An asbestos demolition survey is carried out before a building is demolished or fully stripped out. The purpose of the survey is to locate and identify all asbestos-containing materials, including those hidden within the building fabric, so they can be removed as far as reasonably practicable before demolition work begins.
Under HSE guidance, refurbishment and demolition are treated as part of the same survey category because both are designed to identify asbestos that could be disturbed by intrusive works. In practice, an asbestos demolition survey is usually more extensive than a refurbishment survey because it is intended to cover the whole building, or the full part being demolished or stripped back.
Demolition surveys are commonly required for buildings constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, when asbestos-containing materials were widely used in insulation, partition systems, ceilings, wall linings, floor products, roof coverings, service ducts and plant areas.
Because this type of survey is intrusive and potentially destructive, it is normally carried out in vacant buildings or areas that can be fully isolated during the inspection.
Before demolition or full strip-out works begin, duty holders and project teams need to know whether asbestos-containing materials are present anywhere within the structure. Unlike a management survey, which is designed for normal occupation, an asbestos demolition survey is intended to locate asbestos throughout the building so it can be addressed before the structure is demolished.
An asbestos demolition survey helps property owners and project teams:
Because demolition surveys are fully intrusive by nature, the premises or relevant area normally needs to be vacated before the survey is carried out.
It only takes 30 seconds to request your Asbestos Demolition Survey quote
During an asbestos demolition survey, a qualified surveyor will inspect the building as comprehensively as possible to identify asbestos-containing materials before demolition or full strip-out works begin. This type of survey is the most intrusive survey method and may involve destructive access to hidden parts of the structure.
The survey is designed to inspect all relevant areas of the building that may be affected by demolition or complete strip-out. This can include walls, floors, ceilings, roof voids, service ducts, risers, basements, plant rooms, outbuildings and structural voids.
Because asbestos may be concealed within the structure, the surveyor may need to open up building elements and take representative samples from hidden materials. This is carried out using controlled methods to identify asbestos before demolition contractors begin work.
Samples collected during the survey are sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis. Testing confirms whether asbestos fibres are present and identifies the type of asbestos-containing material so that removal requirements can be planned correctly.
If asbestos-containing materials are identified, the survey findings help determine what must be removed or addressed before demolition starts. This reduces the risk of asbestos disturbance during strip-out, structural demolition and waste handling.
After the survey is completed, a detailed asbestos survey report is provided for the building or demolition area.
The report identifies the location, extent and type of any asbestos-containing materials found and helps determine what action is required before demolition, soft strip or major strip-out works can begin safely.
The report typically includes:
Demolition surveys are required before buildings are demolished so that asbestos-containing materials can be identified and dealt with before structural works begin.
Where a building is being stripped back to its shell, a demolition survey may be required to identify asbestos in internal linings, ceilings, service runs, risers, floor finishes and plant areas.
Older offices, shops, hotels and mixed-use premises often require demolition surveys before redevelopment, major strip-out or structural alterations.
Factories, depots and warehouse buildings may contain asbestos in roof sheets, insulation materials, plant rooms, service ducts and other structural elements that need to be assessed before demolition.
Public buildings scheduled for major redevelopment, full strip-out or demolition often require intrusive asbestos surveying before works begin.
Housing blocks, garages, annexes and other residential structures may require demolition surveys before being demolished, substantially stripped out or redeveloped.
Asbestos surveys in the UK should be carried out in accordance with guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Survey organisations are often accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), which assesses the competence of testing and inspection bodies.
Surveys are typically carried out by qualified asbestos surveyors following HSE guidance HSG264: Asbestos: The Survey Guide. Surveyors commonly hold recognised qualifications from the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), such as the P402 qualification for surveying and sampling asbestos in buildings.
Following recognised standards helps ensure asbestos surveys are carried out safely and in line with industry best practice.
If you require an asbestos demolition survey before demolition or full strip-out works, you can request a quote using our asbestos survey enquiry form.
It only takes 30 seconds and most enquiries receive a response the same day.
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The cost of an asbestos demolition survey depends on the size and complexity of the building, how accessible the structure is, the extent of destructive inspection required and the number of samples needed. Demolition surveys are often among the most detailed asbestos surveys because they are designed to identify hidden asbestos throughout the building before demolition or strip-out starts.
Provide a few details about the property and we’ll help arrange asbestos survey quotes from qualified surveyors covering your area.
Not sure which type of survey you need? Complete the quote form and a specialist surveyor will be in touch.
An asbestos demolition survey is an intrusive inspection carried out before a building is demolished or fully stripped out. It is designed to identify asbestos-containing materials throughout the building, including hidden materials within the structure, so they can be dealt with before demolition begins.
A demolition survey is required before a building is demolished, fully stripped out or prepared for major redevelopment where the structure will be disturbed extensively. It is particularly important in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Both surveys sit within the same refurbishment and demolition survey category, but the scope is different. A refurbishment survey usually focuses on the part of the building affected by the planned works, whereas a demolition survey is generally more extensive and is intended to cover the whole building or full area being demolished.
