Get in touch
Close

Asbestos Surveys

Assets & Compliance Managed Services delivers UKAS-accredited asbestos management surveys and refurbishment and demolition (R&D) surveys for duty holders across the UK. Working in accordance with HSE guidance HSG264, our surveyors help organisations identify, assess and manage asbestos risks while supporting compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Surveyor taking a sample of building material in small plastic bag, standard asbestos survey to locate any presence and the extent of materials containing asbestos (ACMs)

Whether you manage a single commercial property or a nationwide estate, our surveys form part of a complete digital asbestos risk management service. Survey findings are uploaded directly into Vision Pro Software, giving authorised users immediate access to asbestos registers, survey reports, photographs, risk assessments and management actions through a secure online portal.

We work with NHS trusts, local authorities, schools, universities, housing providers, retail organisations and commercial property owners, delivering consistent surveys and reporting across entire property portfolios.

Why choose Assets & Compliance Managed Services?

Managing asbestos is about more than completing a survey. It requires reliable information, robust processes, and ongoing compliance management.

Every asbestos survey includes:

  • UKAS-accredited asbestos surveys undertaken to HSG264.
  • Coverage across the UK.
  • Independent UKAS-accredited laboratories for bulk sample analysis.
  • Independent UKAS-accredited air monitoring specialists for reassurance and certification testing where required.
  • Digital asbestos risk management through Vision Pro Software.
  • Survey reports typically issued within seven working days of completing the site inspection.
  • Consistent reporting across single buildings and multi-site estates.
  • Integration with wider compliance services including fire risk and legionella risk assessments.

Asbestos surveys we provide

Assets & Compliance Managed Services carries out both types of asbestos survey defined by the HSE: the management survey and the refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey. The right survey depends on how the building is used and what work is planned.

Many clients start with a management survey when they take on a building and commission an R&D survey ahead of planned works. Our team will confirm which survey you need at the scoping stage. For a fuller comparison, read our guide to what an asbestos management survey involves.

Asbestos management survey

The standard survey for an occupied building with no structural work planned. Our surveyors locate, as far as reasonably practicable, any asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during normal occupation and routine maintenance. The survey is minimally intrusive and the building stays in use. Findings form the basis of your asbestos register and management plan.

Refurbishment and demolition survey

Required before refurbishment, fit-out, structural alterations or demolition. Surveyors inspect every area affected by the planned works, including concealed voids and structural elements, using intrusive techniques. The surveyed area must be vacated and certified fit for reoccupation afterwards. Work cannot lawfully start without a suitable R&D survey of the affected areas.

What’s included in every asbestos survey

Whichever survey you commission, every project is delivered to the same high professional standards and provides the information needed to effectively manage asbestos risk.

UKAS-accredited surveying

Every survey is undertaken under our UKAS accreditation to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020 as a Type C Inspection Body (Reference No. 30103). Our accreditation demonstrates independently assessed competence, quality management systems and technical procedures, giving clients confidence that surveys meet recognised industry standards.

Independent UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis

Representative bulk samples are taken where appropriate and analysed by independent UKAS-accredited laboratories in accordance with HSG248. Where materials cannot be safely sampled, they are presumed to contain asbestos and managed accordingly.

Independent UKAS-accredited air monitoring

Where projects require reassurance air testing, background monitoring or four-stage clearance certification following licensed asbestos removal, we appoint independent UKAS-accredited analytical companies. This independent verification provides additional assurance that areas are safe for reoccupation where required.

Risk assessments and recommendations

Every identified or presumed asbestos-containing material receives condition and risk assessments together with practical management recommendations. Reports clearly identify priorities, allowing duty holders to focus resources where risks are greatest.

Photographic recording

All asbestos-containing materials are supported by photographic records, enabling maintenance teams and contractors to accurately identify materials before work begins.

Reports within seven working days

Survey reports are normally issued within seven working days of completing the site inspection, subject to laboratory analysis. Faster turnaround times can be arranged for urgent projects.

Digital asbestos risk management

Survey information is uploaded directly into Vision Pro Software, providing secure online access to:

  • asbestos registers
  • survey reports
  • photographs
  • risk assessments
  • management recommendations
  • contractor access controls
  • audit history
  • scheduled re-inspections

This provides clients with a single, continually updated source of asbestos compliance information across their estate.

How an asbestos survey works, from instruction to report

Every asbestos survey follows the same four stages, from the first conversation about your building to a finished report and register. We confirm the scope, programme and cost at the outset, before any work takes place on site. Timescales vary with the size of the building and the survey type, and we set them out clearly at the scoping stage.

  1. Scoping and quote. We gather the building’s age, construction, current use, occupancy and any existing asbestos records. That information sets the survey type, the areas in scope and the resources needed, and you receive a quote and programme.
  2. Site survey. Surveyors inspect every area in scope, including ceiling voids, risers, service ducts, roof spaces and external areas. A management survey of a small-to-medium commercial building can usually be completed within a day, while larger estates and R&D surveys take longer. Any area that cannot be accessed is recorded in the report and treated as presumed asbestos.
  3. Laboratory analysis. Representative samples go to independent UKAS-accredited laboratories for analysis under HSG248. Faster turnaround is available when works are waiting on the results.
  4. Report and register. Reports are normally issued within seven working days of the site inspection, subject to laboratory analysis. Each report details the location, type, extent and condition of every material, with risk scores and recommended actions. The same findings are uploaded into Vision Pro Software, ready to share with contractors.

