Warehouses and industrial units can contain a wide range of materials from different construction and refurbishment periods. Before alteration, strip-out or intrusive maintenance, the available asbestos information should be checked against the work that contractors will actually carry out.
This guide is for landlords, occupiers, facilities teams and project managers planning works to industrial or warehouse premises in London.
Start with the alteration scope
Identify every area likely to be cut, drilled, removed, opened or replaced. Industrial projects can affect roof and wall systems, internal partitions, offices, plant rooms, service routes, fire protection, floor finishes and older mechanical or electrical installations.
Our wider commercial refurbishment checklist explains how to coordinate survey scope, access and contractor information.
Materials and locations that deserve attention
Depending on the age and history of the building, potential asbestos-containing materials may occur in cement roof or wall products, insulating board, textured coatings, floor materials, gaskets, pipe insulation and other building or plant components. Their presence cannot be confirmed reliably by appearance alone.
Review the asbestos register and previous surveys
Check whether existing information covers the warehouse, ancillary offices, plant spaces, external elements and any areas that the new project will disturb. Note all exclusions and no-access areas. A report prepared for routine management should not automatically be treated as sufficient for intrusive alterations.
Choose survey scope around the work
For occupied premises, an asbestos management survey supports ongoing management. Where alterations will disturb building fabric, a suitably scoped refurbishment or demolition survey may be needed for the affected areas before work begins.
Roofing and external alteration projects
Industrial buildings frequently involve roof, cladding, gutter or service-penetration works. If roofing work is planned, also see our guide on asbestos surveys before roof replacement. Survey scope should reflect exactly which elements will be disturbed.
Plant and service areas
Older industrial premises may contain historic services or equipment. Our guide to asbestos in boiler rooms and plant rooms covers additional considerations for these areas. Access arrangements can be particularly important where equipment, locked rooms or live services restrict inspection.
Before work starts
- Confirm the final contractor scope.
- Check survey coverage against every affected area.
- Resolve any relevant no-access limitations.
- Communicate asbestos findings to contractors.
- Plan controls before disturbing identified or presumed materials.
- Update building asbestos information after changes or removal.
Need a survey for a London warehouse or industrial unit?
Provide the property location, approximate size, intended works and any existing asbestos records. We can use that information to discuss the appropriate survey enquiry for the project.