Asbestos surveys

(See also What regulations apply and what are the risks associated with Artex or similar decorative coatings?)

The Asbestos Essentials Task Manual published by the HSE includes guidance on a variety of low risk activities involving decorative textured coatings, including removal from a small area, e.g. 1m2.

Guidance has been published by various trade organisations. The Federation of Demolition Contractors states that artex coatings containing asbestos should be removed and disposed of as contaminated waste prior to demolition.

The scraping or abrading of the coating is likely to release fibres and there are proprietary solvent-free methods of wetting and stripping the material to avoid this.

The method of controlling the release of asbestos fibres during any works that might disturb asbestos-containing decorative coatings must be determined according to the results of the risk assessment, just like any other asbestos material.

The ACOP states that all work, including that which falls within the regulation 3(2) exceptions, must:

1. prevent exposure to asbestos as far as is reasonably practicable;
2. minimise release of asbestos;
3. avoid sanding, particularly with power tools;
4. be carried out by suitably trained and competent workers wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE); and
5. be carried out after a suitable plan of work is prepared.

Subject to the above as a minimum, for very minor work it may not be reasonably practicable to use the same degree of control required for more extensive work. An example of the former is the insertion or removal of 'a few screws through textured coatings'. The control suggested as being 'likely to be sufficient' is the use of a HEPA vacuum while wearing suitable PPE.

For more significant work, such as complete removal, more stringent controls will be required, namely:

• The work area should be segregated and enclosed using the existing room or a purpose built enclosure.
• Access to the enclosure should be regulated via the use of a two-stage airlock with workers decontaminating in the airlock system prior to leaving the work area by vacuuming down using an H-type vacuum cleaner, washing footwear and wiping RPE in the inner stage and removing RPE in the outer stage of the airlock.
• Portable items that might be contaminated by dust and debris should be removed prior to any works starting and remaining items protected with plastic sheeting.
• Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be suitable and adequate. Disposable (FFFP) or half mask respirators (with P3 filters) should be adequate as worker exposure is unlikely to exceed the control limit.
• Once work is completed, the area should be thoroughly cleaned, with all visible traces of dust and debris removed. A thorough visual inspection should then be carried out. Air sampling will not be expected as part of the clearance procedures.

In addition to the above measures (which cover mainly containment and prevention of spread), the control regime should include good work practices that minimise dust generation and spread, such as:

• removing of the whole underlying plasterboard with coating intact if possible;
• using steam to loosen and then scraping;
• applying a hydrating gel to loosen and then scraping;
• applying solvent-free chemical and then scraping.

Wet blasting may also be necessary for residual sections or very difficult material but should not be employed in other circumstances.

Where ceilings are damaged (for example, by fire or other accidental or deliberate action), there are certain practical difficulties in removing the coating. The ceiling boards or lathe and plaster should be thoroughly dampened down (using an effective wetting system, for example, an airless spray such as Greko spray) before and during their pulling down. Debris and dust on the floor should also be dampened down.