Do I need an asbestos survey before carrying out building work?

Yes — under UK law, you must have an asbestos survey completed before any building, refurbishment, or demolition work begins. This requirement exists to protect workers from accidentally disturbing asbestos-containing materials, which can release dangerous fibres into the air.

A Refurbishment and Demolition Survey is specifically designed for this purpose. It identifies all asbestos materials within the scope of the planned work, ensuring they can be managed or removed safely before construction starts.

Failing to carry out a survey can result in serious health risks and legal penalties from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).