Refurbishment & Demolition Survey
A refurbishment and demolition survey is a legal requirement under Regulation 7 of CAR 2012 before any intrusive building work, renovation, or demolition begins. Carried out by BOHS P402-qualified surveyors. Fully intrusive — all areas inspected.
A refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey is a fully intrusive inspection required before any refurbishment, renovation, extension, or demolition work begins on a building that may contain asbestos. Unlike a management survey, the R&D survey involves destructive inspection to gain access to all areas of the building — including those that are difficult to reach, such as wall cavities, above suspended ceilings, within floor voids, and in structural elements.
The survey is carried out in accordance with HSG264 — Asbestos: The Survey Guide — by BOHS P402-qualified surveyors. All suspect materials are sampled and analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
Legal Requirement — Regulation 7, CAR 2012: It is a criminal offence to commence any intrusive building work on a pre-2000 property without first undertaking a refurbishment and demolition survey. This applies whether the work is a full demolition, a loft conversion, a kitchen refurbishment, or any structural alteration.
The surveyor will carry out a fully intrusive inspection of the area where works are planned — or the whole building in the case of demolition. This includes lifting floor coverings, drilling into walls, accessing ceiling voids, and inspecting all structural and service elements. The survey identifies all ACMs in the proposed work area before work begins.
If works are confined to a specific area — for example, a kitchen refurbishment — a targeted refurbishment survey covering only the works area may be sufficient. If full demolition is planned, a whole-building R&D survey covering all areas is required. Our surveyors will advise on the appropriate scope at the quotation stage.
Where ACMs are identified in the works area, removal by an HSE-licensed contractor is required before works can commence. The survey report will confirm which materials require removal, enabling accurate contractor pricing and programming. Following removal, independent air testing and a clearance certificate are required before the area can be reoccupied or works can continue.