Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that is mined out of the ground. It has been used extensively worldwide and put into thousands of products for its exceptional heat resistance and durability.

Asbestos is a Greek word meaning “inextinguishable” it has been used for thousands of years by many cultures including the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and throughout the Medieval era.

These civilisations used asbestos for its heat resistance and durability. The Greeks made table cloths and napkins woven from asbestos which were thrown into the fire to be cleaned. It was used for candle wicks and mummification wraps, ancient Scandinavians mixed it into their pottery for strength and in medieval times it was used as insulation in suits of armour.

In the last 200 years asbestos has been used predominantly in building materials which have been used extensively across the world. In the UK the use and supply of asbestos was banned in 1999, however it is still mined in some countries and continues to be used in many other parts of the world.

Asbestos materials present severe health risks when fibres become airborne and are inhaled. Exposure to these fibres can lead to significant health issues, including chronic respiratory conditions such as asbestosis and the development of aggressive forms of lung cancer like mesothelioma.

Prolonged exposure heightens the risk of lung cancer, particularly among individuals who smoke.

Identifying and properly managing asbestos containing materials are critical to prevent exposure and mitigate potential health hazards associated with asbestos.

At Pure Check, we understand the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. Our professional asbestos surveying, sampling and consultancy services are specifically designed to identify and address these risks, ensuring the safety and well being of occupants in buildings where asbestos may be present.

Asbestos was extensively used in building materials due to its durability and heat resistant properties. In homes asbestos can be found in many areas, including:

• Textured Coatings: Asbestos was regularly used in textured coatings on ceilings and walls. Artex containing asbestos was used extensively in homes in the UK throughout the 1960’s, 70’s & 80’s.

• Floor Coverings: Asbestos was used in floor tiles, the adhesive used to glue floor tiles and asbestos paper backed vinyl flooring.

• Toilet Cisterns: Toilet cisterns & seats made from resin commonly contain asbestos fibres.

• Ceiling & Wall Boards: Asbestos flat sheeting was regularly used for ceiling and wall boarding throughout houses especially in areas for heat and fire protection such as garage ceilings, airing cupboards, stores, cupboards & around boilers.

• Corrugated Sheeting: Asbestos cement sheeting was used extensively for roof and wall cladding in garages, sheds and outbuildings.

• Gutters & Downpipes: Asbestos cement gutters and downpipes are common in domestic and commercial buildings.

• Soil Pipes & Flue Pipes: Asbestos cement was used for soil vent pipes and flue pipes from heating appliances.

• Soffits: Soffit boarding is found externally on the roofline areas of a house. Both asbestos cement and asbestos insulation board were regularly used for soffit boards.

• Water Tanks: Asbestos cement header and water tanks can be found in the loft.

• Pipe Insulation: Asbestos pipe insulation can come in many forms including paper, sectional and hard set. This is commonly found in larger homes and commercial premises.

Asbestos can be found in many other items in and around the home, the presence of asbestos is not always visible or easily identifiable. This makes professional asbestos surveys essential to accurately identify its presence and ensure proper management or removal if necessary. For a comprehensive assessment of asbestos in your house please contact us for more advice.

Identifying asbestos in your house should be done by carrying out an asbestos survey by a trained and competent person. Asbestos was used in thousands of products and can be present in many materials throughout the home. Visually identifying asbestos containing materials (ACMs) is difficult as they often appear similar to non-asbestos materials. DIY asbestos test kits might provide initial indications, but they aren't foolproof and will pose risks if used incorrectly. Therefore, the safest and most accurate way to determine if your house contains asbestos is to engage asbestos surveyors like Pure Check. Our expertise ensures thorough surveys, sample testing, and proper identification of any asbestos containing materials present in your property.

To test for asbestos, an asbestos survey or sampling should be carried out by a trained surveyor. The surveyor will take samples of any materials they suspect to contain asbestos. These samples are typically quite small, around the size of a fingernail. The samples are analysed in a UKAS accredited laboratory to test for the presence of asbestos fibres.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss asbestos surveying or sampling to find out which is the best option for your requirements.

