What is a Refurbishment Survey?

A refurbishment survey is designed to find any asbestos containing materials (ACMs) which could exist and is tailored to meet your specific planned refurbishment works.

The aim of the survey is to help protect people and the environment from any asbestos, which could exist in the building or any equipment.

If asbestos is found, the refurbishment survey will confirm what work needs to be completed by asbestos removal experts, before works can start.

This is to help comply with CAR 2012 Regulation 7, for all ACMs to be removed as far as reasonably practicable before major refurbishment unless removal would cause a greater risk to employees than if the asbestos had been left in place.

How does a Refurbishment Survey work?

A refurbishment survey is disruptive and requires access to the specific areas of the building being updated. This can include the lifting up of floors or breaking through of partitions and ceilings. These specific areas of the building must be unoccupied at the time of surveying.

IMPORTANT

The survey will identify the existence of the asbestos, including areas of damage or where additional asbestos debris may be present. However, where the asbestos removal may not take place for some time, the ACMs risk will need to be fully assessed and the materials managed (see CAR 2012 Regulation 4).