Finding and sampling asbestos

Unless the building is a very simple form of construction, there are comprehensive as-built drawings or other records available, or the surveyor is given permission and limitless time to look in every riser, duct, floor void, ceiling and roof space and open up the major building elements to determine their composition, it is unlikely that every single asbestos-containing material or component will be discovered even with a refurbishment and demolition survey. Services installations often contain asbestos components in a variety of forms that necessitate special access or dismantling of components to discover them (e.g. linings within lift shafts and pipe and duct gaskets).

The risk of not discovering all asbestos materials is shared with the client and is in inverse proportion to the amount of unfettered access that the surveyor is given for the survey.

When undertaking any works where concealed construction is likely to be exposed (e.g. the removal of layers of shop-fitting or linings), irrespective of the findings of investigations, provision should be made so that the workers are not complacent to the risk of finding concealed asbestos.

In addition, there should be procedures in place for:

• reporting any discovery of materials suspected of containing asbestos;
• temporarily stopping works in the immediate vicinity that might disturb it; and
• taking appropriate actions to vacate and/or seal off the area in an emergency.

See section 8 of the Asbestos guidance note.