Prior to the mid-1980s, asbestos was often used as a construction material across all of Aotearoa. As a building material, it’s durable, fire-resistant, and excellent at providing thermal insulation. However, it also happens to be one of the most hazardous materials you can find on a building site.

Now that we know exposure to asbestos fibres can cause serious long-term health risks, the government has put strict guidelines in place to minimise harm as much as possible. So, if you have a demolition in the books, you’ll need to have an asbestos survey done.

But what are asbestos demolition surveys, how do they work, and why are they so vital to your safety? Read on to learn all this and more in preparation for your upcoming demolition.

What is an Asbestos Demolition Survey?

The point of one of these surveys is to identify any and all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that might be in a building before it is demolished. The survey will also determine whether the ACMs are friable or non-friable (i.e. whether or not they will easily release those asbestos fibres).

This detailed inspection is even more in-depth than your standard asbestos management survey, which generally focuses on identifying asbestos for ongoing safety. On the other hand, demolition surveys are much more in-depth because the entire building will be coming down, so nowhere is technically safe. Demolition surveys involve extensive sampling and testing, often requiring parts of the building to be dismantled to check for hidden asbestos.

This protects workers, the public, and the environment from dangerous airborne asbestos exposure and has the added benefit of ensuring compliance with New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016.

Why Are Asbestos Demolition Surveys Necessary?

Many people recognise how important it is to look for asbestos in a building that people are occupying, but struggle to justify why it’s important for a demolition. After all, isn’t the building going to be gone soon?

The danger is in the act of demolition. Asbestos is a unique building material because you won’t usually find it in its raw form. Back when it was widely used, asbestos was processed into building materials like insulation, drywall, and even floor backing to give those materials fire-resistant qualities.

In that processed form, the asbestos can be stable and not present a lot of danger. But as soon as those materials are disturbed, the asbestos can flake into the air, which is when they become most dangerous. In a demolition, they are very likely to be disturbed, which is what can make them so dangerous to do without a survey.

On top of all this, conducting an asbestos demolition survey is about safety and compliance. WorkSafe New Zealand requires property owners and contractors to identify and remove asbestos before demolition. Ignoring these rules can lead to fines, legal trouble, and project shutdowns.

How Asbestos Demolition Surveys Work

What happens during the survey?

Here’s a quick snapshot of the survey process:

1.     Pre-survey planning, which involves our surveyors reviewing building plans and historical records to identify high-risk areas to prioritise in the survey.
2.     On-site inspection and asbestos sampling, in which certified surveyors check every single part of the building where asbestos might be present. Depending on the materials in the building, this could be anywhere from the roof to the sub-basement, so this can take a long time.
3.     Laboratory testing, in which the samples taken by the survey team are tested for asbestos. If asbestos is found, the lab team will also count the number of fibres in a given sample to determine how much asbestos is present, and how vulnerable to damage it is.
4.     Survey report and recommendations, which you’ll receive in the form of a report that recommends next steps based on where asbestos is located.

What happens after the survey?

If asbestos is found, it must be removed by licensed asbestos removalists before demolition can proceed. Once the removal is complete, an inspection will confirm that your site is asbestos-free and safe to begin the demolition.

As you can see, if you’re diving into a demolition, it’s absolutely vital to do an asbestos demolition survey first. This is your first line of defense against a variety of long-term health issues, from mesothelioma to asbestosis, and ensures this hazardous material is contained as much as humanly possible.

While the initial delay can be frustrating, investing time and energy in completing this survey will pay dividends in your health, your crew’s safety, and the quality of the environment around your newly-cleared site.

If you’re struggling with how to proceed or you want to know what the next best step is on your journey to manage potential asbestos, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a professional team.

Stay safe and prepare for your demolition with help from the experts.

The team of experts at Consultex Environmental carries out high-quality asbestos demolition surveys across many residential, commercial, and industrial properties across New Zealand. If you’re looking at demolishing a property, then you’ll need one of these surveys before you can get to work.

Identify any asbestos-containing materials quickly and safely with our experienced team, so you can get to work with ultimate peace of mind. Get in touch to book your survey today