Schools present a particular set of challenges for asbestos surveys — tight holiday-window deadlines, sensitive occupied areas, and buildings that have often been extended in phases since the 1960s and 70s. Here’s a look at how a recent refurbishment survey at a secondary school in the Doncaster area came together, with identifying details removed.

The Brief

The school’s facilities team had a phased refurbishment planned for one of the older teaching blocks, dating from the early 1970s, with work due to start on the first day of the summer holidays. That gave a fixed, non-negotiable window: the refurbishment and demolition survey had to be completed, reported, and signed off before the contractors’ start date, with no scope to push it back once term ended.

Because the block was still in full use for the final weeks of term, the survey itself had to be scheduled for after the last day of teaching, which left a narrower gap than usual between survey and building work commencing.

What the Survey Found

As is often the case with buildings of this era, the survey identified several asbestos-containing materials that hadn’t been documented in the school’s existing asbestos register — including insulation board behind radiator casings, floor tile adhesive beneath more recent vinyl flooring, and textured coating in two stairwells. None of this was a surprise given the building’s age, but it meant the removal contractor’s programme needed adjusting once the full extent was known.

Why the timing mattered

A phased approach was agreed so that survey findings for the areas due to be worked on first were reported ahead of the full survey completing, giving the removal contractor a head start on ordering materials and booking removal slots, rather than waiting for the entire building to be finished before any information was released.

The Outcome

The full refurbishment survey report was delivered within the agreed window, giving the facilities team and their contractor clear sight of what needed removing before demolition and refurbishment work began. The school’s asbestos register was updated to reflect the new findings across the rest of the building too, so future maintenance work in adjoining areas won’t hit the same surprises.

Areas we cover

We carry out school and education-sector asbestos surveys across South Yorkshire, including Doncaster and the surrounding towns, and can work to term-time and holiday-window deadlines. See our full Areas Covered page for the complete list.

Details in this case study have been anonymised to protect client confidentiality. ACM Contracts connects you with HSG Surveys Ltd, our BOHS-qualified surveying partner, for all field operations, billing and reporting.