Types of Asbestos Survey: Management or Refurbishment and Demolition?

Management survey versus refurbishment and demolition survey

A management survey locates suspect asbestos that could be disturbed during normal occupation and use. A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before refurbishment or demolition, is fully intrusive, and covers the work area or the whole building if demolishing.

HSE's web guidance adds that the area for a refurbishment or demolition survey must be vacated and certified fit for reoccupation afterwards, and that a management survey supports the asbestos register and management plan. Northern Ireland's HSENI also lists a more intrusive refurbishment survey where work will break into the fabric. Sources: HSE, Arrange an asbestos survey, accessed 2 November 2026; HSENI, Asbestos surveys: what you need to know, accessed 2 November 2026.

Which survey do I need?

If the building stays in normal use and you need to know where asbestos is so you can manage it, a management survey fits. If you are about to refurbish, strip out or demolish, you need a refurbishment and demolition survey first. If unsure, say so when requesting quotes.

Is the building staying in normal use, and you need an asbestos register and plan?

A management survey (HSG264 paragraph 43).

Are you planning refurbishment, or demolition of all or part of the building?

A refurbishment and demolition survey (HSG264 paragraph 51).

Will more intrusive maintenance, repair or plant removal disturb the fabric?

HSG264 says a refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required in these cases (paragraph 51).

Can you not tell which applies?

Choose “Not sure” on the quote form. Surveyors can advise which survey fits the work.

Source: HSE, Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264, second edition, 2012), accessed 2 November 2026; HSE, Arrange an asbestos survey, accessed 2 November 2026.

The duty to manage for non-domestic premises

Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 puts the duty to manage on the dutyholder for non-domestic premises, including common parts of domestic premises. It requires an assessment, a record, a risk determination and a written plan. A management survey is the usual way to gather the information.

The assessment must be reviewed without delay if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or the premises change significantly (regulation 4(6)), and the conclusions of every review must be recorded (regulation 4(7)). Where asbestos is or is liable to be present, a written plan must identify the affected parts and specify how the risk is managed (regulation 4(8)). In Northern Ireland, HSENI places the same duty in regulation 4 of the 2012 NI regulations. Landlord-specific points are on our landlords and managing agents page.

Sources: HSE, Managing and working with asbestos (L143, second edition, 2013), accessed 2 November 2026; HSENI, Asbestos: the duty to manage, accessed 2 November 2026.

Re-inspection and how long a survey stays useful

Regulation 4 sets no fixed lifespan for a survey. The law requires the assessment to be reviewed without delay if it may no longer be valid or the building changes significantly. How long a survey stays useful therefore depends on the condition of the materials and changes to the building.

The duty is to review when circumstances change, not at a fixed interval. If your register is old, or you have altered the building, ask surveyors when you request quotes whether the existing information still holds.

Source: HSE, Managing and working with asbestos (L143, second edition, 2013), accessed 2 November 2026 (regulation 4(6)).

Removal before major refurbishment

HSG264 says all asbestos-containing materials should be removed, as far as reasonably practicable, before major refurbishment or demolition. That is why the refurbishment and demolition survey comes first: it finds what must be dealt with before the building work starts.

This point comes from HSE's survey guide (HSG264, paragraph 52). Contractors and clients should confirm the exact legal requirement for their project.

Source: HSE, Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264, second edition, 2012), accessed 2 November 2026.

Questions about surveys

Two questions come up often: whether you can survey for asbestos yourself, and whether a management survey is enough before building work. The short answers below draw on HSE guidance and are general information only, not advice on your own project or building.

Sources: HSE, Arrange an asbestos survey, accessed 2 November 2026; HSE, Asbestos: FAQs, accessed 2 November 2026; HSE, Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264, second edition, 2012), accessed 2 November 2026.