Asbestos Demolition Survey
Before demolition: the project needs asbestos information that is adequate for the areas and building fabric the work will disturb. Where existing information is insufficient, an intrusive demolition survey is the normal HSG264 route; the scope and limitations must be understood before work begins.
How Demolition Asbestos Information Fits the Legal Duties
Demolition projects can engage asbestos, construction and hazardous-waste duties at different stages. The key planning question is whether the asbestos information is adequate for the areas the demolition will disturb. An HSG264 demolition survey is used where more intrusive information is needed; waste duties apply later to the waste actually produced.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Before work liable to disturb asbestos begins, the employer needs adequate information on the likely presence, type and condition of asbestos. For demolition, an intrusive survey is the normal HSG264 route where existing information is not adequate for the areas the work will disturb.
Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015
CDM dutyholders must cooperate and provide relevant pre-construction information to those planning or carrying out the work. Where asbestos information is needed for demolition, the survey report can form part of that project information.
Asbestos Waste Movement
Asbestos waste generated by subsequent work follows the applicable hazardous-waste route. The survey supports planning, but waste-carrier, consignment-note and receiving-site duties belong to the actual waste movement.
HSE Guidance Document HSG264
HSG264 describes refurbishment and demolition surveys as intrusive and destructive where necessary, with the aim of locating as far as reasonably practicable ACMs in the areas affected by the planned work. Access restrictions and survey limitations must be recorded.
What the Agreed Survey Includes
- Intrusive inspection matched to the demolition footprint, access and agreed survey scope
- Intrusive access to concealed areas as far as reasonably practicable, with unsafe or inaccessible areas recorded as limitations
- Identification and sampling of suspect materials where required within the agreed demolition-survey scope
- Laboratory analysis arranged where sampling is required
- Survey report recording identified or presumed ACMs, locations, relevant extent/condition information and limitations
- Written report format, plans, photographs and sampling schedule confirmed for the individual instruction
- Information suitable for the project team to plan the correct asbestos-work and demolition sequence within the report scope
- Waste-route responsibilities identified separately where subsequent asbestos work generates hazardous waste
- Survey information suitable for inclusion in the project pre-construction information where applicable
- Survey competence confirmed for the demolition scope
Management, Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys
| Feature | Management | Refurbishment | Demolition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Manage ACMs in occupied building | Locate ACMs before works | Investigate ACMs within the demolition scope |
| Scope | Agreed management scope | Area of works | Entire structure |
| Intrusion level | May involve minor intrusion | Fully intrusive | Intrusive within scope; limitations recorded |
| Structural elements | Normally outside routine access | Where relevant to works | Intrusive access as far as reasonably practicable within scope |
| Sampling | Representative where needed | As required in the work area | As required to identify suspect materials within the demolition scope |
| Output | Management information / register inputs | Intrusive survey report for the work area | Intrusive demolition-survey report with findings and limitations |
| Project information role | Supports ongoing management | Supports refurbishment planning | Supports demolition planning within the survey scope |
How We Work
Project Briefing & Scope
The planned demolition, existing asbestos information, access constraints and affected structure are reviewed so the competent surveyor can define the intrusive survey scope and record any exclusions.
Access Arrangements
Intrusive survey work requires controlled access to the survey areas. Occupancy, isolation and safe-access arrangements are confirmed for the individual building and survey scope rather than promised as one universal site setup.
Intrusive Inspection
The survey aims to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, ACMs in the demolition areas. Destructive access may be required, while areas that cannot be safely accessed are recorded as limitations rather than described as fully inspected.
Sampling Where Required
Suspect materials are sampled where identification is needed within the agreed scope. Sampling strategy, sample locations and laboratory provider are determined for the instruction; the report records presumptions and limitations where confirmation is not possible.
Laboratory Analysis
Where samples are taken, they are sent to the laboratory provider agreed for the job. Provider details, scope and turnaround are confirmed for that instruction.
Survey Report & Project Handover
The report records the survey scope, findings, sample results where taken, relevant locations and limitations. The project team uses that information to plan the next asbestos-work and demolition sequence; any licensable work requires an HSE-licensed contractor.
Why Survey Scope and Limitations Matter Before Demolition
A demolition survey is designed to reduce uncertainty in the areas the project will disturb, but it is still governed by its defined scope, access and recorded limitations. Contractors should read those limitations before demolition starts and stop/reassess if the work reaches an area or material that was not adequately covered.
HSG264 expects refurbishment/demolition surveys to be intrusive enough for the planned work and to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, relevant ACMs. “Fully intrusive” does not mean a website can guarantee that every concealed material will be found regardless of safe-access limits; assumptions, exclusions and inaccessible areas belong in the report.
Common Questions
Is an asbestos demolition survey a legal requirement?
Before demolition starts, the asbestos information must be adequate for the structure and areas the work will disturb. Where reliable existing information is insufficient, an intrusive demolition survey is the normal HSG264 route. The exact legal duties depend on the employer, dutyholder and project context; this page does not give individual legal-liability advice.
What is the difference between a demolition survey and a refurbishment survey?
Both are intrusive HSG264 survey types. A refurbishment survey is scoped to the areas that planned refurbishment will disturb. A demolition survey is scoped to the demolition footprint and is more extensively intrusive, aiming to locate as far as reasonably practicable ACMs in those areas, subject to safe access and recorded limitations.
How long before demolition should the survey be commissioned?
Obtain the asbestos information early enough for the project team to plan the demolition and any asbestos work before the affected building fabric is disturbed. The exact survey and report timetable depends on access, scope, sampling and provider arrangements and is confirmed for the instruction.
What happens if asbestos is found during demolition without a prior survey?
If unexpected suspect material is found or disturbed during demolition, stop further disturbance in the affected area and reassess the material, asbestos information and work category. Sampling, an expanded survey scope, revised project controls or an HSE-licensed contractor may be required depending on what is found; an HSE notification or emergency-removal route is not automatic in every case.
Can a demolition survey be combined with a refurbishment survey?
A competent surveyor can agree one instruction that covers more than one planned work phase where the scope, access and limitations are clear. Whether that is appropriate is project-specific; this page does not promise a universal cost saving or one survey scope for every phased project.
Do I need a demolition survey for a domestic property?
A private domestic property is not subject to the Regulation 4 duty to manage in the same way as non-domestic premises, but employers and contractors carrying out demolition still need adequate asbestos information for work that may disturb ACMs. Where existing information is inadequate for the demolition scope, an appropriate intrusive survey route should be agreed before work starts.
Further Guidance
Discuss Your Requirements
Scope, provider requirements, price and availability are confirmed for the individual enquiry. Licensable work requires an HSE-licensed contractor.