Asbestos surveying is a study carried out by an expert to find out the asbestos content of the building's materials. In the survey, an expert comes to the site, performs a visual inspection, takes samples of suspected materials and sends them for laboratory analysis. The result is a comprehensive report that tells where asbestos is found and how the renovation can be carried out safely.
Why is an asbestos survey carried out?
The main purpose of asbestos survey is to protect people's health. Asbestos is a very dangerous material for health, which causes serious lung diseases when inhaled. Asbestos fibers are released into the air when asbestos-containing material is drilled, sanded, dismantled or otherwise processed.
Asbestos cannot be identified with the naked eye. That's why laboratory analysis is the only reliable method verify whether the material contains asbestos or not.
Legal obligation
Finnish legislation obliges everyone to carry out an asbestos survey in buildings built or repaired before 1994 before demolition or repair work. The Government's decree on the safety of asbestos work (798/2015) specifies that the developer or other client of the work must ensure that a survey is commissioned.
The survey obligation applies to all renovations in which construction materials are dismantled or handled - from bathroom renovations to plumbing renovations and from facade repairs to roof renovations.
What does an asbestos survey include?
- Visual inspection of the item - an expert examines the structures and identifies materials in which asbestos may be present
- Sampling - samples of suspected materials are taken for laboratory analysis
- Laboratory analysis - the samples are examined with SEM-EDS electron microscopy in accordance with the ISO 22262-1 standard
- survey report - a comprehensive document detailing the findings, asbestos locations and recommendations for further measures
Who does the asbestos survey?
Asbestos surveying is done by a qualified asbestos surveyor who has sufficient training and experience in identifying asbestos-containing materials. The surveyor must not be the same entity that does the asbestos removal work - this ensures the impartiality of the survey.
How much does an asbestos survey cost?
Asbestos survey price begins 119€ + VAT. The exact price depends on the size, type and number of samples required. An individual laboratory analysis of an asbestos sample costs 39,90€ + VAT, if you take the sample yourself and send it by post.
When is asbestos survey not necessary?
Asbestos survey is usually not needed if the building was built entirely after 1994 and has not been repaired with older materials. Mere surface repair, such as painting or wallpapering without removing the old material, usually does not require survey either.