The questions
Are you an asbestos company?
No. We introduce you to a single contractor licensed by the HSE for this work. It does the quoting, surveying, testing or removal, and any deal you strike is with it directly. About us.
Is a licensed firm always required?
Not always. HSE restricts the riskiest materials to licensed firms: sprayed coatings, lagging, certain insulation and most insulating board. Much cement work, roof sheets for instance, may be done unlicensed provided the workers are informed, instructed and trained.
How do I verify a firm's licence?
HSE publishes a register of licensed contractors, reachable from its licensing page. Licences lapse and get renewed constantly, so always consult the live register.
Can't I just see whether it's asbestos?
No. HSE's position is that laboratory analysis of a sample is the one reliable method.
Is my building likely to contain some?
Anything constructed after 2000 is improbable, says HSE. Older ones may have it in textured ceilings, floor tiles, garage and barn roofs, soffits, panels and lagging.
Should I survey before I renovate?
Before major refurbishment or demolition, HSE expects an intrusive survey to locate asbestos built into the fabric. If your worry is one specific material, a lab test may be enough.
What does a management survey do?
It is the survey type for a building that is simply being used, and it produces the register the responsible person has to keep. Under HSE's guidance that duty covers commercial and other non-domestic buildings and the communal areas of flats.
Whose tip rules apply to me?
That depends on your council. Taunton, Yeovil and Bridgwater are Somerset Council; Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon are North Somerset; Bath and Keynsham are Bath and North East Somerset. The three sets of rules.
Is it OK to bin it, or skip it?
Neither. In HSE's eyes it is hazardous waste and has to be kept away from the household stream.
What does an enquiry cost?
Nothing, and there is no commitment. Pricing comes from the contractor.
Who gets to see my information?
A single contractor, so that it can reach you about the job. Your information is never sold and never copied to other businesses. The privacy notice has the detail.
Where this comes from: HSE FAQ page; HSE page on licensable work; HSE survey guidance; HSE duty-to-manage page; HSE's introduction page.