Posted By David Asker-Browne Good Morning Paul. It's difficult to comment on this due to the complex nature of asbestos guidance. My gut reaction is that you should have a written method statement for the work. This will involve making sure that the staff involved are trained to do the job, wear suitable FFP2 or 3 disposable respirators for which they have been face fit tested, Tyvek suits, and shadow vacuum with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner. Can you wet the flue as well? If you want to talk it over, call me on 023 9259 4573. Kind regards, David.

Posted By MAK In addition to David's gut feeling, The site provider should have an asbestos register on site, which should be checked prior to any works commencing on site. This register should hold asbestos surveys or records which would confirm where and what you’re dealing with. The contractor is aware that they should expect to have this information prior to works so while it seems excessive, without the appropriate documentation being available you are not aware of what other types of ACM’s are present or where and may be disturbed by accessing this area and the described works. The HSE will say that if the age or structure/materials of the building leads to the possibility of asbestos, the only assumption it is safe to make is that there is asbestos present. If the records have been checked, and you have ascertained the where and the what, I still advise that you refer to the MHDS 100 for guidance prior to any other works or requesting RA's and method statements.

Posted By MAK .... and obviously if I’d known about the type 2 surveys I wouldn’t have bothered with the posting above! just goes to show we should maybe make sure we have all the relevant information before we jump in eh?!

Posted By Salus you do not need a licensed asbestos removal contractor to remove asbestos cement products. who ever you get to remove the flues have them remove the clip. Risk assessment should ID significant risk, not to be carried out for undoing a screw or nut in a easily accessible non hazardous environment. get hold of HSG210 / ISBN 0-7176-1887-0 / cost £8.50

Posted By Catman Hi Paul Just a note of caution, some of the jubilee clip type joints on old boilers have an asbestos rope gasket inside sealing the flue joint, this will not always be picked up on type 2 asbestos surveying as asbestos surveyors often dont like to tamper with equipment like this. (breaking the seal can often mean an expensive renewal job.) Cheers TW