A Refurbishment or demolition survey is needed before any refurbishment or demolition works are carried out.
This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all asbestos-containing materials in the area where refurbishment or demolition work is taking place. The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach.
There is a specific requirement in CAR 2012 (Regulation 7) for all ACMs to be removed as far as reasonably practicable before major refurbishment or final demolition. Removing asbestos is also appropriate in other smaller refurbishment situations which involve structural or layout changes to buildings (e.g. removal of walls, ceilings etc.). The survey report should be supplied by the client to contractors who are carrying out the work so that the asbestos risks can be addressed. In this type of survey, where the asbestos is identified so that it can be removed.
Refurbishment and demolition surveys are intended to locate all the asbestos in the building (or the relevant part), as far as reasonably practicable. It is a disruptive and fully intrusive survey which may need to penetrate all parts of the building structure.
Why do I need an asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey?
If you own, manage or are responsible for a building, structure or residence built before 2000 and presumed or declared to have asbestos-containing materials (ACM), an asbestos refurbishment/demolition survey are required by law in Northampton.
According to HSE, whenever any premises of such a structure need to be refurbished or demolished these actions can only be carried out after an asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey have been completed.
This type of survey will not necessarily concern the recording of the ACM state or condition. However, the presence of a surveyor is needed when an ACM building is being refurbished or demolished.
What would an asbestos refurbishment/demolition survey concede?
An asbestos refurbishment/demolition survey is intended to determine:
- the safety of anyone involved in the process of the refurbishment or demolition
- the contractor’s qualification in working with ACM and their legitimacy
- In accordance with the law in Northamptonshire, before any work commences on the premises of a structure build before 2000, a survey must be carried out in order to locate and identify any ACM.
Due to the fact that such a domestic asbestos survey involves destructive inspection and asbestos disturbance, the establishment must be evacuated.
Any ulterior occupancy of the establishment after the refurbishment/demolition survey reports will be considered dangerous and unlawful before being certified as ‘fit for reoccupation’.
When is a refurbishment survey required?
As mentioned above, even minor work such as sanding and/or drilling can cause asbestos exposure. Therefore, if you own or manage an ACM building it is mandatory by law to have a qualified surveyor conducting the refurbishment survey.
Accordingly, the entire building must be inspected to identify the presence of any asbestos-containing materials
When is a demolition survey recommended?
Regardless of the fact that your building will be only partially or totally demolished and removed, it is your duty to obtain a demolition survey.
Exactly as in the case of the refurbishment of an ACM structure, the entire building must be inspected
How does the refurbishment and demolition survey serve me
Since any refurbishment/demolition work of a structure involves intrusive handling of the ACM, it is your duty to present the survey to the contractors and/or designers prior to any process of refurbishment or demolition
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