Asbestos Register & Management Plan
Under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, duty holders of non-domestic premises must maintain an asbestos register and written management plan. We produce both — ready to present to the HSE, insurers, or building management.
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) places a legal duty on owners and occupiers of non-domestic premises to manage asbestos in their buildings. This is known as the "duty to manage." The duty holder — typically the building owner, landlord, or occupier with responsibility for maintenance — must take reasonable steps to find and record the presence and condition of asbestos-containing materials, assess the risk they present, and prepare a written plan to manage that risk.
Who is the duty holder? The duty holder is typically the building owner where premises are unoccupied, or the occupier where premises are occupied under a lease that gives responsibility for repair and maintenance. In some cases, building management companies or facilities managers may hold the duty. Failure to comply is a criminal offence under CAR 2012.
An asbestos register is a formal record of all known and suspected asbestos-containing materials in a building. It is produced following a management survey and includes the location, type, condition, and risk rating of each ACM, together with photographs and a floor plan showing locations. The register must be kept up to date and made available to anyone who may disturb the materials — including contractors and maintenance staff.
The written management plan sets out how asbestos-containing materials in the building will be managed. It includes:
The condition of asbestos-containing materials left in place must be re-inspected periodically — typically annually for most commercial buildings — and the register updated accordingly. This ensures that any deterioration or damage is identified and managed before it presents a risk. Annual re-inspection can be arranged as part of an ongoing management service.
The asbestos register must be made available to any person who may disturb asbestos-containing materials — including contractors, maintenance staff, and emergency services. Failure to provide access to the register to workers who may be at risk is a separate offence under CAR 2012. The register should also be provided to prospective buyers, tenants, and their solicitors as part of property due diligence.