When asbestos testing is the right approach
I recommend targeted asbestos testing when there is one clearly defined material and the result will inform a specific decision. Typical examples include a damaged panel before repair, a floor tile before lifting, or a textured coating before a small area is drilled or cut.
The laboratory result relates only to the sample submitted. It cannot confirm the composition of nearby materials, concealed layers or similar-looking products elsewhere in the building.
Where refurbishment will disturb walls, ceilings, floors, service ducts or other building fabric, isolated testing is rarely enough. A refurbishment and demolition survey should cover the full work area before the work starts. A management survey is normally the better starting point when asbestos needs to be located and managed across occupied premises.
Materials commonly submitted for analysis
Buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000 can contain asbestos in a wide range of products. I regularly see uncertainty around textured coatings, asbestos insulating board, cement sheets, soffits, pipe insulation, sprayed coatings, toilet cisterns, bitumen products, vinyl tiles and the adhesive beneath them.
Layered materials need particular care. A floor covering may be asbestos-free while the black bitumen adhesive beneath it contains asbestos. A board may have a decorative face, backing layer or residue that differs from the main material. The person taking the sample must understand what needs to be represented and whether more than one sample is justified.
Arrange a controlled sample
Speak to a consultant about the material, its condition and the work you are planning.
How professional sampling is carried out
Sampling should be planned before the material is disturbed. The competent person first examines the product, its condition, the immediate surroundings and the likelihood that fibres could be released.
A small representative sample is then taken using controls suited to the material. The sample location is sealed where necessary, the sample is uniquely labelled and its precise origin is recorded. Good records matter because a laboratory result is of little use if it cannot be tied back to the correct room, surface and material layer.
Do not break, drill or scrape a suspect product merely to obtain a sample. Poor sampling can contaminate the immediate area and may damage a material that could otherwise have remained safely in place.
UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis
Bulk samples should be analysed by a laboratory accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for asbestos identification under ISO/IEC 17025. Accreditation applies to defined activities, so the laboratory’s current schedule should include bulk asbestos identification.
The report normally records whether asbestos was detected and identifies the asbestos type or types present. Common findings include chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite. The result should also carry a sample reference that matches the sampling record.
We are an independent consultancy: sampling and laboratory analysis are carried out by the vetted professionals we appoint.
What the result means
A positive result confirms asbestos in the sampled material. It does not automatically mean that removal is required. The sensible next step depends on the product, its condition, whether it can be disturbed and what work is planned.
A negative result means asbestos was not identified in that sample. It does not clear the room, the whole product installation or other materials nearby. This distinction is important with variable products, repeated installations and materials made up of several layers.
When the sample is not representative, further sampling or a survey may be required. I would rather identify that limitation before work begins than rely on one result that leaves the actual work area unresolved.
Testing before building work
Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to establish whether asbestos is present before demolition, maintenance or other work that could expose employees to asbestos. Where adequate information is unavailable, the material must be presumed to contain asbestos.
A targeted test can support that assessment when the question concerns one defined item. It is not a substitute for the intrusive inspection required when refurbishment or demolition will affect a wider area. HSG264 provides the recognised framework for selecting and carrying out asbestos surveys.
Testing, air monitoring and clearance
Bulk material analysis, air monitoring and four-stage clearance are different services. Bulk analysis identifies asbestos in a material sample. Air monitoring measures airborne fibre concentrations. Four-stage clearance is undertaken after licensed asbestos removal work and can lead to a certificate of reoccupation when all stages are passed.
Selecting the wrong service can leave the original question unanswered. Before arranging attendance, establish whether you need to identify a material, investigate airborne fibres, inspect a work area or complete post-removal clearance.
Speak to an asbestos consultant
We will establish whether targeted testing or a wider asbestos survey is appropriate for the building and planned work.
Frequently asked questions
Can asbestos be identified from a photograph?
No. A photograph may help a consultant understand the location and likely product, but asbestos can only be confirmed through analysis of a representative material sample.
Should I take an asbestos sample myself?
No. Breaking or scraping a suspect material can release fibres and contaminate the area. Sampling should be carried out by a trained, competent person using controls appropriate to the product and location.
Does a negative asbestos test clear the room?
No. The result applies only to the material and layer represented by the sample. Other products, concealed layers and nearby installations may have a different composition.
Do I need asbestos testing or a survey?
Testing may be sufficient for one isolated, clearly defined material. A survey is required when several materials or areas need assessment, or when refurbishment or demolition will disturb the building fabric.