Common questions we hear from clients. What
do you need to do and where do you need to go?
To answer its best to start at the beginning. Our surveyor will complete a desktop study of your premises in order to generate an accurate quotation and ensure you are requesting the correct survey type.
Our surveyor will want to know the following things:
- Address of property to be surveyed
- Age of property
- Approximate size of property
- Current usage
- Any special access requirements i.e out of hours inspections
- Any on site hazards for us
- If any current plans are available
- And if you plan to refurbish or demolish the property
Once our surveyor has collected some or all of the above information we will send over our formal quotation.
On acceptance the next step is to arrange a suitable time for our visit. Larger premises may need more than one surveyor. At this stage we will advise you of the likely duration of our visit and the number of surveyors required.
When our surveyors visit your premises they will require access to all areas for which you have the duty to manage. For more information on duty to manage click here.
Before we attend site it is worth considering the locked areas that are not normally accessed on a daily basis to ensure the keys are available. Areas may include, store rooms, cleaner’s cupboards, boiler rooms and basements. If we can not access them we can not inspect them. Areas not inspected have to be assumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise.
Now access is arranged our surveyors will start the inspection of your premises. Generally this is done by starting at the most logical point and working around the building in a methodical manner. You may be tempted to guide our surveyors to known asbestos but there is no need. It will be noted, sampled and recorded at the appropriate time in the inspection.
Please do tell us if asbestos is damaged and hazardous to our surveyors.
Asbestos sampling is completed under strictly controlled conditions. Members of staff may be asked to leave the area if sampling is required. This would normally be no longer than 10 minutes however if more time is required our surveyors can return at a more convenient time. In some circumstances it is not possible to take samples for a variety of reasons but usually because the act of sampling is more dangerous than the material itself. For example asbestos public areas, within live electrical or gas supply units or materials at great height.
On completion of the inspection that may take several hours or even days for large premises. Our surveyor will contact your site representative to explain our finding and discuss any potential hazards relating to asbestos in your building. Any samples taken will be delivered to the laboratory for analysis and will be used to compile our final report.
Reports are usually available within 7-10 days, in the meantime you are welcome to discuss any aspect of the inspection with our surveyor directly.
Other topics of interest
Asbestos Survey Types (coming soon)
What does the report look like and what is included? (coming soon)
What is required to complete a management plan? (coming soon)
