Quantify heavy metals in paint, dust, soil and bulk — non-destructively, with full lab back-up.
Laboratory and on-site X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of heavy metals across paint, dust, soil, sediments and bulk material samples. Fast non-destructive screening for lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, zinc, copper and barium — with confirmatory ICP-MS where action levels are approached.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a heavy metals XRF specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Send us the samples — or have us survey on site.
For laboratory work, package and dispatch samples under chain of custody and we'll typically report XRF results within 5 working days. For on-site surveys we'll mobilise handheld XRF, map your project against drawings and issue an interpreted report shortly after fieldwork.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Multi-element panel
Simultaneous quantification of Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Hg, Ni, Zn, Cu, Ba and other elements of interest in a single XRF measurement.
Calibrated to standards
Energy-dispersive XRF instruments calibrated against certified reference materials matched to the sample matrix (paint film, soil, dust loading).
Benchmarked to action criteria
Results compared to HSE CLAW limits for lead in paint, CL:AIRE / Defra C4SLs for soil, and HSG258 dust criteria — with clear above-/below-action calls.
ICP-MS confirmation on demand
Where XRF screening approaches an action level, samples are escalated to ICP-MS digestion and analysis for definitive quantification.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured heavy metals XRF data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where heavy metals XRF matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for heavy metals XRF.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Sample register with positional metadata
- Photographic record of every reading or sample point
- Multi-element XRF results table
- Comparison to relevant action criteria
- Above-/below-criterion calls per sample
- ICP-MS confirmation results where escalated
- Plain-English interpretation and recommendations
- Defensible chain-of-custody documentation
Client testimony
“Sysco mapped every painted surface in a 1960s school block in two days with handheld XRF — we had the lead-paint scope locked down before the strip-out tender went out.”
— Principal designer
UK education refurbishment programme
Typical environments we assess
Wherever heavy metals XRF risk affects your people.
- Pre-1980 housing & estates
- Refurb & strip-out projects
- Industrial sites & legacy contamination
- Healthcare & education estates
- Heritage & conservation works
- Plant, equipment & coatings
Background
Heavy metals XRF analysis, in detail.
- What XRF actually measures
- Matrices and applications we cover
- How results are interpreted
- When we escalate to ICP-MS
- On-site XRF for surveys at scale
What XRF actually measures
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive analytical technique in which a sample is irradiated with a primary X-ray beam and the characteristic secondary (fluorescent) X-rays emitted by each element are measured. The energy of each peak identifies the element; the intensity quantifies how much is present.
It is fast, requires no sample digestion or destruction, and can be applied directly to paint films, dust wipes, soil samples and bulk solids. That makes it the workhorse first-pass technique for heavy metal screening across construction, refurbishment and contaminated land workstreams.
Matrices and applications we cover
Paint chips and intact paint films from pre-1992 buildings (lead-based paint clearance under HSG264 / CLAW); dust wipe samples to 100 cm² templates from refurbishment, demolition and post-incident scenarios; soil and made-ground samples from contaminated land investigations; and bulk samples of plaster, mortar, ceramics, glazes, plastics, rubbers and coatings.
For each matrix we use the appropriate calibration set and sample preparation — ground and pelletised for soils and bulks, direct-on-substrate for paint films, and reference-loaded filter media for wipe samples.
How results are interpreted
Lead in paint is benchmarked against the HSE's 5,000 µg/g (0.5%) trigger for the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. Lead in dust is interpreted against HSG264/HSG258 wipe-sample criteria. Soil heavy metals are compared to Defra Category 4 Screening Levels (C4SLs) and CL:AIRE generic assessment criteria as applicable to land use.
Each result is reported with a clear above-/below-criterion call, the analytical uncertainty, and a brief contextual note for the surface or matrix sampled.
When we escalate to ICP-MS
XRF is excellent for screening and for unambiguous above-/well-below-criterion calls. Where a result sits within the analytical uncertainty of an action level, or where regulatory or litigation context demands the most defensible figure, we digest the sample by acid microwave digestion and quantify by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at a UKAS-accredited subcontract laboratory.
