Asbestos Services

Envirochem’s range of asbestos air monitoring services are delivered in accordance with Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide – HSG248 (second edition) and can be tailored according to your needs. 

We have a growing team of expert asbestos analysts who are fully equipped with mobile laboratories, allowing them to conduct on-site analysis of air samples and issue instant certification upon completion of analytical monitoring. Reports and certificates are provided in digital format. 

Background Air Monitoring

Conducted to establish airborne fibre concentrations prior to any activity that may lead to airborne asbestos contamination or in specific locations where there are known asbestos-based materials. 

Leak Air Monitoring 

Conducted outside the enclosure/work area while work is in progress. It is undertaken to verify that the control measures are adequately controlling asbestos fibre release to the outside. 

Four-stage Clearance Air Monitoring 

This is undertaken following the removal of asbestos-based materials (licensed notifiable materials such as insulation boards, insulation and coatings) under fully controlled conditions. It enables a Certificate for Reoccupation (CfR) to be issued, confirming that the area is again safe to be used. 

Reassurance Air Monitoring

Conducted after the removal of non-licensed asbestos-containing materials (such as vinyl floor tiles, cement products and textured coatings) or following the clean-up of disturbed, suspected or identified asbestos-containing materials. It is undertaken following a visual inspection to confirm that the area is clean from dust and debris. It is also undertaken to determine asbestos fibre concentrations upon completion of the site’s assessment for reoccupation. 

Personal Air Monitoring 

Conducted to assess whether or not the personal exposures of workers comply with the four-hour control limit, to compare them with the ten-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL), and to assess short duration activities and determine the suitability of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) being used. 

Near-source Air Monitoring 

Air monitoring undertaken within enclosures and near sources of potential release of asbestos fibres to assess the release and spread of asbestos fibre concentrations during the asbestos removal process. 

Far-source/Perimeter Air Monitoring

Air monitoring undertaken for reassurance or checking purposes around the edge or perimeter of work sites or exclusion zones where asbestos-containing materials are present or being disturbed or removed, or to assess external ambient background fibre concentration levels. 

Envirochem is accredited to undertake Management and Major Refurbishment/Demolition Asbestos Surveys in accordance with HSE Guidance Note Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG 264). 

We also undertake Re-inspection Surveys of buildings which have previously undergone Management Asbestos Surveys. 

The report is tailored in every way to the client's needs. Reports are produced using asbestos survey management software and are available in special formats if required. A signed digital copy of the report is emailed to the client following quality checking. 

Asbestos Surveys are quoted on an individual basis. For a free quotation please contact us with as much detail as possible about the scope of your project, including the size, age, usage, location and any other relevant information about the property. 

Management Asbestos Surveys 

This is a non-intrusive survey undertaken during normal occupancy to identify and then manage all reasonably accessible asbestos-containing materials. The structure of the management survey includes the following: 

• Executive summary of identified asbestos containing materials, recommended management actions 
• Introduction and initial observations 
• Areas of no access 
• Detailed assessment of each room 
• Asbestos fibre identification report 
• Asbestos material assessment 
• Table of negative samples 
• Photographs of positive sample locations 
• Annotated site plans showing all sample locations 

Major Refurbishment/Pre-Demolition Asbestos Surveys 

This type of survey involves intrusive inspection to locate all asbestos-containing materials, allowing them to be removed. It is necessary when a building is to be upgraded, refurbished or demolished, and the survey is generally undertaken in buildings which are vacant and/or unoccupied. 

The structure of the major refurbishment/ pre-demolition asbestos survey includes the following: 

• Executive summary of identified asbestos containing materials, recommended removal actions 
• Introduction and initial observations 
• Areas of no access 
• Asbestos fibre identification report 
• Table of positive samples 
• Table of negative samples 
• Photographs of positive sample locations 
• Annotated site plans showing all sample locations 

Pre-Inspection Surveys 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 specify that identified asbestos-containing materials should be re-inspected routinely (e.g. on an annual basis), but more frequently in high-disturbance environments. This re-inspection of the condition of the known asbestos-based materials will ensure the asbestos material assessment always contains current information. Also, any damage caused by disturbance or any deterioration will be identified and therefore remedial work can be undertaken to reduce the risk to building users. 

Envirochem is accredited to deliver Asbestos Fibre Identification in accordance with Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide – HSG248 (second edition).  

In the United Kingdom, the three most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue). They are found in common building materials such as insulation-board panels, spray coating, bonded cements, gaskets, insulation, textured coatings and vinyl flooring. 

We analyse samples to confirm the type of asbestos present, issuing an Asbestos Fibre Identification certificate for each batch of samples analysed. Samples can be delivered to our laboratory or collected by our analysts, and results are returned in PDF format by email typically within 24 hours. 

Please contact us via live message or email for a free quotation. Alternatively, you can purchase our fibre identification service directly online. 

 In instances where it is suspected that asbestos or asbestos-containing materials are present in an outdoor environment, our soil testing service allows that risk to be rapidly qualified and quantified. 

Analysis will identify: 

• The presence of asbestos 
• The asbestos type 
• The percentage of asbestos present within the sample 
• Documented values to enable the client to interpret the results to their specific requirements 

Key outcomes: 

•  Assist with the determination of the Waste Acceptance Criteria 
•  Identify potential for asbestos exposure adjacent to contaminated land 
•  Identify the total percentage of asbestos present in the sample 

For further information on analysis of soil for asbestos, and to book a test, contact us today.