Do asbestos surveyors need to take samples?

Yes — to confirm the presence of asbestos, surveyors need to take samples of any materials suspected of containing asbestos. Visual inspection alone isn’t enough, as many asbestos-containing materials look similar to non-asbestos ones.

The samples are collected carefully to avoid releasing fibres, sealed in airtight containers, and sent to an accredited laboratory for microscopic analysis. The results will identify whether asbestos is present and, if so, what type (for example, chrysotile or amosite).

In rare cases, if access is limited or unsafe, surveyors may recommend a presumptive approach — treating certain materials as asbestos until proper testing can be done.