Identifying Asbestos Through Sampling
By law, all non-domestic buildings must have an up-to-date Asbestos Register. This is achieved through an Asbestos Management Survey, which identifies potential Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), documenting their location, type, extent, and condition — including photographic evidence.
Samples are collected and tested by an independent UKAS-accredited laboratory, and results are used to inform the asbestos risk assessment. In cases where sampling isn’t possible (e.g. live electrical components), materials must be presumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise. If no asbestos is found, no Asbestos Management Plan is required. If you need to carry out refurbishment or demolition work to any premises built before 2000, including domestic, then an Asbestos RD (Pre-Refurb/Demo) survey is required prior to starting work.
This guide, published by the HSE, is aimed at people carrying out asbestos surveys and people with specific responsibilities for managing asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
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Presumed - Without Samples
A presumptive asbestos survey follows the same steps as a standard survey but excludes sample testing and analysis.
Without lab confirmation, all suspect materials must be treated as asbestos-containing, which can lead to unnecessary management costs and complications. While it may seem cheaper initially, it’s often not cost-effective in the long run.
For accurate identification and compliance, we recommend a full asbestos management survey with UKAS-accredited testing.
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