Why Are There Two Types of Asbestos Surveys? (And Which Do You Need?)

If you discover asbestos in a building you’re responsible for, you’re obligated to have a survey conducted as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances you will either need an Asbestos Management Survey or a Refurbishment/Demolition survey.

But how can you tell which you need? And why are there two separate types of asbestos survey?

Understanding Asbestos

Before we talk about which type of survey to get, it’s first important to understand why you need an asbestos survey.

Breathing in asbestos can lead to small particles getting trapped in the lungs, causing a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma can take around twenty years to show any symptoms, it’s a very serious condition.

That being said, asbestos isn’t usually harmful when it’s undisturbed. Instead, particles only begin to break off once they’re disturbed or damaged. What this means is that while asbestos in general is dangerous because of the potential that it might get damaged, that danger goes up a lot if you’re having refurbishment done.

When To Get An Asbestos Management Survey 

If you discover asbestos in your building you’ll need to get an Asbestos Management Survey. This will tell you where all the asbestos is and help you draw up a plan for removing it. An Asbestos Management Survey is first and foremost about gathering information and deciding how you will act on that information.

What Is A Refurbishment/Demolition Survey

If you are planning any work on the building then you will instead require a Refurbishment/Demolition Survey.

The major difference between an Asbestos Management Survey and a Demolition Survey is that a management survey is non-destructive. It’s about finding all the asbestos so that the next step can be planned. A demolition survey goes further, requiring asbestos to be disturbed and removed.

Booking Your Asbestos Management Survey

If you’re worried about the presence of asbestos on your premises, then now is the day to book your Asbestos Management Survey. Here at 0800 Asbestos, we’ve conducted countless asbestos surveys, providing detailed information to help our clients plan their next steps.

We provide clear advice from certified experts at a reasonable price and all within two working days.

Get in touch with us today by calling 03304 703 872 or emailing us at office@0800asbestos.com to book your survey or to ask any questions you might have.