Type 1 Asbestos Survey

There are three types of asbestos survey, known as type1, type 2 and type 3.The type 1 asbestos survey is the most commonly requested survey and is also the least expensive.

The purpose of a type 1 asbestos survey is to locate (as far as is reasonably practicable), the presence and extent of any suspect Asbestos Containing Materials (known as ACM's) in a building and to assess their condition.

The type 1 asbestos survey is a visual survey only, meaning that samples are not usually taken and that the surveyor will simply identify materials and items that could contain asbestos and will presume them to be ACMs.

The type 1 asbestos survey is non-invasive and involves the surveyor(s) inspecting all aspects of the building, internally and externally, photographing any materials that could contain asbestos.

These photographs are then compiled in the asbestos register for the building, together with a note explaining the condition of the material, the amount and whether any remedial action is recommended.

The type 1 asbestos survey will ensure that your premises comply with the CAWR regulations, but will not necessarily solve all of your problems.

For example, by presuming that certain materials contain asbestos, they then have to be treated as though they are asbestos.

This means that precautions have to be taken when doing any kind of work on the material - which of course, can be expensive in certain circumstances.

For example, items such as suspended ceiling tiles, floor tiles, vinyl etc have been known to contain asbestos, but many do not.

By testing some items, you can rule out the presence of asbestos and save yourself increased maintenance and safety costs that would undoubtedly be incurred if the materials were to be presumed to contain asbestos.

Selective sampling in a type 1 asbestos survey is a sensible precaution and one that we highly recommend - but only for those materials where presuming asbestos presence would increase costs later.