Asbestos is an insulating and fire-resistant material that was commonly used in UK properties before 2000. It was fully banned as a building material in 1999.
When asbestos is disturbed, asbestos fibres are released into the air. When inhaled, these particles can lead to fatal lung diseases.
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) that are in good condition and remain undisturbed are a low risk.
Surveying for Asbestos in a property.
Asbestos has high-tensile strength, as well as being fire resistant and insulating, so it was widely used in properties in the UK until its ban.
Therefore a lot of buildings from before 2000 contain ACMs. It's good practice to have a general independent home buyers survey taken before you commit to the purchase of a property.
A surveyor will examine the property and highlight any potential issues, avoiding any nasty surprises in the future.
As part of a Level 3 Survey, offered by our partner e.surv, an extensive visual inspection would bring to attention potential ACMs and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor (RICS) accredited surveyor can provide comprehensive advice on how to proceed.
It is considered a low risk if ACMs are in good condition and can remain undisturbed, so it does not necessarily have to be removed.
However, if you intend to refurbish a property that was built before the year 2000, you have a legal requirement to have an asbestos survey conducted first.
Which Asbestos Survey do I need?
An asbestos survey will assess the potential risk and determine if the asbestos needs to be removed.
The most standard asbestos survey is an Asbestos Management Survey. These surveys aim to locate any potential ACMs and assess their potential for risk, including the likelihood of the ACM being disturbed or damaged in the future.
If asbestos is of concern for you, e.surv's RICS accredited surveyors would be able to advise on how to proceed if their survey discovers asbestos.
If asbestos were to be found and needs to be removed, another survey would be required before any refurbishment or demolition takes place. This type of survey is fittingly known as a refurbishment and demolition survey.
While e.surv do not provide asbestos specific surveys, they are more than happy to discuss any questions or queries you may have. Contact their expert advisers today.
For more information on asbestos, please read the government webpage.
Reeds Rains E-marketing Executive
