Management Surveys
The Management Survey is required where the premises is a residential property is being rented out or any commercial businesses where the premises was built pre 2000.
By law you need this survey for a non-domestic and domestic property built pre 2000.
The purpose of the asbestos management survey is to help the workplace PCBU to systematically identify and manage all asbestos in their workplace. The survey has to provide sufficient information for the workplace PCBU to indicate the presence and location of asbestos or ACM, carry out a suitable risk assessment, and develop an asbestos management plan.
In most cases, the survey will have three aims.
Management surveys will often involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance. The extent of intrusion will vary between premises and depend on what is reasonably practicable for individual properties. It may depend on factors such as the type of building, the nature of construction, accessibility etc.
A management survey should include an assessment of the ACM’s condition and its ability to release fibres into the air if it is disturbed in some way. This ‘material assessment’ (see section 7.5) will give a good initial guide to the priority for managing ACM because it will identify the materials which will most likely release airborne fibres if they are disturbed.
SAMPLING, ANALYSIS AND ASSUMING IN A MANAGEMENT SURVEYThe survey will usually involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or absence of asbestos or ACM. However, a management survey can also assume the presence or absence of asbestos.
A management survey can be completed using a combination of sampling and assuming the presence of ACM or, just assuming. Any materials assumed to contain asbestos should also have their condition assessed (ie a material assessment).
Alternatively, doing sampling and analysis can confirm or refute the presence of asbestos. The results will determine the work methods and contractors to be used.
The ‘assumption’ approach has several disadvantages: it is less rigorous, it can lead to obstructions and delays before work can start, and it is more difficult to control. ‘Default’ assumptions may also lead to unnecessarily removing non-ACM and disposing of it as asbestos waste.
POSITIVELY IDENTIFYING ACM IN A MANAGEMENT SURVEYAsbestos surveyors should always try to positively identify ACM. The asbestos surveyor should take a sufficient number of samples to confirm the location and extent of ACM. Sample numbers can be reduced if materials are assumed to contain asbestos.
When sampling is carried out as part of a management survey, a competent person should collect samples from each type of suspected ACM for analysis. If the sampled material contains asbestos, other similar materials used in the same way in the building can be assumed to contain asbestos. Less homogeneous materials (eg different surfaces/coating, evidence of repair etc) should have a greater number of samples taken. The sample number should be sufficient to establish whether asbestos is present or not in the particular material.
ACCESSING AND INSPECTING ALL AREASAll areas should be accessed and inspected so far as is reasonably practicable. Areas should include:
Surveying may also involve some minor intrusive work, such as accessing behind fascia, panels and other surfaces or superficial materials. The extent of intrusion will depend on the degree of disturbance that is necessary for foreseeable maintenance and related activities, including installing new equipment/cabling. People carrying out surveys should come prepared to access such areas (ie with the correct equipment).
Management surveys usually involve the use of simple tools like screwdrivers and chisels. Any areas not accessible and which are likely to contain asbestos or ACM must be assumed to contain asbestos. The areas assumed to contain asbestos should be clearly stated in the survey report and managed on this basis (ie maintenance or other disturbance work should not be carried out in these areas until further checks are made).
Don’t worry!
We will walk you through every step – and help you tick every ‘to do’ box.
By law you need this survey for a non-domestic and domestic property built pre 2000.
The purpose of the asbestos management survey is to help the workplace PCBU to systematically identify and manage all asbestos in their workplace. The survey has to provide sufficient information for the workplace PCBU to indicate the presence and location of asbestos or ACM, carry out a suitable risk assessment, and develop an asbestos management plan.
In most cases, the survey will have three aims.
- To find and record the location, extent and product type of any assumed or known asbestos and ACM.
- To inspect and record information on the accessibility, condition[2] and surface treatment of any assumed or known asbestos and ACM.
- To determine and record the asbestos type, either by collecting representative samples of suspect materials for laboratory identification, or by making an assumption based on the product type and its appearance, etc.
Management surveys will often involve minor intrusive work and some disturbance. The extent of intrusion will vary between premises and depend on what is reasonably practicable for individual properties. It may depend on factors such as the type of building, the nature of construction, accessibility etc.
A management survey should include an assessment of the ACM’s condition and its ability to release fibres into the air if it is disturbed in some way. This ‘material assessment’ (see section 7.5) will give a good initial guide to the priority for managing ACM because it will identify the materials which will most likely release airborne fibres if they are disturbed.
SAMPLING, ANALYSIS AND ASSUMING IN A MANAGEMENT SURVEYThe survey will usually involve sampling and analysis to confirm the presence or absence of asbestos or ACM. However, a management survey can also assume the presence or absence of asbestos.
A management survey can be completed using a combination of sampling and assuming the presence of ACM or, just assuming. Any materials assumed to contain asbestos should also have their condition assessed (ie a material assessment).
Alternatively, doing sampling and analysis can confirm or refute the presence of asbestos. The results will determine the work methods and contractors to be used.
The ‘assumption’ approach has several disadvantages: it is less rigorous, it can lead to obstructions and delays before work can start, and it is more difficult to control. ‘Default’ assumptions may also lead to unnecessarily removing non-ACM and disposing of it as asbestos waste.
POSITIVELY IDENTIFYING ACM IN A MANAGEMENT SURVEYAsbestos surveyors should always try to positively identify ACM. The asbestos surveyor should take a sufficient number of samples to confirm the location and extent of ACM. Sample numbers can be reduced if materials are assumed to contain asbestos.
When sampling is carried out as part of a management survey, a competent person should collect samples from each type of suspected ACM for analysis. If the sampled material contains asbestos, other similar materials used in the same way in the building can be assumed to contain asbestos. Less homogeneous materials (eg different surfaces/coating, evidence of repair etc) should have a greater number of samples taken. The sample number should be sufficient to establish whether asbestos is present or not in the particular material.
ACCESSING AND INSPECTING ALL AREASAll areas should be accessed and inspected so far as is reasonably practicable. Areas should include:
- under floor coverings
- above false ceilings (ceiling voids)
- lofts
- inside risers
- service ducts and lift shafts
- basements
- cellars
- underground rooms.
Surveying may also involve some minor intrusive work, such as accessing behind fascia, panels and other surfaces or superficial materials. The extent of intrusion will depend on the degree of disturbance that is necessary for foreseeable maintenance and related activities, including installing new equipment/cabling. People carrying out surveys should come prepared to access such areas (ie with the correct equipment).
Management surveys usually involve the use of simple tools like screwdrivers and chisels. Any areas not accessible and which are likely to contain asbestos or ACM must be assumed to contain asbestos. The areas assumed to contain asbestos should be clearly stated in the survey report and managed on this basis (ie maintenance or other disturbance work should not be carried out in these areas until further checks are made).
Don’t worry!
We will walk you through every step – and help you tick every ‘to do’ box.