe work, heating & electrical equipment & external elevations.
This provides the client with the assurance all aspects of the room within the building have been inspected / surveyed thus eliminating any ambiguity. The majority of other surveying companies will not include this within their reports.
The survey report will also be provided to the client digitally in PDF format.
Following the survey should asbestos containing materials be discovered based on the recommendations provided by RTA the client may decide to leave the ACM’s in situ should these be in good condition. In this instance the client will require a re-inspection of the ACM’s at least annually to ensure compliance with your “Duty to Manage”. The re-inspection survey will monitor and record the condition of the ACM’s identified on the management survey and make recommendations should there be any deterioration.
Refurbishment / demolition surveys
A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any remodelling / refurbishment or demolition work is carried out. This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACM’s in the area where the refurbishment work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned.
The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required in other circumstances, eg when more intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out or for plant removal or dismantling.
Our survey reports will include all elements as listed above within management surveys
Annual Re-inspections
It is a requirement within The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to carry out a re-inspection of known asbestos containing materials annually as a minimum by a competent person. In certain circumstances these such inspections may require more frequent assessments depending on the risk element.
RTA undertake these re-inspections & carry out priority risk assessments of all known asbestos containing materials.
The updated re-inspection asbestos survey report, will include new photographs of all known ACM’s, together with a recommendations on how to safely manage those materials.