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Asbestos Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys

Asbestos Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys

The Testing Lab PLC carries out UKAS accredited asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) surveys throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
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Asbestos Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys

The Testing Lab PLC carries out UKAS accredited asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) surveys throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Get An Instant Quote Request A Call Back

Asbestos Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys Across the UK

Our highly trained and experienced surveyors 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 carries out UKAS ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accredited asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) surveys across domestic, commercial and industrial buildings throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

These fully intrusive surveys are essential to identify and locate asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) hidden within the fabric of a building before refurbishment or demolition works begin, helping you comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and protect workers and building users.

The UKAS Inspection logo features a white magnifying glass inside a circle, topped with a crown, on a blue background. UKAS INSPECTION is written below in bold white letters.

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What is an asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey?

An asbestos refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey is a detailed, fully intrusive survey carried out before any planned refurbishment or demolition work.

According to HSE guidance HSG264 – Asbestos: The Survey Guide, a refurbishment or demolition survey is designed to:

  • Locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where refurbishment or demolition work will take place (or in the whole building if demolition is planned)

  • Involve destructive inspection as necessary to gain access to all locations, including concealed spaces and building voids

  • Provide the information needed to plan safe asbestos removal or control measures before works commence

Because of the intrusive nature of the survey, areas are normally vacated while the inspection takes place and services may need to be isolated.

When do you need an asbestos refurbishment survey?

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, dutyholders and employers must identify whether asbestos is present or liable to be present before any work which could disturb the fabric of a building is carried out.

You will typically need a refurbishment and demolition survey when:

  • You are planning major refurbishment, re-modelling or structural alterations

  • You are planning partial or full demolition of a building

  • Works will disturb the building fabric (e.g. removing walls, ceilings, floors, pipework, services or external cladding)

  • A previous management survey exists, but does not provide sufficient information about hidden ACMs within the area of the works

Industry guidance (including HSG264 and RICS best practice) is clear that a refurbishment and demolition survey is normally required to comply with Regulation 5, even where a management survey has already been completed.

The purpose is to ensure that ACMs are identified and, as far as reasonably practicable, removed before refurbishment or demolition, thereby minimising the risk of uncontrolled fibre release and exposure.

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Our asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey process

We follow a structured, compliant approach to R&D surveys:

  • 1. Initial consultation and scope definition
    We start by discussing:

    • The proposed works (plans, drawings, specifications)

    • The areas affected (entire building or specific rooms/zones)

    • Any programme constraints and access limitations

    It’s critical that the survey scope matches the scope of the works, so we work closely with your project team, designers and principal contractor.

    2. Survey planning and risk assessment
    We then:

    • Prepare a survey plan and risk assessment

    • Identify any services that need isolating (electric, gas, water, alarms etc.)

    • Agree decant or exclusion requirements so that intrusive inspection can be carried out safely

    • Plan any required access equipment (towers, MEWPs, etc.)

    3. Intrusive site survey
    A qualified asbestos surveyor (or team) attends site to:

    • Carry out destructive inspection of relevant areas (e.g. lifting floors, opening up walls and ceilings, accessing voids, ducts and risers)

    • Identify suspect materials and take representative bulk samples

    • Clearly record locations, extent and condition of identified or presumed ACMs

    This work is conducted in line with HSG264 and your site’s health and safety standards.

  • 4. Laboratory analysis
    Samples are transported to our UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory for asbestos bulk analysis, where they are examined by experienced analysts using methods aligned with HSG248 – Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide.

    5. Reporting and asbestos register
    You receive a comprehensive report including:

    • Description of the survey scope and limitations

    • Clear identification of all ACMs located, including type, extent and condition

    • Plans and photographs showing locations

    • Recommendations for removal, encapsulation or other control measures

    • An updated asbestos register for the areas surveyed

    6. Support with next steps
    We can then assist with:

    • Liaison with licensed asbestos removal contractors

    • Air monitoring and four-stage clearance during and after removal works

    • Follow-on management surveys or re-inspections once refurbishment is complete

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Why choose The Testing Lab PLC for R&D asbestos surveys?

UKAS ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accredited inspections
Independent assurance that our survey work is carried out to recognised standards of quality and competence.

Integrated UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory
In-house asbestos bulk analysis for efficient turnaround and full chain-of-custody.

Specialist survey team
Experienced asbestos surveyors working across commercial, industrial, residential, education, healthcare and public sector sites.

Project and CDM awareness
R&D surveys planned around your construction programme, with clear communication to designers, principal contractors and dutyholders.

Nationwide coverage
Surveyors based across England, Scotland & Wales for responsive attendance.

Clear, actionable reporting
Practical recommendations and clear mapping of ACMs to support safe planning of refurbishment or demolition.

Areas we cover

From our National Control Centre in Doncaster, we provide asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys across:

We can support single projects or portfolio-wide programmes for national clients.

Frequently asked questions about asbestos refurbishment surveys

  • What is the difference between a management survey and a refurbishment & demolition survey?
    A management survey is designed for the normal occupation and use of a building, identifying ACMs that could be disturbed during everyday activities and routine maintenance. A refurbishment and demolition survey is more intrusive and destructive, required before refurbishment or demolition, and aims to locate all ACMs in the areas of the planned works, including those hidden within the fabric of the building.

  • Is an asbestos refurbishment survey a legal requirement?
    In practice, yes. Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to identify whether asbestos is present before any work which could disturb it is carried out. HSE and professional guidance confirm that, in most cases, a refurbishment and demolition survey is required to comply with this duty, even where a management survey exists.

  • Will an R&D survey damage the building?
    Yes – by design, an R&D survey is fully intrusive and will cause localised damage as walls, floors, ceilings and other elements are opened up. This is necessary to identify hidden ACMs. Any openings created are typically made safe but not fully repaired, as the area is usually due to be refurbished or demolished.

  • Can the building remain occupied during a refurbishment and demolition survey?
    Areas being surveyed normally need to be vacated, with services isolated as required, because of the intrusive nature of the work and potential for short-term disturbance. We will plan the survey to minimise disruption and may phase works to keep unaffected areas in use.

  • What happens after the survey if asbestos is found?
    Your report will clearly show where ACMs are present and recommend whether they should be removed, encapsulated or otherwise controlled. We can help you plan the asbestos removal works, provide air monitoring and clearance testing, and carry out post-refurbishment management surveys as needed.

Our Accredited Testing Services

Asbestos Testing & Analysis
UKAS accredited for bulk materials, soils, and air.
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Legionella & Water Compliance
LCA registered risk assessments, testing, and remedial works.
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Geotechnical Laboratory Testing
UKAS accredited soil and material testing.
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WAC & Radon Testing
Externally accredited testing for waste and radon safety.
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Mundic Block Testing
Specialist testing for concrete degradation.
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RAAC Testing
Identify and manage RAAC risks in buildings.
Learn More
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Douglas
Lothian Hotels Ltd

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.

 

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Anonymous
Poole Housing Partnership

This must be an absolute record for getting a report back, considering the surveyor arrived around 3pm – very well done!
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Anonymous
ECORE Construction

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.

 

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Stuart Meadowcroft
MRICS

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!

 

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Anonymous
ARW Specialist Building Contractors Limited

Bradley, thank you for your efforts at short notice today, please pass on our gratitude to your surveyor Tim who did your company proud!

 

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Pawel Juraszczyk
British Pepper & Spice
H&S Manager

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.

 

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Gary Collinson MCIOB
Hull City Council
Programme Manager

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.

 

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