Good morning

I have searched the forum and cannot see that my question has been previously covered so hoping you guys could help me with this.

We have a new client who has 2 care homes which are both old buildings and next door to each other. One building  (Care Home 1) has previously had asbestos identified in the floor in a corridor. It was quite a long time ago and staff/managers have changed a few times since so there is not a lot of info but there is an asbestos management plan in place for that asbestos. As far as they know, they have never had a full asbestos survey in either property. Care home 2 is going to be undergoing some refurbishements. 

My question is, do they need to have an asbestos survey?

My thoughts are yes they do, going by the regs alone.

I have scrutinised the regs and searched on google with conflicting opinions on Asbestos specialists websites.  

Care home 1 has already had asbestos identified so should they have a full survey, even though they have no work planned?

Care home 2 have plans to carry out some refurb work and it is approximately the same age as care home 1 so in my opinion, it is likely to have asbestos. 

They are a charity and don't want to spend the money unnessessarily 

Can anyone offer guidance please?

Thanks in advance

Care home 2 needs a demolition and refurbishment survey as the works will be instrusive to the existing structure meaning the chance of disturbing any asbestos present is high.

If the management plan for Care home 1 is not based on a documented survey I would ask the provider about a discounted Management Survey at the same time. 

Hi Tracey

Unless either building is entirely 21st Century then Roundtuit's advice is spot on.

However, someone needs to get the specification water tight for the Demolition/Refurbishment survey for Building 2 to avoid all the caveats that are almost the norm.

So, examples:

Caveat 1 - we didn't access above the ceiling we couldn't reach that high. NO - get access equipment.

Caveat 2 - we didn't access behind a locked door as nobody had a key.. NO - get a locksmith.

If the survey specification is aligned to what it says in HSG264, then you should be able to pin the survey company down so that they do what is needed. 

....and if you do that and they still come up with such caveats and they explain that they have reported using their standard reporting template tell them that you want a report that does not leave the situation so vague as to not enable a level playing field for those tendering for subsequent works [Been there!!]

ANY caveat to an HSG264 R&D asbestos survey should come complete with a full justification.

Can happen, though should be very rarely, and it might be that a hold point needs to be put into the subsequent construction contract to enable further investigation.