This combined screen-and-confirm approach gives clients fast, cost-effective coverage with definitive numbers exactly where they matter.
On-site XRF for surveys at scale
For large refurbishment or demolition projects we deploy handheld XRF on site, mapping every coated surface or sampling grid in real time. Results are tagged to floor plans and photographs, allowing the principal designer or contractor to plan controlled-removal scope and worker protection without waiting on lab turnaround.
On-site readings are recorded with positional metadata and a representative sub-sample retained for laboratory confirmation where action levels are approached.
Related services
Often assessed alongside heavy metals XRF.
Lead paint surveys
Site surveys of lead-based paint where XRF mapping of every coated surface is the most efficient first pass.
Explore 02Mercury contamination
Hg-specific surveys for laboratories, healthcare and historic process buildings.
Explore 03Lead exposure (CLAW)
Personal air sampling and biomonitoring for workers disturbing lead-painted substrates.
Explore 04Fire residue testing
Combustion residues frequently contain elevated heavy metals — XRF panel sits alongside the fire-residue suite.
ExploreCommon questions
Heavy Metals XRF Analysis — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- Which elements does the XRF panel cover?
- Routinely lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), barium (Ba), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn). Other elements can be added on request.
- Is XRF as accurate as ICP-MS?
- For screening and clear-cut calls, XRF is fully fit for purpose. Where a result sits close to an action level or definitive quantification is needed for litigation or regulatory reporting, we confirm by ICP-MS. The combined approach gives both speed and defensibility.
- Do you need to destroy the sample?
- No — XRF is non-destructive. Paint films, intact bulk samples and wipe media are returned intact and can be retained or escalated to ICP-MS without re-sampling.
- Can you survey on site rather than in the lab?
- Yes — handheld XRF is ideal for large refurbishment and demolition jobs. We map every relevant surface in real time and tag results to floor plans and photographs.
- What standards do you compare results against?
- Lead in paint: HSE CLAW (0.5% / 5,000 µg/g trigger). Lead in dust: HSG264 / HSG258 wipe criteria. Soil: Defra C4SLs and CL:AIRE generic assessment criteria. Other matrices are interpreted against the relevant published reference values.
- How long does laboratory turnaround take?
- Standard XRF turnaround is 5 working days from sample receipt; ICP-MS confirmation adds a further 5–10 working days. Urgent turnaround can be arranged where deadlines apply.
- Can you cover a UKAS-accredited deliverable?
- Where a fully UKAS-accredited deliverable is required, the analytical work is carried out by, or escalated to, a UKAS-accredited subcontract laboratory and reported under their schedule of accreditation.
Speak with a heavy metals XRF specialist
Need heavy metals quantified — in paint, dust, soil or bulk?
Tell us
- sample matrix and number of samples,
- elements of interest,
- action criteria or context,
- and your target reporting deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
Sample lab report
Our report at a glance.
Every Sysco laboratory report is short, hierarchical and actionable. Here is what you'll find on the first page — and you can preview the full PDF below or request the worked example by email.
- 01
Sample & site context
Why we sampled, the locations chosen and the method used — at a glance.
- 02
Headline result table
Total spores per cubic metre by location, with indoor / outdoor ratios.
- 03
Dominant genera
Plain-English call-out of any water-damage indicator organisms found.
- 04
Priority actions
Three-step action plan with owners — what to do next, in order.
Anonymised — based on a real Sysco assessment, signed off by a BOHS-qualified hygienist.
For download
Free laboratory resources for your team.
Print-ready references and forms — no sign-up required. Updated whenever methods or guidance change.
- Field guide
Sampling collection guide
Field-ready instructions for collecting spore traps, tape-lifts, swabs, bulk samples and pumped media for lab analysis.
- Form · A4
Chain-of-custody form
Printable A4 form for sample IDs, custody transfers and dispatch — send with every batch of samples to the lab.
Need a specific method, sampling kit or chain-of-custody tailored to your project? Call 0800 433 7914 or email sales@sysco-env.co.uk.
From the field
Related case studies & insights
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