There are 3 types of standard survey for asbestos problemsAs a building owner or manager you have a legal responsibility to confirm the asbestos status of your building. You must first decide which types of Asbestos survey you need.There are 3 types of standard survey for asbestos laid out in the health and safety executive guidelines document MDHS 100. These different surveys are suitable at different times and are:Types 1 Asbestos survey: It is a presumptive survey. The inspector will locate and asses all suspect asbestos-containing materials in your building. No samples will be taken during these types of survey. All areas will be accessed and inspected where reasonably possible, or if not accessible they are presumed or strongly presumed to contain asbestos.Types 2 Asbestos survey: It is a sample survey which includes sample taking, analyzing samples, taking photographs and air testing. Samples from each type of suspected ACM are collected and then analysed to confirm if the surveyor was correct in their assessment. If a material is found to contain asbestos, it is assumed that all other similar materials used in the same way in the building will also contain asbestos. Types 3 Asbestos survey: It is a pre-demolition/major refurbishment survey which requires full access sampling, identification and assessment. The purpose and procedures are like types 1 and 2. A type 3 asbestos survey is designed to locate and describe, as far as possible, all ACM’s in a building, and can involve destructive inspection to gain access to all areas.

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