An asbestos survey is crucial to identify the presence and condition of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in your property. It's essential for compliance with regulations and ensuring the safety of occupants, & maintenance staff.

Asbestos management surveys are a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises and communal areas of domestic premises.

Asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys are an essential requirement prior to the refurbishment or demolition of a building.

Asbestos re-inspection surveys are required on a regular basis to monitor the condition of asbestos materials.

Pure Check have the expertise to advise you on the right survey to meet your needs, meet legal requirements and keep you safe.

The cost of an asbestos survey can vary based on several factors, including the size and complexity of the property and the type of survey required. To provide an accurate cost estimate, we need to speak to you to understand your requirements.

As a guide a management asbestos survey to a 3 bed semi-detached house costs from £300. This price is for a full survey and report.

Our commitment is to offer transparent pricing and tailored solutions. We prioritise providing high quality services at competitive rates, ensuring that you receive the survey that is right for you at a fair price.

For a tailored cost estimate and to discuss your specific needs, we encourage you to contact us today. We're here to guide you through the process and provide comprehensive solutions that meet with your budget and requirements.

A refurbishment survey should be carried out prior to any works involving refurbishment, renovation, or alteration. This can range from complete renovation to minor works such as installing a new kitchen or moving a wall.

A demolition survey should be carried out prior to the demolition of a building or part thereof.

Refurbishment and Demolition surveys or R&D surveys are commonly categorised as one type of survey. However UKAS guidance recommends a separation of these survey types. This means that if you are carrying out refurbishment works then a refurbishment survey should be carried out, and if you are carrying out demolition works then a demolition survey should be carried out. If you are carrying out both refurbishment and demolition works then a combined R&D survey can be used.

The main goal of asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys is to ensure the safety of workers and contractors involved in the project by identifying and managing asbestos hazards in advance to ensure they are not disturbed by the process.

It is a legal requirement under the control of asbestos regulations to manage asbestos in buildings as exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious health issues, including lung diseases and cancer. Refurbishment or demolition projects should only proceed after an asbestos survey has been carried out. Contact us today to discuss your project and book your survey.

Asbestos management surveys are a comprehensive inspections to identify any asbestos containing materials (ACMs) present within a premises that could be disturbed during normal occupancy. Management surveys are conducted to ensure the safety of all building users by identifying asbestos materials and providing a full survey report. These surveys are a requirement for all commercial premises. For more information please visit our management survey page.

Asbestos refurbishment surveys are conducted before renovation or refurbishment projects. Their primary purpose is to identify ACMs that may be disturbed during the planned works. Refurbishment surveys involve intrusive investigation to identify asbestos materials that may be concealed in the fabric of the building. For more information please visit our refurbishment survey page.

Asbestos demolition surveys are conducted prior to a building, structure or section of a building being demolished. The primary purpose of these survey is to identify any ACMs in the building so they can be removed before the demolition begins. For more information please visit our demolition survey page.

Asbestos re-inspection surveys are a follow up assessment conducted at regular intervals in buildings or structures where ACMs have been identified. The purpose of this survey is to monitor the condition of known ACMs, update the asbestos register, and ensure ongoing compliance with asbestos management regulations and safety standards. For more information please visit our re-inspection survey page.

Pure Check offer all types of asbestos surveys to ensure your property remains safe and compliant.

When Pure Check conducts an asbestos survey, our experienced surveyors meticulously examine every corner of your property. Our surveyors are trained to know what materials asbestos was used in and where these occur in a building. There is not a special machine that detects asbestos, it has to be visually identified and sampled where required.

Surveys start by drawing a floor plan of the building then proceed to visually inspecting all accessible areas of the property including, rooms, cupboards, lofts & externals. The surveyor identifies potential asbestos containing materials (ACMs), taking samples if necessary for analysis in UKAS accredited laboratories.

Refurbishment and demolition surveys may involve intrusive investigation which can include lifting floorboards and floor coverings, making holes in partition walls, opening up boxing and concealed voids.

