Asbestos demolition surveys in the North West
MARS Consultants delivers professional, intrusive asbestos demolition surveys for property developers, demolition contractors, and building owners across the North West. We help you identify all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within your project scope before work begins, ensuring safety, compliance, and seamless site operations.
What is an asbestos demolition survey?
An asbestos demolition survey is an intrusive, targeted inspection designed to locate all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) within a building or structure before any demolition work takes place. Unlike standard management surveys, a demolition survey is fully destructive and investigates every hidden structural void, wall cavity, floor, and ceiling void that could contain hazardous fibres.
You need a demolition survey whenever a building or any part of a structure is scheduled for full or partial demolition. The objective is to identify and document all asbestos materials so they can be safely removed by licensed contractors before plant machinery and teardown teams arrive, ensuring complete compliance with UK safety regulations.
When do you need an asbestos demolition survey?
An asbestos demolition survey is essential whenever a building, outbuilding, or structure is scheduled to be pulled down or significantly altered. This covers full building teardowns, partial demolition, commercial and industrial projects, property redevelopment, and site clearance. It is also required for removing garages and detached structures, or undertaking major structural alterations involving demolition.
If you are preparing demolition work and need guidance on the right survey type for your site, our expert team is here to help.
Why is an asbestos demolition survey important?
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) can be incorporated into many different parts of older buildings and structures. During demolition, materials are disturbed on a large scale. Identifying asbestos beforehand allows project teams to understand where ACMs are situated and plan the appropriate next steps safely.
An intrusive demolition survey helps you:
- Identify asbestos before demolition begins
- Reduce the risk of unexpected asbestos discoveries
- Pinpoint all ACMs within the survey scope
- Provide crucial information for demolition planning
- Help contractors understand identified asbestos risks
- Support appropriate asbestos removal planning
- Provide documented survey information for the project
- Help prevent the uncontrolled disturbance of asbestos-containing materials
What does an asbestos demolition survey cover?
The scope of a demolition survey covers the full building or structure scheduled for demolition. The survey is fully intrusive and designed to locate asbestos-containing materials across all primary structural elements, including:
- Walls and partitions
- Ceilings and textured coatings
- Floors and floor finishes
- Roofs and external roofing materials
- Doors, frames, and window components
- External structures, garages, and outbuildings
Demolition surveys also penetrate service installations and concealed spaces to safeguard contractors prior to teardown works, investigating areas such as:
- Boilers and heating systems
- Pipework, thermal lagging, and insulation
- Electrical installations and service risers
- Plant, machinery, and equipment
- Hidden structural voids and sub-floor cavities
- Other building components within the agreed demolition scope
Our asbestos demolition survey process
1. Discuss your demolition project
We first establish what building or structure is being demolished and understand the proposed scope of the works. Existing plans, drawings, specifications, and building details help determine the precise survey requirements.
2. Agree the survey scope
We establish the specific areas and structures that need to be investigated based on the proposed demolition programme.
3. Carry out the intrusive survey
Our asbestos surveyor investigates the agreed areas and identifies materials that may contain asbestos. Where reasonably practicable, building components are accessed or exposed to thoroughly investigate concealed materials.
4. Take asbestos samples
Suspect materials are sampled where appropriate and safe to do so. Samples are submitted for laboratory testing to verify whether asbestos is present.
5. UKAS laboratory analysis
Where laboratory analysis is required, samples are sent to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for definitive bulk sample identification.
6. Detailed survey report
You receive a comprehensive, clear report detailing all areas investigated, identified materials, sample results, and critical data regarding any asbestos-containing materials located within the scope.
7. Plan asbestos removal and demolition
The survey findings enable your project team and contractors to plan suitable asbestos removal arrangements and safely manage risk before demolition works commence.
Asbestos sampling and laboratory analysis
During a demolition survey, samples may be taken from materials suspected of containing asbestos. Potential suspect materials may include:
- Asbestos cement and cement products
- Floor tiles and adhesive
- Textured coatings (e.g. Artex)
- Insulating board (AIB)
- Pipe insulation and thermal lagging
- Roofing materials and felts
Additional suspect items identified during the survey may also include:
- Gaskets and rope seals
- Ceiling materials and suspended tiles
- Wall and partition materials
- Other suspect components across the site
Where samples are collected, they are submitted to an independent UKAS-accredited laboratory for bulk sample analysis to confirm the presence and type of asbestos fibres.
Asbestos demolition surveys across the North West
MARS Consultants provides intrusive asbestos demolition surveys throughout the North West, including: Leigh | Wigan | Warrington | Manchester | Bolton | Preston | Liverpool | St Helens | Salford | Stockport | Chorley | Lancashire | Greater Manchester | Merseyside | Cheshire
We work closely with property developers, demolition contractors, building owners, commercial property owners, and businesses planning demolition or redevelopment projects. If your project is outside these areas, get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.
Planning demolition or redevelopment work?
Identify asbestos before demolition begins.
If you're planning the demolition of a building or structure, contact MARS Consultants to discuss your project and establish the appropriate asbestos survey requirements.