Asbestos Management Survey
The asbestos management survey is the standard inspection required for all non-domestic buildings under normal occupation. Carried out by BOHS P402-qualified surveyors in accordance with HSG264. Written reports issued within 48 hours.
An asbestos management survey is a non-intrusive inspection of a building to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy. It is the most common type of asbestos survey and is legally required under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) for duty holders of non-domestic premises built before the year 2000.
The survey is carried out by a BOHS P402-qualified surveyor in accordance with HSG264 — Asbestos: The Survey Guide, published by the Health and Safety Executive. All bulk samples collected during the survey are analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
Legal Requirement: Under Regulation 4 of CAR 2012, duty holders of non-domestic premises have a legal duty to manage asbestos. A management survey forms the foundation of that duty. Failure to comply can result in prosecution by the HSE.
The surveyor will carry out a visual inspection and limited intrusive investigation of all accessible areas of the building, including plant rooms, ceiling voids, floor voids, lift shafts, and external areas such as roof structures and outbuildings. Suspect materials are recorded, sampled where necessary, and photographed.
Any owner or occupier of a non-domestic building constructed before the year 2000 who has responsibility for maintenance and repair of that building is likely to be a duty holder under Regulation 4 of CAR 2012. This includes commercial office buildings, schools, hospitals, industrial premises, retail units, warehouses, leisure facilities, and mixed-use buildings.
Residential property owners are not subject to Regulation 4, but a management survey is recommended before any planned works and is increasingly required by mortgage lenders and insurers for properties built before 1985.
A management survey is suitable for buildings under normal occupation where no intrusive work is planned. If you are planning any refurbishment, renovation, extension, or demolition work, a refurbishment and demolition survey is legally required before works commence — even if a management survey already exists. The two surveys are distinct in scope and legal standing under CAR 2012.
The written survey report includes an asbestos register, condition assessment, risk priority rating for each ACM, and management recommendations. Low-risk, intact materials may be left in place and managed under a written asbestos management plan. Where removal is recommended, an HSE-licensed removal contractor will be arranged. All documentation is issued in the format required by the HSE, lenders, and insurers.