Asbestos survey and testing services in London and the South East
At Abastra, we provide essential asbestos services to our clients in Luton, Basildon, Chelmsford, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth and London, including asbestos surveys and asbestos testing. These procedures detect the presence of asbestos, and determine whether the material is safe to be around.
We are full-certified and accredited to perform in-depth asbestos surveys and arrange appropriate asbestos testing for all of our clients in London, the South East, and nationwide.
Abastra has held its asbestos licence since 1989 and has been a proud member of ARCA (the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) for more than 20 years. Our 2018 asbestos licence was also recently renewed.
Asbestos surveys in London and the South East
Asbestos surveys can only be undertaken by an appropriately trained surveyor who holds a BOHS Proficiency Module P402 qualification.
The purpose of undertaking an asbestos survey is to provide accurate information on the location, amount and condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within the property.
Samples of suspected materials will be taken to a UKAS accredited asbestos testing laboratory and should asbestos, of any type, be found the survey will then identify where and what type is present. It will also determine the condition and any subsequent action that needs to be taken.
The type of asbestos survey needed will be dependent on you and your property’s specific requirements.
It is not a legal requirement for domestic properties to have an asbestos survey carried out,. However, the requirements do apply to common parts of premises, including housing developments and blocks of flats, but do not place any direct duties on landlords for individual houses or flats.
Should you plan to have refurbishment works undertaken or part of the property demolished, then it is a requirement to have a refurbishment or demolition survey undertaken before any works commence.
Management Survey in London and the South East
An asbestos management survey is generally referred to as a ‘standard survey’. The purpose of this survey is to locate – as far as reasonably practicable – the presence and extent of any potential asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in the building. The survey will identify (ACMs) which could be damaged or disturbed during normal everyday occupancy, including any everyday maintenance activities. The survey will also include an assessment of on the condition of the materials.
Refurbishment/Demolition Survey in London and the South East
A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before any refurbishment or demolition work is carried out. This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs 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, e.g. when more intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out or for plant removal or dismantling.
Asbestos Sampling in London and the South East
The purpose of taking samples of suspected asbestos materials is to determine whether the materials contains asbestos, and if, so what type. Asbestos samples will only be taken by one of our qualified asbestos surveyors to prevent the spread of fibres during the sampling process. All of our bulk material sampling work is undertaken in accordance with the techniques set out in HSG 264.
Asbestos testing in London and the South East
When suspicious material, which is likely to be asbestos, is found at a property, it is important that samples are taken to be tested in a laboratory. Since asbestos is used to make up so many kinds of building materials, several samples may be taken. The asbestos testing process is essential in ensuring that the right materials are disposed of correctly.
Why do I need to have asbestos testing, if I already know there is asbestos in the building?
There are two main reasons why asbestos testing is important. Firstly, asbestos is not just one mineral. It describes a group of six naturally occurring items that have all been used in the construction industry at one time or another. These different types of asbestos, whilst all potentially hazardous if disturbed, have their own unique properties and dangers. For the safety of our staff, our customers, and the environment, we need to know exactly what we are dealing with to ensure we’re using the right equipment for asbestos removal, and that we’re disposing of it in the appropriate manner. Secondly, we are not just testing for asbestos. We are also checking for non-contaminated material. Just because a house was built using asbestos, does not mean it will have been included in all the materials. Since asbestos removal is a time-consuming process, we do not want to remove perfectly safe plasterboard and drywall unless we have to.
Can I get an asbestos sample tested myself?
Technically, yes. There are home testing kits and independent laboratories that will inspect any asbestos samples that you gather, but we do not recommend it. Asbestos is highly dangerous to your health and handling it without proper training and protection is a significant risk. It’s always better to leave asbestos testing to the experts.
Your local asbestos removal firm
Operating from our main office in Basildon, Essex, we have conducted thousands of asbestos surveys in our time, across London, Luton, Basildon, Chelmsford, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Brighton, Southampton, Portsmouth and beyond.
Get in touch
For all your domestic and commercial asbestos testing and surveying requirements in London, the South East and across the UK, call Abastra on 01268 411355 and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with your free, no-obligation quote for our services.