An asbestos survey is required whenever demolition or repair work is carried out in the building and the building was built or repaired before 1994. This is a statutory obligation, the violation of which may result in fines and suspension of the construction site.
Legal obligation
The Government Decree on the Safety of Asbestos Work (798/2015) requires that the developer or the client of the work must commission an asbestos survey before demolition or repair work. The obligation applies to all buildings built or repaired before 1994.
The year 1994 is the limit because the use of asbestos in building materials was banned in Finland in 1993. Before this, asbestos was widely used in hundreds of different building materials.
Renovations that require surveying
- Bathroom renovation - tiles, glue, screeds and waterproofing may contain asbestos
- Pipe repair - asbestos was commonly used in pipe insulation
- Kitchen renovation - floor materials, screeds and adhesives may contain asbestos
- Facade renovation - there is asbestos in facade boards and screeds
- Roof repair - old ceiling tiles may contain asbestos
- Floor repair - vinyl flooring, vinyl tiles and their adhesives are common sources of asbestos
- removal work - all removal work in older buildings requires a survey
Who is responsible?
The client of the work is always responsible for commissioning an asbestos survey. In practice this means:
- In a detached house - the owner of the house
- In a housing association - the board of the housing association or the property manager (housing association renovations) or a shareholder (renovations inside the apartment)
- In companies - the property owner or tenant according to the agreement
When is a survey NOT needed?
An asbestos survey is not required if:
- The building was completely built after 1994
- Renovation does not include dismantling or processing materials (e.g. painting only)
- A comprehensive asbestos survey has already been carried out at the site, which covers the materials to be processed in the renovation
Penalties for negligence
If an asbestos survey is not carried out, there may be a penalty suspending the construction site, fines and even criminal liability if employees are exposed to asbestos. The occupational safety and health authorities monitor the safety of asbestos work and can order the site to be stopped immediately.
Having the survey done is a small cost compared to the risks and possible sanctions. Asbestos surveys start at 119€ + VAT - it's cheap insurance for a safe renovation.