Multi-site asbestos management

Managing asbestos across multiple buildings presents additional challenges beyond completing individual surveys.

Assets & Compliance Managed Services applies consistent survey methodologies, risk assessments and reporting formats across every property, enabling organisations to prioritise investment, monitor compliance and manage asbestos risks consistently throughout their estate. Survey programmes can be phased around occupancy, term dates or clinical activity.

Through Vision Pro Software, estates teams can:

  • access asbestos information across all properties
  • provide contractors with controlled access before work starts
  • monitor outstanding management actions
  • schedule asbestos re-inspections
  • maintain a complete audit trail
  • produce portfolio-wide compliance reports

For organisations managing healthcare estates, schools, housing portfolios, or commercial property, this provides a single digital platform for asbestos risk management rather than a collection of individual survey reports.

We survey estates across:

After your survey

Completing a survey is only the first stage of asbestos management.

Duty holders must ensure asbestos information remains current, accessible and reviewed throughout the life of the building.

Assets & Compliance Managed Services provides ongoing support through:

This approach helps organisations maintain compliance while reducing administrative burden and ensuring asbestos information remains accurate and readily available. See our asbestos management services for how the full programme fits together.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long an asbestos survey takes to complete depends on the size and complexity of the premises, as well as the type of survey required. A management survey for a small-to-medium commercial building, such as a single-storey office unit or a straightforward warehouse, can usually be completed within a day. Larger or more complex sites, including multi-storey office blocks, school campuses, or hospital estates, may require several days, especially if access to voids, risers, or roof spaces must be carefully managed.

R&D surveys require more time than management surveys for similar premises due to their intrusive inspections and higher sampling volume. Survey reports are normally issued within seven working days of completing the site inspection, subject to laboratory analysis, and faster turnaround can be arranged for urgent projects. Assets & Compliance Managed Services will provide a clear programme at the scoping stage based on your specific requirements.

Asbestos survey costs vary based on the specific requirements of each project. Key factors include the size and complexity of the premises, survey type, number of buildings or sites, accessibility, and the number of samples needed for laboratory analysis.

As an indicative guide, industry pricing for a management survey of a 1,000m² office or school building typically falls in the range of £695–£1,390, rising to £4,000–£6,500 or more for a 5,000m² premises of the same type. Warehouses and factories of equivalent size generally sit at the lower end of that range due to their more open layouts. R&D surveys command a premium over management surveys across all size brackets, reflecting their intrusive nature, greater time on site, and more extensive laboratory analysis. For portfolio instructions covering multiple buildings, economies of scale may reduce overall costs.

The cost of a survey is modest compared to the potential expenses of non-compliance. Inadequate or missing surveys can lead to unlicensed asbestos disturbance, resulting in improvement notices, prosecution, and costly remediation. Assets & Compliance Managed Services offers tailored quotations based on your specific requirements. Please contact our team for a no-obligation consultation.

Only a competent person with the necessary training, experience, and knowledge can conduct an asbestos survey that meets HSG264 requirements. This typically means using a qualified surveyor from an accredited organisation. In-house assessments that do not meet competence standards do not fulfil legal obligations and may expose duty holders to risk.

No fixed statutory interval applies, but the asbestos register must always be kept current. Re-inspections of known ACMs should occur every six to twelve months, depending on their condition, type, and location. Materials that are deteriorating or located in high-risk areas require more frequent checks than stable, inaccessible materials.

In addition to routine re-inspections, certain events require an immediate review. These include completion of works that disturb or alter ACMs, access to previously uninspected areas, changes in building use or occupancy, or any incident involving suspected asbestos disturbance. A survey not revisited in several years is unlikely to reflect the building’s current condition and should be prioritised. Under CAR 2012, the duty to manage is continuous, and an outdated register will not provide adequate defence during an enforcement visit or incident.

Finding asbestos does not always require removal. If the material is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, it can often be managed in place. Damaged or high-risk materials may require encapsulation or removal by a licensed contractor. Our consultants will assess the findings, advise on the best course of action, and document all decisions in Vision Pro Software as part of the management plan.

Request an asbestos survey quote

Whether you require a single asbestos survey or a managed programme across hundreds of properties, Assets & Compliance Managed Services combines UKAS-accredited surveying, independent laboratory analysis, digital asbestos risk management, and ongoing compliance support.

Operating throughout the UK, we help organisations move beyond static survey reports by providing a complete asbestos risk management solution that supports informed decision-making and long-term regulatory compliance.

Tell us about your building or estate and we will come back with the right survey type, a programme and a quote.

To discuss your requirements or request a quotation, contact the ACMS team today.