Asbestos Air Monitoring & 4 Stage Clearances Across the UK
Our highly trained and experienced staff hold all the qualifications and accreditations needed to ensure our services are provided in full accordance with current legislation and industry best practice.
The Testing Lab PLC provides UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited asbestos air monitoring and 4-stage clearance testing across domestic, commercial and industrial sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Our independent analysts support licensed and non-licensed asbestos removal work, helping dutyholders comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the HSE Analysts’ Guide (HSG248).
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Why asbestos air monitoring is essential
When work is carried out on or near asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), you must ensure that exposure to airborne fibres is prevented or kept as low as reasonably practicable, and that control measures are effective.
Asbestos air monitoring helps you to:
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Confirm that control measures (e.g. enclosures, negative pressure units, wet stripping techniques) are working effectively
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Demonstrate that employee exposure is adequately controlled and remains below the control limit of 0.1 fibres/cm³ (4-hour TWA)
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Provide reassurance to building occupants and stakeholders that areas are safe
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Provide the evidence needed for certificates of reoccupation following asbestos removal, using the 4-stage clearance procedure
Air monitoring and four-stage clearance are an integral part of a compliant asbestos management and removal strategy, not an optional extra.
Types of asbestos air monitoring we provide
In line with HSG248 and industry guidance, we offer a full range of asbestos air tests, including:
Background air monitoring
Carried out before asbestos work starts, to establish ambient fibre levels in a work area.
Leak air monitoring
Used during licensed removal work to check for leaks from enclosures or equipment into adjacent areas.
Reassurance air monitoring
Performed after non-licensed work or minor disturbances, or following incidents, to reassure occupants and verify that fibre levels are acceptably low.
Personal exposure monitoring
Sampling close to the breathing zone of workers to measure individual exposure, confirm adequacy of RPE, and demonstrate compliance with the control limit.
Clearance air testing (Stage 3 of 4-stage clearance)
High-volume sampling within an enclosure or work area after licensed removal, to demonstrate that airborne fibre concentrations are below the clearance indicator (typically 0.01 fibres/cm³) before an area can be reoccupied.
All monitoring is carried out by independent, UKAS accredited analysts, using methods aligned with HSG248 – Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide
Please complete our online request a call back form by clicking the “Call Me” button, and we’ll respond promptly.
What is the 4-stage asbestos clearance process?
The 4-stage clearance procedure is a formal process carried out after licensed asbestos removal to ensure an area is thoroughly clean and safe for reoccupation.
The stages are:
The 4-stage clearance must be carried out by a competent, independent analyst and is a key element of demonstrating compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Our asbestos air monitoring and 4-stage clearance service
We provide a complete, integrated service for air monitoring and clearance:
Why choose The Testing Lab PLC?
UKAS accredited testing (ISO/IEC 17025)
Independent assurance of technical competence, reliable results and robust quality systems.
Independent from asbestos removal contractors
Analysts are independent of the contractor undertaking the work, as recommended by industry guidance.
Experienced asbestos analysts
Specialist staff with extensive experience across commercial, industrial, residential, education, healthcare and public sector projects.
Comprehensive service offering
Integrated with asbestos surveys, bulk analysis, re-inspections and removal support, providing continuity from initial identification through to final clearance.
Nationwide coverage
Teams based across England, Scotland & Wales for responsive support on planned works and emergency situations.
Areas we cover
From our National Control Centre in Doncaster, we provide asbestos air monitoring and 4-stage clearance services throughout:
- Yorkshire & Humberside
- North East & North West
- East Anglia & East Midlands
- London, South East & South West
- West Midlands, Scotland & Wales
We can support single projects, frameworks and multi-site programmes for national clients.
Frequently asked questions about asbestos air monitoring & 4-stage clearances
Our Accredited Testing Services
Dear The Testing Lab PLC,
Many thanks for your prompt and professional asbestos survey report service, I would not hesitate to recommend your company in this regard.
This must be an absolute record for getting a report back, considering the surveyor arrived around 3pm – very well done!
Thank you for the very quick response for the quote and scheduling the survey. There’s never any fuss, and always straight forward. Thanks again.
Thank you for offering such a prompt turnaround for ACM testing and for your courteous service in doing so – I had a nervous client to placate and knowing the report would be back with them in such a short time was very reassuring to them, and for no more than a basic service from the competition!
Bradley, thank you for your efforts at short notice today, please pass on our gratitude to your surveyor Tim who did your company proud!
Thank you very much for the air sampling results – and please accept our grateful thanks for resolving this issue so quickly and for the promptness of the report.
Your analyst, Lee, was very helpful and his suggestions and advice appreciated.
We would have no hesitation in recommending The Testing Lab and will be in touch soon with regards arrangements for a full asbestos survey for the rest of the site.
TTL have been working directly as my analyst for the last 12 months on a very complex asbestos removal scheme, they have achieved all of their KPI’s without fail and on a number of occasions surpassed their SLA in acting for us on planning issues associated with the demolition in regard to contamination which cannot be removed as part of the normal sequence of operation.
There reports are always issued within timescales and they have policed the reports by the Licensed asbestos contractor faultlessly sometimes in very difficult circumstances.
