Posted By Martyn Hilditch Do I need a lecense to take asbestos samples from our companies boiler house?

Posted By Bill Elliott Martyn - Why do you need to sample? - The Regs require you to manage both presumed and confirmed ACM's and it would only probably need to be sampled if it were in such bad condition that it would warrant removal by an HSE licensed remover. If the material is in good condition, not likely to become damaged, not likely to to be worked on or disturbed - leave it alone!, Mark it with appropriate signs, assess its risk on regular basis and make sure everyone likely to be affected by it knows of its presence. Have a "permit to work" for all work in the area. Sampling is around £60-£100 a sample, and as Tony says one is unlikely to suffice in an area like a boiler room(MDHS 100 Refers). Treat the material "as presumed to contain asbestos" until such times as you have surveying undertaken, this will inevitably involve sampling anyway. In a word "Manage" it.

Posted By Martyn Hilditch Surely Bill you shouldn't have to wait for the material to be in such a bad condition before you start sampling?

Posted By Martyn Hilditch Another point on this, is it wise to use 'licensed' asbestos removal contractors to carry out the survey? Are they more likely to assume there is more asbestos than you thought?

Posted By Kevin West There are a number of independant Consultancies (one of which I work for) that will provide both the analysis (UKAS Accredited and for a lot less than £60 per sample) and will carry out the sampling on behalf of clients wishing to ascertain whether the materaial contains asbestos or not. These Consultancies will also carry out Building Surveys to aid in the Management of Asbestos in Existing structures (in line with the forthcoming new regulations). Contact me should you require further info on tthis subject.

Posted By Steve Martyn, I have recently had a Type 2 asbestos survey undertaken by a local company on two of my sites. The service they gave me was excellent and very keenly priced againsed other companies I had a tender off. I would suggest you let the experts handle any testing and survey requirements. Please contact me direct if you require any further info. Steve

Posted By Stuart Nagle In respect of sampling of suspected asbestos the correct course required is a BIOH P402. You should be 'competent' as defined by the Management of health and safety at Work Regulations 1999. The document MSDS100 provides information on sampling and testing for suspected asbestos containing materials. There are 3 types of survey: Type1 - no sampling required but presumes that all suspect material is asbestos containing and therefore has to be risk assessed and managed in accordance with the requirements; Type 2 takes samples and arranges for testing to establish what is and is not an asbestos containing material, then the requirements to risk assess and manage are the same (advantage = less onerous management if you do not have to manage all materials that were suspected of containing asbestos if in fact, after sampling they do not!!) Type3 pre-demolition survey, that requires all materials suspected to be sampled including breaking open/into areas that would not normally be sampled by a type 2 survey, so to ensure the risk during demolition is removed or reduced to acceptable minimum. If you are not trained and competent, do not do it. enough person are suffering the effects of asbestos exposure to add to this figure... get competent assistance. best regards... ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted By Martyn Hilditch Thanks for all your replies. In the long term we are to use surveyors. Like Tony Birchall said we are only taking a few samples under controlled conditions but many thanks again everybody.