Residential Asbestos Management Survey
A Betta Asbestos Consultancy Management Survey is the standard survey required for any building to identify asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that may be disturbed during normal occupancy or routine maintenance. This non-intrusive survey locates ACMs, assesses their condition, and provides essential information for managing asbestos risks.
Asbestos Surveying & Management Plan
An Asbestos Management Survey is the standard asbestos survey required on any residential building that is being tenanted, or has construction work being undertaken in New Zealand and is a regulation under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) regulations 2016.
Its purpose is to locate the presence and extent of any suspected Asbestos Containing Materials in the building which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy. We can assess the condition of these materials and supply an easy to read asbestos survey report along with clear professional guidance.
Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) regulations 2016 homeowners, landlords (and Property Managers), construction industry professionals and any PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) must ensure that, when work is carried out at a property, it is done safely and without endangering workers or others, including the occupants of a property (example tenants & homeowners).
A PCBU must identify asbestos in the workplace and document plans for managing its risks in an asbestos management plan, if there is risk of exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
If you want to know more about your obligations, download a free information guide here.
Betta reporting
A Residential Betta Asbestos Survey & Management Plan will:
- Identify asbestos in a property
- Either presume asbestos or take physical samples to test for asbestos (under client direction)
- Include a Management Plan with a clear direction forward on how to manage asbestos where identified
- Outline the type, extent, accessibility and condition of any asbestos identified
- Recommendations and comments given, along with free ongoing advice
- Be prepared and written by an IP402 qualified asbestos surveyor
Don’t let asbestos affect our employees, friends, family or the public. Get compliant so that everyone is protected. For independent advice, please call us on 0800 422 387 or book your inspection online.
Types of Residential Asbestos Surveys
There are three ways a survey can be conducted depending on the outcome you want and the budget you have for identifying and managing asbestos. Two different survey types are listed below.
Presumptive Survey
A presumptive survey is when no physical samples are taken during the survey. The inspector will use their skills, knowledge and expertise to identify potential asbestos in the property and document the presumed asbestos in the survey.
The advantages of this type of survey are:
- It’s cheaper
- The report is quicker to produce (no waiting on laboratory results)
- No invasive testing
The disadvantages to this type of survey are:
- The asbestos is not 100% definitively determined, eg the only true way to identify asbestos is to test it. Because a presumptive survey does not test it, we cannot 100% definitely determine if a material has an Asbestos Containing Material. This could mean testing in the future or treating the product as asbestos when it isn’t
The scope in which you can use the survey for is limited; eg you cannot use it for demolition purposes.
Detailed Survey
A detailed survey is the most comprehensive survey offered by Betta Asbestos Consultants. A detailed survey is when an inspector identifies all the potential asbestos containing materials and physical samples are taken and sent to an independent laboratory for testing to accurately determine if there is an Asbestos Containing Material present in any of the samples taken. A detailed survey identifies asbestos in the property and defines if it contains asbestos or not.
The advantages of this type of survey are:
- It’s very accurate
- Definitive answers on asbestos types and locations
- Very detailed report
- Easier to manage the asbestos properly
The disadvantages of this type of survey are:
- It’s a lot more expensive, as samples need to be taken and there is a lab cost to process them
Report takes longer to produce as there is processing time at the laboratory.
Refurbishment or Demolition Survey
An Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Survey is designed to locate and describe Asbestos Containing Materials in areas where intrusive maintenance and repair, refurbishment or demolition work is set to take place. This survey requires access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach.
Undertaking Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys prior to any refurbishment or demolition work is a strict requirement and a duty of any PCBUs with management or control of a workplace. It is important that all stakeholders, including the public, are kept safe when demolition occurs.
Understanding what an Asbestos Survey & Management Plan is
An Asbestos Survey is different to an Asbestos Management Plan. An Asbestos Survey is the process and document that the inspector undertakes and produces about what asbestos is in the property, its location, product type, asbestos type, extent of the ACM (Asbestos Containing Material), accessibility, surface treatment, condition of the element and material risk score. It is the document that outlines all the information about asbestos.
A Management Plan is the documented plan of how to manage the asbestos. This includes signage, PPE gear, who can do what and how, along with all the relevant information required to manage asbestos.
What are the risks involved with non-compliance?
There are significant fines in place where a PCBU can be prosecuted for failing to meet their obligations and these can be placed on both an individual and business.
Penalties range from $10K (for individuals) right up to $3M (for companies) and up to 5 years Prison (Sections 47,48 & 49)
Examples of fines include:
- (Name confidential) Construction Limited was fined $318,750 for failing to manage asbestos during demolition
- (Name confidential) Limited was fined $108,000 for exposing workers to asbestos risks during demolition
- (Name confidential) Construction Limited was fined $45,000 for inadequate asbestos management
Why is asbestos such an issue
Asbestos is dangerous because it has the ability to break down into microscopically thin fibres. These fibres are so small they can remain airborne for days after they were initially disturbed. While airborne, individuals can breathe these fibres in which can lead to serious respiratory diseases and cancers.
It is estimated that around 220 people will die every year in New Zealand from asbestos-related illnesses, however, it may take several years for symptoms to appear.