Notes and photos are taken and recorded on an app, this allows us create a comprehensive report detailing the location, condition, and type of ACMs found. The report contains:

• Executive summary of all ACMs identified by the survey

• Floor plans which clearly locate any asbestos materials

• Photos of suspect and asbestos materials

• Risk assessments for any identified asbestos materials

• Appropriate management actions and recommendations such as encapsulation, removal, or ongoing monitoring.

• Sample analysis results certificate.

We prioritise safety throughout the survey, using protective equipment and following detailed survey and sampling methods. Our goal is to accurately assess the risk posed by ACMs, evaluating their condition and potential for disturbance. This information enables us to devise a tailored survey report, with appropriate management actions such and ensure a safe environment for occupants and contractors.

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about what happens during an asbestos survey.

Not necessarily. At Pure Check, our priority is your safety and minimal disruption during the asbestos survey process. For most survey types, occupants can remain in the property while our surveyors conduct the inspection. You will need to move out of the room that the surveyor is in especially when samples are being taken. We take precautions to minimise any potential risks during the survey, ensuring that our procedures adhere to strict safety standards and regulations.

When a refurbishment survey is carried out the areas of the property to be refurbished ideally need to be empty of furnishings and items. However we understand that this is not always possible and will work with you to carry out the survey with minimal disruption.

When a demolition survey is carried out the property should be unoccupied and empty of items and furnishings. This enables a thorough survey to be conducted of all areas and helps to minimise caveats or restrictions on the survey that may cause delays later on in the project.

We aim to conduct surveys with the least disruption possible while maintaining a focus on safety and compliance throughout the process.

We recommend that an asbestos re-inspection survey is carried out on an annual basis.

The frequency of asbestos re-inspections can vary based on two main factors, the type of property and the condition of previously identified asbestos containing materials (ACMs). If you have a property with significant higher risk ACM’s then re-inspection should be carried out on a more regular basis to assess the condition of ACMs and ensure ongoing safety and compliance.

At Pure Check, we emphasise the importance of regular asbestos re-inspections to monitor any changes in ACMs' condition and to update the survey report and management plan accordingly. Factors such as building renovations, changes in property use, or damage to existing materials may also prompt the need for more frequent re-inspections. Contact us to discuss your re-inspection needs and schedule.

A “dutyholder” is the person or persons responsible for the maintenance and repair of any non-domestic premises. Non-domestic premises include all commercial premises such as shops, offices, schools, factories, churches and farms. They are also responsible for communal parts of domestic premises such as flats and sheltered accommodation.

The dutyholder is responsible for ensuring that an asbestos survey and asbestos management plan are produced and maintained for their buildings.

The duties and responsibilities of a dutyholder are set out under regulation 4 in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).

Employers also have a responsibility to their employees under regulation 5 of CAR to ensure they do not undertake work which exposes or is liable to expose their employees to asbestos.

This means that any company carrying out work in a building must get an asbestos survey caried out prior to commencing their work. This includes domestic and commercial properties. The survey must adequately cover the scope of their planned works. For example, a building company carrying out renovation works on a private domestic property must carry out a refurbishment asbestos survey prior to carrying out their works to ensure they do not expose their employees or the homeowners to asbestos.

An asbestos management plan is a detailed document essential for non-domestic buildings & domestic communal areas. It is carried out after the asbestos survey has been conducted. It details the risk asbestos containing materials (ACMs) pose to the building users and outlines management requirements to minimise risk.

Key components include:

• Assessing the risk level of ACM’s Identified in the survey report

• Outlining management procedures (such as monitoring and labelling)

• Assigning responsibilities

• Providing training

• Detailing emergency procedures

The plan ensures compliance with legal obligations, safeguards occupants' health, and serves as a living document requiring regular review and updating to reflect changes in the buildings use or any new ACM discoveries.

Please contact us if you would like to get a quote for an asbestos management plan.

