Asbestos testing advice sought

PJH2903 · May 3, 2019

I am in the process of quoting for a full house rewire in a 1930’s 2 up 2 down property, currently unoccupied.

Having been in the loft and generally looking round the property it is obvious no work has been done in a long time (lath and plaster ceilings, VIR cable etc).

I have completed the asbestos awareness course and will be advising the client that an asbestos survey will be required prior to any work being undertaken.

What are the groups thoughts on these companies that send you a kit to take samples to send off and be tested?

Would you take samples, with appropriate ppe, and send off or would you subcontract the sampling out?

If asbestos is found then it will obviously need removing by a specialist company before work goes ahead.

HappyHippyDad · May 3, 2019

If I only thought the asbestos was in one place (e.g artex), then I may consider taking a sample myself and sending it off. However, if it was a very large house with lots of suspect areas I would leave it all to a specialist company.

I have also been on the asbestos course, it was very interesting but for a small one man business it was pretty meaningless as we are always making holes in ceilings/walls/soffits etc on a daily basis and to take a sample each time and always treat it as having asbestos in it (i.e wear all the gear) is just not practicable. The chap running the course agreed with this and said he didn't have a solution!

My personal feeling is that the best you can do is educate yourself as much as possible with regards where asbestos may be and always ask the homeowner. This will not eradicate your exposure to asbestos but it may limit it a little.

45140 · May 3, 2019

PJH2903 said:
...What are the groups thoughts on these companies that send you a kit to take samples to send off and be tested?

Would you take samples, with appropriate ppe, and send off or would you subcontract the sampling out?...

The collection of samples is a task best left for a specialist trained person.

This HSE information sheet will lead you along the correct path.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/a0.pdf