Asbestos In Soils Testing Across the UK
Asbestos in soils cannot be reliably identified by the naked eye. It requires laboratory analysis in a UKAS accredited facility to determine whether asbestos is present, in what form and at what concentration.
The Testing Lab PLC (TTL) is UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited for asbestos in soils testing, providing identification and quantification of asbestos fibres in bulk samples of soil, aggregates and sediments, carried out in our purpose-built laboratory.
We support consultants, contractors and developers across the UK with robust data for risk assessment, management and waste classification on brownfield and contaminated land projects.
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UKAS accredited asbestos in soils testing
Our accredited scope covers qualitative and quantitative analysis of asbestos in soils and construction & demolition (C&D) materials, in line with:
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HSE guidance HSG248 – Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide (2nd edition, including soils and made ground)
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The SCA “Blue Book” method for identifying and quantifying asbestos in soils and associated materials
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CAR-SOIL™ – the industry guidance interpreting the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) for asbestos-contaminated soil and C&D materials
TTL routinely participates in the Asbestos in Soils Scheme (AISS) proficiency testing programme run by HSE’s laboratory, which assesses the performance of laboratories undertaking qualitative and quantitative asbestos in soils analysis.
What is asbestos in soils?
“Asbestos in soils” refers to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and asbestos fibres present within soil, made ground or C&D materials. This can occur as:
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Visible ACM fragments (e.g. cement, AIB, textured coatings)
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Smaller debris mixed into made ground
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Dispersed fibres within the soil matrix
Research has shown asbestos can be present in a significant proportion of made ground samples on brownfield sites.
Asbestos in soil presents a risk when fibres can be released into the air and inhaled, for example through excavation, earthworks, stockpiling, trafficking or wind erosion.
Please complete our online request a call back form by clicking the “Call Me” button, and we’ll respond promptly.
How asbestos gets into soil and made ground
Soil and made ground can become contaminated with asbestos in many different ways, including (but not limited to):
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Historic demolition of buildings containing asbestos, with fragments left in made ground or backfill
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Fly-tipping or illegal disposal of asbestos-containing materials
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Redevelopment of brownfield sites with past industrial or commercial uses involving ACMs
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Historic use of asbestos-contaminated fill, hardcore or demolition arisings
Due to the nature of asbestos fibres, once previously undisturbed ground is disturbed, the potential for fibre release and exposure increases, creating risks for workers, neighbours and the environment.
CAR-SOIL™ (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012: Interpretation for Managing and Working with Asbestos in Soil and C&D Materials) requires employers to undertake appropriate risk assessment and control where there is a potential for exposure to asbestos in soils and C&D materials.
Our asbestos in soils testing methodology
TTL’s asbestos in soils analysis typically comprises three core stages:
Using asbestos in soils data for risk assessment and waste classification
Our asbestos in soils results can be used to support:
Our technical team can work with your geo-environmental and H&S advisers to interpret the results in the context of CAR 2012, CAR-SOIL and project-specific risk assessments.
Why choose The Testing Lab PLC for asbestos in soils analysis?
UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited for asbestos in soils
Independent assurance that our methods, staff competence, equipment and quality systems meet international standards and current HSE/industry guidance.
Specialist asbestos & geo-environmental expertise
Analysts qualified to BOHS P401/P408 (or equivalent) with extensive experience of soils, aggregates, made ground and C&D materials.
Participation in AISS, AIMS and RICE proficiency testing schemes
Ongoing external quality assurance through AISS (Asbestos in Soils Scheme), AIMS (Asbestos in Materials Scheme)and RICE (Regular Interlaboratory Counting Exchanges), all operated by HSE’s laboratory.
Aligned with CAR-SOIL and HSG248
Methods and reporting tailored to the expectations of CAR-SOIL™ industry guidance and HSG248 for analysts working with asbestos in soils.
Independent. Accredited. Nationwide.
Serving clients throughout England, Scotland & Wales from our National Control Centre in Doncaster, with the capacity to support single sites or multi-site portfolios.
Areas we cover
From our National Control Centre in Doncaster, we provide asbestos in soils testing and wider asbestos and geotechnical services across:
- Yorkshire & Humberside
- North East & North West
- East Anglia & East Midlands
- London, South East & South West
- West Midlands, Scotland & Wales
Samples can be submitted via our site investigation partners, courier or direct drop-off by arrangement, and we can also coordinate sampling strategies through our wider asbestos and geotechnical teams.
Frequently asked questions about asbestos in soils
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.
