The first step in dealing with dangerous and highly regulated asbestos-containing material is to identify it. Most homeowners are neither skilled nor equipped to test or survey their surroundings for this purpose. At Blue A LTD our professional specialists can provide asbestos survey and removal services as needed.
Why Perform an Asbestos Survey
When dealing with an asbestos situation, the first step is to be able to identify the depth and breadth of the contamination. In short, you need to know the quantity, the exact area, and the existing state of the asbestos within the material in which it is contained. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are thereafter required to be recorded in what is commonly referred to as an asbestos register and that information becomes a critical part of the removal plan.
The Survey Process
In order for the surveyor to be able to accurately perform an asbestos survey, he or she will need detailed information from the property owner or manager. They will need to know and have access to details concerning the building itself, its use and areas of greater priority, any information regarding the construction or building plans, and all relevant facts concerning the safety and security operations of the building.
Survey Types
There are essentially three different kinds of surveys – a survey for management purposes, a survey for demolition or refurbishment activities, and a survey for some combination thereof.
In a management type asbestos survey, the goal is to readily identify and define where and to what extent there are ACMs on the survey site. The expectation would be that asbestos materials would be identified, using minimally invasive techniques, that might be possibly exposed during normal building use. If ACMs are found, their condition must be ascertained to determine the nature and level of the threat posed to the building’s normal occupants under routine conditions.
For purposes of refurbishment or demolition, a far more thorough investigation will be required to ensure adequate access and information is obtained prior to work commencing. Destructive testing may be performed as part of the asbestos survey, especially when demolition is anticipated or extensive building repairs are imminent, to ensure that hidden areas are investigated.
In these circumstances, choosing our team at Blue A LTD will help ensure the safety and security of all potentially affected by asbestos materials.