An asbestos management plan is an essential part in meeting the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. These regulations set out procedures for who is responsible and how to manage asbestos in buildings.

Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) need to be managed to ensure they do not pose a risk to people.

The first step is to have an asbestos survey carried out to identify where ACMs are located.

The second step is to create an asbestos management plan to detail this risk posed by any identified ACMs and how they will be managed to ensure risks are minimised.

The simple answer is no. Asbestos should be removed safely by competent, trained professionals.

Burying asbestos can lead to big costs and difficulties for the next unsuspecting owner of the land. Disposing of asbestos improperly poses serious health and environmental risks. Asbestos materials, when disturbed or damaged, release microscopic fibres into the air that if inhaled can cause severe health issues including lung diseases and cancer.

Burying asbestos, whether on your property or elsewhere, is illegal and extremely hazardous. It can contaminate soil, water sources, and pose risks to anyone who comes into contact with the buried materials.

If you are thinking about burying it please contact us to discuss alternative options. It can be as simple as using a specific asbestos skip to directly dispose of the waste.

Attempting to remove asbestos without the proper training, equipment, and precautions can put you at risk of exposure, leading to severe health complications like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Removal of asbestos is highly regulated to ensure the safety of all involved. There are several categories of asbestos removal including, licensed, non-licensed and notifiable non-licensed works that cover all types of asbestos materials.

Licensed asbestos removal contractors possess the expertise, equipment, and safety measures to handle and remove all types of asbestos containing materials safely. They follow strict procedures for containment, removal, and disposal, minimising the risk of fibre release and exposure.

Prioritising safety is crucial when dealing with asbestos. Taking matters into your own hands might seem cost effective, but the potential health risks far outweigh the savings. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, always consult and engage professionals licensed and regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Ultimately, asbestos removal is not recommended by anyone other than licensed asbestos removal contractors due to the associated health risks and legal regulations. Prioritise your safety and the safety of those around you by seeking professional assistance when dealing with asbestos containing materials.

Please feel free to contact us for further advice on selecting a suitable asbestos removal contractor and your requirements for asbestos removal or management.

Most local authorities and waste recycling centres no longer accept asbestos waste even during Hazardous waste events.

Removing and disposing of asbestos must be done in line with current regulation and guidance. For advice on safe handling practices or to discuss the disposal process, contact us today. We can provide guidance and connect you with licensed asbestos removal contractors who can help remove and dispose of the asbestos materials for you.

Pure Check specialises in asbestos surveying and management, focusing on identifying asbestos containing materials within properties. While our services do not include asbestos removal, we can advise you on the most suitable solutions for your project.

The cost to remove asbestos varies massively from a few hundred pounds to millions. The main factors that determine the cost of asbestos removal are the material type, extent and location of the asbestos material. If you would like more information on the cost of asbestos removal please contact us and we will be able to provide impartial advice on what to expect in cost for asbestos removal, how to select a suitable asbestos removal contractor and if asbestos removal is the best option.

When selecting an asbestos removal contactor it’s important to make sure they are suitable for your project. Asbestos removal contractors can be licensed and non-licensed. This affects the type of asbestos materials they are allowed to remove. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issues licenses to asbestos removal contractors who have demonstrated they can meet the quality, competency, training & suitability requirements that are set out in the HSE’s licensing procedures. This allows them to remove higher risk “Licensed” asbestos containing materials. These are typically asbestos materials that are used for an insulation purpose such as Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB), Pipe Insulation and Sprayed Coatings.

Non-Licensed contractors are not allowed to remove Licensed asbestos materials however they can still remove many other asbestos products. If you are using a non-licensed asbestos removal contractor its important you ensure they are competent to carry out the works and have suitable insurance, training and equipment to carry out the works.

As a general rule we recommend that any asbestos removal works are carried out by a licensed contractor as they have had to demonstrate to the HSE that they can attain to a high level of competency. However, there are many non-licensed contractors, demolition companies and builders who carry out removal of non-licensed asbestos materials and provide an excellent service.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss further how to select a suitable asbestos removal contractor for your works.