Types of Asbestos Survey
There are three types of survey referred to in MDHS 100 ( the HSE publication which details the approved methods for carrying out asbestos survey work).

Type 1 Survey
This survey locates the presence, nature and extent of any suspected asbestos-containing materials in the building, including an assessment of their condition. No samples are taken to verify the presence of asbestos and therefore materials have to be presumed to be or to contain asbestos - unless there is sufficient evidence to suggest that they are not.

Type 2 Survey
The procedures used are the same as for Survey Type 1, but with the addition that representative samples are collected and analysed for the presence of asbestos in a UKAS accredited laboratory. This is the most commonly adopted form of survey.

Type 3 Survey
This is primarily pre-demolition or pre-refurbishment. A Type 3 survey establishes and describes ALL asbestos-containing materials in the building as far as is reasonably practicable and may involve destructive inspection techniques. The volume of asbestos materials will be established, but no assessment of condition will be made other than to highlight areas of significant damage or debris.

Will asbestos need to be removed?
Removal of asbestos materials already in place, in good condition, is not required by the regulations but buildings should be surveyed, asbestos labelled and its position and condition recorded to allow any asbestos to be ‘managed’ safely.
The type of asbestos in the material, the condition of the material, its fibre release potential and its location in the building are among the factors that determine whether it will be removed or repaired.