Finding and sampling asbestos

Building surveys are carried out for a variety of different purposes, such as valuations, dilapidations, acquisition or sale of premises, etc.

Depending on the nature and age of the subject buildings, all of these services involve asbestos to some degree, often specifically stated in the RICS guidance for the particular service being provided. Asbestos is just one of the numerous building-related issues to be considered by the surveyor.

In an asbestos survey, the sole or main purpose of the service is to identify report and advise on the existence of materials that contain, or are presumed to contain, asbestos.

The latter is undertaken by an asbestos surveyor.

Some surveyors may provide both roles but not all will have the specialist knowledge, sufficient experience, or appropriate professional indemnity insurance to competently undertake an asbestos survey.

Where a surveyor does provide this service in addition to others, care must be taken to ensure that the client is aware of the distinction between an asbestos survey and these other services and their limitations in respect of the discovery and reporting on asbestos.

While all accessible parts of a building will be visited and all the various visible elements viewed in both a building survey and an asbestos survey, the way in which they are conducted is subtly, but significantly, different.

In a building survey, the surveyor is looking for indications of defects, weaknesses, deficiencies or variations from accepted good practice.

In an asbestos survey, the asbestos surveyor scrutinises each element to determine whether it contains, or is likely to contain, asbestos and if so considers the factors affecting the risk arising.

See section 8 of the Asbestos guidance note.