Asbestos management in London is a legal and safety responsibility for people who control or have responsibilities for non-domestic premises. If asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) may be present, the risks need to be identified, recorded and managed before maintenance, refurbishment or other work could disturb them.
This guide explains the main asbestos management rules that property owners, landlords, facilities managers, employers and other dutyholders should understand. It is practical guidance, not a substitute for site-specific professional advice or the current requirements of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
What are the main asbestos management rules in London?
London follows the same core asbestos legislation as the rest of Great Britain. The key framework is the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), supported by HSE guidance.
For many non-domestic premises, the central requirement is the duty to manage asbestos. In simple terms, the person or organisation responsible for maintenance or repair must take reasonable steps to find out whether asbestos is present, determine its condition, keep the information up to date and ensure that people who may disturb it know how it is being managed.
Who has the duty to manage asbestos?
The duty can apply to a person or organisation with responsibility for maintaining or repairing non-domestic premises. Depending on the circumstances, this may include an employer, landlord, building owner, managing agent, facilities manager or other party responsible for maintenance.
Where responsibility is shared, the relevant parties should cooperate and make sure asbestos information is available to anyone who needs it.
What should an asbestos management system include?
A suitable management system normally starts with reliable information about the location and condition of ACMs and then turns that information into a practical management plan.
1. Find out whether asbestos is present
Start by collecting existing asbestos information, previous surveys, building plans and maintenance records. Where the information is insufficient, an appropriate asbestos survey may be required.
2. Maintain an asbestos register
An asbestos register should record relevant ACMs or presumed ACMs, their locations, condition and other information needed to manage the risk. It should be accessible to people who need the information before work begins.
3. Prepare and maintain an asbestos management plan
The management plan should explain how identified asbestos risks will be managed. Depending on the premises, it can cover responsibilities, monitoring, labelling, access controls, planned work, emergency arrangements and arrangements for keeping records current.
4. Monitor the condition of ACMs
Known ACMs should be managed so that deterioration or damage is identified. The frequency and approach to monitoring should reflect the material, its condition, location and likelihood of disturbance.
5. Give information before maintenance or other work
Before work that could disturb building materials, workers and contractors should have access to relevant asbestos information. This is particularly important for drilling, cutting, removal, refurbishment and other intrusive work.
Which asbestos survey is needed?
The correct survey depends on what you intend to do.
- Management Survey: generally used to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, ACMs that could be disturbed during normal occupation and maintenance.
- Refurbishment Survey: a more intrusive survey used where refurbishment work will disturb the building fabric or areas affected by the project.
- Demolition Survey: required where a building or relevant structure is to be demolished, with the survey designed to locate ACMs as far as reasonably practicable before demolition work.
A survey should be carried out by a competent surveyor, with the scope appropriate to the building and planned work.
What happens if asbestos is damaged?
If suspected asbestos-containing material is damaged or unexpectedly discovered, work that could disturb the material should be stopped and the area managed appropriately. Do not assume that a material is safe simply because it looks intact or resembles a common building product.
Where asbestos is suspected, seek competent asbestos advice and arrange appropriate assessment, sampling or other controls as required.
Asbestos management before refurbishment in London
Refurbishment is one of the situations where relying only on a routine management survey can be inappropriate. If planned work will disturb walls, ceilings, floors, service voids or other parts of the building fabric, the survey strategy should match the proposed scope of work.
Project managers and contractors should make sure asbestos information is considered during planning rather than discovering potential ACMs after work has started.
Why good asbestos records matter
Good records help property managers make safer decisions and communicate asbestos risks to contractors and maintenance teams. They can also make it easier to review previous findings, plan future surveys and demonstrate how asbestos risks are being managed.
Practical checklist for London property managers
- Identify who has responsibility for asbestos management.
- Check existing asbestos surveys and building records.
- Confirm whether the information is adequate for current and planned work.
- Maintain an up-to-date asbestos register where required.
- Maintain an asbestos management plan.
- Monitor the condition of known ACMs.
- Provide relevant asbestos information to workers and contractors before work.
- Use an appropriately scoped refurbishment or demolition survey when the project requires one.
- Use competent asbestos professionals for surveying, assessment and specialist work.
- Review asbestos information when building use, condition or planned works change.
Need an asbestos survey in London?
If you own, manage or maintain a London property and need to establish what asbestos information is required, a properly scoped asbestos survey can provide the information needed for safer maintenance and project planning.
Asbestos London Survey provides asbestos surveying, sampling and testing services across London. The appropriate survey should always be selected according to the building, its age, existing information and the proposed work.
Important note
Asbestos legislation and HSE guidance can change. This article is general information and should not be relied on as a substitute for the current legislation, HSE guidance, competent professional advice or a site-specific risk assessment.
Sources
HSE – Managing and working with asbestos: The duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises