Client

A major government agency with many premises throughout the United Kingdom embarked on a major premises refurbishment programme between 2004 through to 2007. The programme involved redeveloping and refurbishing nearly the entire premises portfolio and due to the scale of project was undertaken in regional project teams.  First Environment was appointed for the provision of asbestos surveying and sampling services across the Midlands and East Regions as part of the project team.

Scope

The project required the delivery of management surveys (old type 3 surveys) to some 350 premises. First Environment’s asbestos division, then trading as Amencon, delivered the survey programme to a demanding schedule, mainly out-of-hours.  Reassurance air testing was required on the completion of each survey with sample results posted before leaving site and this aspect was delivered in partnership with a number of UKAS accredited analyst service provider partners.

In advance of each survey the precise detail of which areas required survey had to be established. This was achieved by pre-survey site meetings and marking and agreeing survey plans on the site drawings prior to commencement.

The surveyor team involved on the project we all inducted into the safety training and project briefings as required by the client, as the project was operated by the DWP to be a model for safety best practice for construction projects.

Reactive support was provided throughout the duration of the survey programme as required for additional spot sampling to suspect materials in areas not included in the survey programme and to provide reassurance air testing.

As the potential presence of asbestos containing materials had a significant potential impact on the project plan for each centre a rapid five day turnaround time was required for each survey.

Core Tasks

• Type 3 asbestos surveys to approximately 350 premises to a precise timescale
• Reassurance air testing was required on the completion of each survey
• Adherence to project safety and reporting requirements.

Key Benefits

• Reports provided within five days of surveys being completed
• Reactive sampling support specific to client requirements.