Asbestos survey
It is highly recommended that an asbestos survey is carried out by a specialist (company and experienced technician), as in many cases, to find asbestos, it is necessary to know where to look. In addition to those that are obvious (roofs and deposits), asbestos is often covered or mixed with other materials. For example, it can be hidden behind parts of the structure, under other materials, be part of the paint on the walls, in the adhesives of light flooring, etc.
Engaging an asbestos specialist reduces the overall costs of the project, makes the investigation more accurate and minimises the possible subsequent complications of the work (stoppages, increased costs, penalties, etc.).
Moreover, in some European countries, this is not a recommendation but is something mandatory by law. Depending on the region various requirements could be mandatory to meet, such as the registration of the company in a special register of organisations that carry out operations with asbestos, the homologation of the company according to legally established requirements or the obtaining of some form of accreditation.
Some countries also have requirements for inspectors, such as having a title, certification or accreditation that qualifies them to carry out asbestos inspections.
On the other hand, the laboratories that will perform the tests and analyses required by the inspector must also be specialists and have experience in working with asbestos. In this respect, the applicable legislation varies from country to country, with some countries regulating this issue and others not. However, as a recommendation, the laboratory with which work is to be carried out should have a demonstrable quality management system in place that includes in its scope the carrying out of asbestos determinations in materials, and continuous and satisfactory participation in European external quality assessment programmes is essential.
What to look for in an asbestos survey?
When carrying out an asbestos inspection, the main objective is to identify and locate asbestos-containing materials and quantify them.
To do this, it’s important to plan the investigation in such a way as to ensure that all the space is surveyed.
In this regard, when planning the asbestos survey, some of the data that may be useful to carry out these tasks are:
- Chronology
- Uses and characteristics
- Fabrication procedures
- Analysis of the location
- State of conservation and modifications throughout the history
Once thorough planning has been carried out, it is time for the actual investigation, which starts with the identification of asbestos-containing materials.
Thus, it should be noted that a fundamental aspect of the adequate handling of asbestos is its identification, as there are different types of asbestos, each with its particular characteristics and its hazardous potential.
The nature and inherent hazardous characteristics of the asbestos materials found will determine the appropriate actions and precautions to be taken in each case for their handling.
To identify asbestos waste, it may be necessary to take some samples ( taking the appropriate precautions). Those samples will be sent to a characterisation laboratory, where a characterisation report will be issued. It should be noted, however, that if the existence of friable asbestos is certain, it is not advisable to take samples.
It is very important that, in case of doubt, such sampling is carried out for subsequent analysis in the laboratory.
All results obtained during the process should be attached to the report on which any subsequent action to be taken will be based. Even negative sample results should be included, to prevent possible future incidents.
To carry out this identification of asbestos-containing materials, some countries have regulations in this respect. It is therefore essential to be familiar with the legislation in each region in case this methodology is standardised and thus needs to be carried out following certain standards.
Then, as part of the asbestos investigation, after the identification tasks, a report must be drawn up quantifying the asbestos materials detected.
Data included in the report
This report shall include at least the following data:
Quantity | Expressed in volume, surface area or weight, as appropriate. |
Location | Indicated on a drawing, so that it can be easily located. |
Type | Nature and identification code of the waste. |
Condition | Indicating the condition of the waste, whether it is in good condition or presents a risk, and whether it requires any special requirements for its proper management. |
Previous actions | Date and description of treatments carried out, if applicable (e.g. environmental isolation in case of risk to public health, irrigation of sealants to avoid dispersion of fibres, etc.). |
Furthermore, it should be noted that concerning the objectives of the inspection, two different types of inspections can be distinguished. They involve significant differences in terms of the scope of the inspection and the procedures to be followed:
Inspections of installations or buildings in use
When targeting buildings or facilities in use the procedures to be carried out should be non-destructive.
The scope of the inspection shall focus primarily, and as a minimum, on accessible and unconfined asbestos-containing materials. Therefore, it should include all accessible locations, visiting and taking the necessary samples for the identification of all materials suspected of containing asbestos.
These inspections shall include, in addition to the location and identification, the assessment of each asbestos-containing material to estimate its potential risk.
Inspections before the execution of demolition, rehabilitation, refurbishment or dismantling of installations or buildings involving the alteration of construction elements and/or materials
All ACMs present in the installation shall be located and identified before the execution of any work. In the case of non-accessible locations, the presence of asbestos-containing materials shall be assumed.
Destructive procedures or techniques may be applied to enable identification, if necessary.
In any case, the inspection report must clearly state the areas that could not be inspected. In any space not inspected (unless valid information to the contrary is available) within the scope of the action, and at the discretion of the inspecting personnel, asbestos should be presumed to be present and managed as such.
How should asbestos survey findings be documented?
The results of the asbestos survey conducted to determine the presence of asbestos-containing materials must be stated in the survey report.
In the case that this investigation is motivated by the following execution of a demolition, dismantling, rehabilitation or reform work, this report must be included as part of the project of said work.
Therefore, the investigation should culminate in the compilation of a report. The specialist inspector who has carried out the task would be in charge of preparnig it.
It should always clearly indicate the different locations where asbestos has been detected. It also shoud indicate where it has not been possible to inspect.
Therefore, the investigation should culminate in the compilation of a report. The specialist inspector who has carried out the task would be in charge of doing it. The report should always clearly indicate the different locations where asbestos has been detected, as well as those where it has not been possible to inspect.
In general, the report should include at least the following points, although in some European countries, the content of the report is standardized:
- Objective, scope and type of inspection
- Inspection area
- Inspection conditions
- Conclusions of the report
- Inspection results
- Inventory
Special mention should be made of the inventory. It is one of the documents that should always be generated after a positive asbestos inspection.
It is a document that provides information on where and how the asbestos materials are located, the risks they pose and, if their removal is required, the required information. This inventory must be updated periodically to be considered reliable.
The inventory provides an estimate of the costs associated with the correct management of asbestos (asbestos removal, transportation and deposit with the final manager).
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This article can be found in the 2023 edition of the document. Find the full publication here:
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