Suggest that you download HSG264 from the HSE web site, this will give you a good insight in to what type of survey should be carried out and what you should expect from a survey? A survey will have an element of sampling dependant on what type of survey you undertake. As far as removal the survey will only indicate what the best management option would be and would not encompass the plan of work for removal, this would be provided who ever is carrying out the removal, also remember that anyone carrying out removal must be competent and licensed where applicable. Regards PaulR

John The purpose of a Demolition or Refurbishment survey is to identify Asbestos Containing Materials including in concealed locations. Unless not reasonably practicable, these ACMs are to be removed prior to the subsequent works. HSG264 talks about breaking through walls and floors etc. Beware caveats such as we don't work at heights of more than 2m, or the cupboard was locked, "No access". The surveyor should GET access!!

Clark34486 - Agreed and that it's not chrysotile alone and take a lot of precautions that may not be found to be necessary if a competent Demolition/Refurb survey done.

First of all the old type three (destructive) survey is pretty much the same as a demolition and refurbishment survey. It's there to attempt to identify all the asbestos prior to either the demolition of a building or refurbishment which may disturb it. The survey is no more than that, removal is a separate issue entirely. There are very specific requirements for the way these surveys are undertaken and the format of the report. Always remember that surveys can miss ACMs both because of disclaimers and inability to access and because of human error. Which is why builders and contractors should have asbestos awareness training. Generally there are two types of work with asbestos; unlicensed which is work that a company can undertake without being licensed by the HSE to remove it and they do not have to notify the HSE that they are doing this work. Anything detailed in the HSE's Asbestos Essentials http://www.hse.gov.uk/as...tos/essentials/index.htm any worker doing this work must be specifically trained to remove asbestos there is advice within the essentials documentation detailing the contents of the training. Training must be refreshed annually. The Asbestos Essentials are in themselves general method statements for non licensed work. The other type of work with ACMs is licensed work which must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos removal company and the HSE have to be given 14 days notice that this work is commencing. Removal of ACMs depends on whether it's licenced or unlicenced work and on the type of ACM being removed, some of these tasks require sealing the building and having full decontamination units etc etc. Also workers may need long term health surveillance (records kept for 40 years) Work on ACMs and doing the risk assessment / method statement should only be done by a competent person, equally asbestos surveys should only be done by competent persons again there is specific training for this. I don't believe that asbestos necessarily needs labeling after a demo & refurb report but the requirements of the survey process are that they must be properly identified. Technically there is a legal requirement to have an asbestos management plan in place but this is usually based on a management survey which is often presumptive so reference by a surveyor to this could be of limited value, unless it's also based on known encapsulated ACMs. In any case this type of survey or management plan is often missing or has never been done and it can often only indicate that further testing and confirmation is necessary before building work starts. hope this helps

Thanks boblewis you're spot on forgot the update regs. link for JLPhillips is http://www.hse.gov.uk/as...le-non-licensed-work.htm More or less any previously non notifiable ACMs which are in poor condition or more likely to release fibres must now be notified but still non licensed, carries the duty to notify the HSE and carry out health surveillance & keep worker records. My advice to anyone would be to get a licensed asbestos removal company to remove any ACMs which are notifiable non-licensed as it's safer and probably cheaper taking into account setting everything up.