Presumptive (Location and Assessment). The purpose of the survey is to locate,
as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in the building and assess their
condition. This survey essentially defers the need to sample and analyse for
asbestos (or the absence there of) until a later time (e.g. prior to demolition
or major refurbishment). The duty holder bears potential additional costs of
management for some non-asbestos-containing materials. All areas will be
accessed and inspected as far as reasonably practicable (e.g. above false
ceilings and inside risers, service ducts etc.) or must be presumed to contain
asbestos. Any material, which can reasonably be expected to contain asbestos,
must be presumed to contain asbestos, and where it appears highly likely to
contain asbestos, there should be a strong presumption that it does. All
materials, which are presumed to contain asbestos, will be assessed.
Sampling survey (Standard sampling, identification and assessment). The purpose
and procedures used in this survey are the same as for Type 1, except that
representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos.
If the material sampled is found to contain asbestos, other similar homogeneous
materials used in the same way in the building can be strongly presumed to
contain asbestos. Less homogeneous materials may require a greater number of
samples.
Pre-demolition/major refurbishment (Full access sampling and identification
survey) This type of survey is used to locate and describe, as far as
reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the building and may involve destructive
inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may
be difficult to reach. A full sampling programme is undertaken to identify
possible ACMs. This survey is designed to be used as a basis for tendering the
removal of ACMs from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment,
so the survey does not access the condition of the asbestos.