Asbestos Management in Commercial & Industrial Units
Industrial and commercial properties—ranging from small workshops to medium-sized manufacturing plants—contain some of the highest concentrations of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Because these buildings were designed for high-heat processes, fire resistance, and heavy-duty durability, asbestos was often the primary material used in their construction and equipment.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the “Duty to Manage” falls on the person or organization in control of the building. This includes ensuring that anyone working on the fabric of the building or the machinery within it is protected from accidental exposure.
Where Asbestos is Found in Industrial Environments
Asbestos in industrial settings is not limited to walls and ceilings; it is frequently integrated into the manufacturing infrastructure:
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Roofing & Cladding: Corrugated asbestos cement sheets were the industry standard for industrial roofing and wall cladding until the late 1990s.
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Plant & Machinery: Gaskets, brake linings, and heat-resistant seals inside older machinery, furnaces, and ovens.
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Thermal Insulation: High-pressure steam pipes and boilers are often lagged with asbestos-containing thermal insulation.
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Electrical Systems: Large-scale fuse boxes and switchgear often utilized “Sindanyo” boards or asbestos arc shields for their high dielectric strength.
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Structural Fireproofing: Asbestos spray (limpet) was frequently applied to structural steel beams to prevent collapse during a fire.
Specific Requirements for SME Industrial Units
1. The Management Survey (Compliance)
Every industrial unit built before 2000 must have a Management Survey. This document forms the basis of your Asbestos Register. It allows you to monitor the condition of materials that are likely to be disturbed by day-to-day warehouse operations, such as forklift movements or pallet racking installations.
2. Pre-Maintenance & Refurbishment Surveys
Before upgrading HVAC systems, replacing roof lights, or installing new production lines, a Refurbishment Survey is a legal requirement. Unlike a Management Survey, this is intrusive and ensures that contractors don’t accidentally disturb hidden asbestos when drilling into floors or cutting into partitions.
3. Machinery Sampling
Many SME industrial units utilize older, refurbished machinery. If you are decommissioning or repairing equipment, we can provide Targeted Sampling to check internal gaskets, seals, and heat shields, ensuring your maintenance engineers remain safe.
Minimizing Operational Downtime
We recognize that in a manufacturing or commercial environment, stopping production is costly. We specialize in:
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Zoned Surveys: Surveying specific sections of a plant at a time to allow production to continue elsewhere.
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Independent Advice: As we are strictly independent surveyors and do not provide removal services, we focus on safe, in-situ management strategies. Our goal is to keep you compliant without recommending unnecessary and expensive removals that could stop your production lines.
Professional Reporting & Liability Protection
A professional asbestos report is a vital part of your business’s insurance and health and safety portfolio. It protects the business owner from liability and ensures that any visiting contractors can sign off on their own safety protocols before starting work.