Asbestos Survey Cost
How much does an asbestos survey cost?
Important facts to understand and consider
The cost of asbestos surveys can vary quite significantly depending on many factors, the following information is provided to show some of these factors, in all their positive and negative aspects.
CHEAP SURVEYS
There are now many asbestos 'surveyors' out there, some even offering £80 surveys for domestic properties! many of them have no qualifications and/or little experience with a material that is known to cause cancer by simply breathing in the tiny invisible fibres and was used in over 3000 different materials.
These uncaring people will get plenty of work from clients who consider price only and fail to use common sense, it's not like a simple task of painting a room or cleaning a driveway, it has health/legal risks that may affect family, friends, staff, and the general public.
PLAY ON YOUR FEARS
The understandable anxiety created by the health effects of the material also helps to arm unscrupulous contractors with the tools to add the pressure of worry or fear to secure a job. Low risk materials like Artex (other brands available) which only contains 2-3% asbestos fibres, floor tiles and bitumen adhesive in which the fibres are tightly trapped and difficult to release, garage roofs which are highly bonded (compressed cement) and unlikely to release many fibres even when broken, these materials (and others) are often reported as dangerous and require urgent removal at huge cost!.
MEDIUM RISK MATERIALS
In 30 years experience dealing with asbestos materials I would estimate over 95% of domestic asbestos is low risk, there are materials that are considered a higher risk, although they are classed as medium risk, compared to the rare high risk materials (sprayed raw asbestos, highly damaged high content materials, pipe/plant insulation).
The most common medium risk asbestos material commonly found in both domestic and commercial buildings is AIB (Asbestos Insulation Board) which contains about 40% Amosite (Brown asbestos). If disturbed this material will release thousands of microscopic (0.5 - 10µm) invisible fibres and is considered the main culprit for most modern asbestos related cancers (mesothelioma etc).
MATERIAL MISINFORMATION
I have unfortunately experienced far too many cases of material misinformation, cases where the above medium risk material (AIB )is reported to the client as a low risk material, therefore not requiring significant control measures for removal, the removal is then carried out badly, resulting in the contractors employees and client being exposed (usually unknowingly) leaving the site contaminated and leading to further exposure or it is simply not recognised as an asbestos material in surveys because of the limited knowledge of poorly trained surveyor.
It also works the other way round where a low risk cement material is reported as being AIB and costed accordingly.
The removal cost difference between AC (asbestos cement) and AIB (asbestos Insulation Board) has always been historically illustrated as (removal of AC £50 per square metre - removal of AIB £500 per square metre) mainly as a stark illustration of the risk difference!.
can cost less than you think if you find the right person. Someone with 30 years experience, fully qualified and with low overhead costs. Yes we are dealing with a material that can cause cancer and is strictly controlled by regulations CoAR 2012 .But it doesn't have to be worrying or confusing. We provide help and advice through all stages including price, inspection, survey, report.
Located in Kent we offer: Domestic Asbestos Surveys - Commercial Asbestos Consultant - Asbestos Demolition and Refurbishment Surveys - Pre-Sale Asbestos Reports - Communal Area Asbestos Surveys (flats etc) - New Lease Commercial Asbestos Inspections - Asbestos Risk Assessments - Commercial and Industrial Asbestos Management Plans (CoAR 2012) - 'No Asbestos Found' Confirmation Reports - Emergency and Short Notice Reports Carried Out in Kent and London.
