Asbestos removal in Hertfordshire and Enfield

Does asbestos always have to come out?

Not always. Material in good condition, sealed and in a place where nobody will disturb it can often be left and checked from time to time. Sealing or enclosing it, known as encapsulation, is another option. Removal makes sense when the material is damaged, when building work will disturb it, or when you would rather not have it in the building at all.

A survey or test should come first, so everyone knows what the material is and how much there is.

Who is allowed to remove it?

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 split asbestos work into three groups. Which one applies depends on the type of material, its condition and the work being done, and the decision rests on a risk assessment carried out before work starts.

• Licensed work covers the higher-risk jobs, which must be done by a contractor holding a licence from HSE. HSE lists removing sprayed coatings, pipe lagging, loose-fill insulation and millboard among them, and work on asbestos insulating board unless it is only of short duration.
• Notifiable non-licensed work does not need a licence, but it must be notified to the enforcing authority before it starts. The workers need regular medical examinations, and records must be kept. HSE gives the removal of asbestos cement that is substantially damaged or broken up as one example.
• Non-licensed work covers lower-risk tasks, such as carefully removing asbestos cement sheets without breaking them, even when they are weathered. It still needs trained workers and proper controls.

HSE describes licensable work with asbestos and notifiable non-licensed work in more detail. Doing licensable work without a licence is an offence.

What does licensed removal involve?

The contractor must notify the enforcing authority at least 14 days before licensed work starts. On the day, the work area is usually sealed inside a plastic enclosure kept under negative pressure, so air flows in rather than out. Workers use respirators and disposable overalls, the material is wetted to keep dust down, and people leave through a decontamination unit.

When the removal is finished, an independent analyst carries out a four-stage clearance and, if the area passes, issues a certificate for reoccupation. Do not use the area again until you have it.

Can we stay in the building while the work goes on?

Often you can, as long as the work area is sealed off and nobody but the workers goes into it. In a small house, where the asbestos is next to a kitchen or the only bathroom, moving out for a day or two can be simpler. Businesses may need to close part of a floor, or plan the work for a weekend. Ask the contractor how the area will be separated from the rest of the building, where the decontamination unit will stand and how waste will be carried out.

How do I check a contractor's licence?

Ask for a copy of the HSE licence and check the name on it matches the business quoting. HSE points to a list of current licensed asbestos contractors, published through CONIAC, its construction industry advisory committee. Check the licence is current on the day the work is due to start.

What happens to the waste?

Asbestos waste is hazardous waste. It must be double wrapped and labelled, carried by a registered waste carrier and taken to a site with a permit to accept it. Ask the contractor for a copy of the hazardous waste consignment note, which shows where it went. Keep that with your other paperwork for the building.

What should I do before the work starts?

• agree in writing exactly what is being removed, and from where
• ask whether furniture, carpets and belongings need moving out first
• ask how long the area will be closed off
• tell anyone else in the building, such as tenants or other businesses
• ask who is arranging the clearance analyst, for licensed work

What should I ask a contractor?

• Is this licensed, notifiable non-licensed or non-licensed work, and why?
• Can I see your HSE licence, for licensed work?
• How will you prevent dust escaping into the rest of the building?
• Who will carry the waste, and where will it go?
• What paperwork will I receive at the end?

What should my enquiry say?

• the postcode and the type of building
• what needs removing, and any survey or test results
• whether the material is damaged
• whether building work is waiting on the removal

What happens once it is sent?

Sending an enquiry is free and commits you to nothing. Where a specialist covers your postcode, they agree the work and terms with you directly.