Professional Asbestos Testing, Sampling and Surveys in London & Surrey

Are you worried that asbestos may be present in your property? The only way to confirm it safely is through licensed asbestos testing.

At Advance Asbestos Removal, we have been professionally testing, removing and disposing of asbestos for private homeowners and commercial property owners across the South East of England since 1984.

All of our team are UKATA (UK Asbestos Training Association) trained, and work in strict compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. So, if you are searching ‘asbestos testing near me’, then look no further than Advance Asbestos Removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre that was widely used in construction from the 1950s up until it was fully banned in 1999. It was used for things like insulation, flooring, roofing and decorative wall coverings, favoured for its chemical, fire and heat resistant properties.

There are over 5,000 products known to contain asbestos, and there are different types.

Blue asbestos (crocidolite) and brown asbestos (amosite) were banned in 1985, followed by the more common white asbestos (chrysotile) in 1999.

Left undisturbed, the risks posed by asbestos are minimal. However, when it is disrupted or damaged, its microscopic fibres can be released into the air. If they are breathed in, they can cause damage to the lungs and their lining, resulting in a variety of asbestos related conditions, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Many of these conditions carry no symptoms until the later stages, when it is often too late to treat them.

This is precisely why it is so important to be aware of whether there is asbestos present in your property if you are planning refurbishment or demolition works.

The problem with asbestos is that you cannot tell just by sight, smell or feel whether it’s present.

Whilst there are various materials and decorative finishes that are more likely to contain asbestos, such as insulating board, lagging, garage roofs, textured decorative coatings and floor tiles, there is only one way to confirm its presence, and that is through asbestos testing through a licensed asbestos contractor such as Advance Asbestos Removal.

Asbestos testing will make it clear as to whether asbestos is present, and which type it is, as well as the risk it poses. The contractor will safely take samples from the suspected material and then send them off for analysis at a specialist laboratory.

Once the results are returned, the contractor will use their expertise to make a plan of action. Most of the time this will usually involve leaving the material in place and regularly monitoring it to ensure the levels stay safe. But if the material is set to be disturbed, then it will usually need to be safely removed under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

If you need asbestos testing, it is vital that you don’t attempt to take any samples yourself. Our experts are qualified under nationally recognised standards and know precisely how to take samples without posing a risk to health.

The process for taking samples for testing follows a safe and documented method, involving dampening the sample, placing it in a self-sealing bag, and then in another bag, labelling and taking it to an approved laboratory which will issue an official certificate.

Whilst there are DIY asbestos testing kits available to buy online, it is strongly recommended that these are avoided, as there are numerous dangers to be aware of.

Asbestos is a potentially dangerous substance that can cause serious health problems, and it should only be handled by qualified experts. What’s more, whilst you can buy asbestos testing kits relatively cheaply, the price doesn’t usually include the laboratory and certificate fees, only the sample gathering kits themselves. And you are likely to be surprised at how much those lab fees add to the cost of the kit.

Generally, it is best not to take chances with a dangerous substance like asbestos. Stay safe, and leave it to the professionals.

If the results of the testing indicate that asbestos is present, and you are undertaking demolition or renovation works, or it has been shown that the asbestos is posing a risk to health, then you are likely to need asbestos removal.

This will involve the intervention of a licensed asbestos contractor. You should inform your builders that the asbestos needs to be removed before they can start work. If the material containing asbestos has already been disturbed, then it should be left alone, as disrupting it further could cause the microscopic fibres to escape into the air, where they could be breathed in.

At Advance Asbestos Removal, we offer a range of asbestos removal services, including asbestos garage removal and replacement and asbestos shed removal, asbestos ceiling, roof and tile removal. We are also a fully licensed waste carrier (licence number CB/DU195645), which means we are legally certified to remove asbestos from your home or business premises. This is important, as you are legally obliged to ensure any asbestos is handled in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.