DKM Environmental
Services LTD
ASBESTOS REMOVALS
If poor condition asbestos has been identified in your property, it is vital that it is removed and disposed of correctly. We have the experience, expertise and equipment required to ensure its safe removal.
DKM Environmental has fully trained operatives, providing asbestos removal services across London and the South East, including Kent and Essex.
Safety is at the heart of all our asbestos removal. When asbestos fibres are released and inhaled they can cause serious and fatal diseases. Companies are regularly fined for disturbing asbestos during refurbishment work and failing to ensure the safety of their workmen by the diligent removal of that asbestos.
Asbestos sheds, asbestos garage roofs, asbestos tiles, asbestos loft insulation and asbestos flues have been widely installed in properties built or refurbished before 2000. However, not all asbestos-containing material (ACM) is easily identifiable to the untrained eye as it is often hidden as asbestos in Artex coating, asbestos cement roofs, asbestos guttering and asbestos pipe coating.
With around 20 deaths of tradesmen every week attributed to working with asbestos, the safe disposal of ACMs is essential. Our asbestos specialists work to a strict code of practice and are trained to remove all types of asbestos in accordance with current legislation, keeping a safe environment for property workers and residents.
ASBESTOS SURVEYING
We undertake 2 different types of asbestos survey nationwide as directed by UK legislation.
• Asbestos Management Surveys (Previously known as a Type 2 survey)
• Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Asbestos Surveys (Previously known as a Type 3 survey)
Management asbestos surveys ( formally Type 2 asbestos survey) are standard inspection surveys in order to comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for all commercial and industrial property and also for those buying or disposing of property. This type of inspection is non-intrusive but does include sampling of suspect materials which are then sent to the laboratory to report on whether asbestos is present and if so, what types of asbestos. If you are a business whether leaseholder or freeholder this survey will identify what asbestos containing materials are in place within the your demise, their condition and what your legal obligations are in order to comply with the regulations. If you have been asked to carryout an asbestos survey for management purposes and provide an asbestos register for insurance or compliance purposes, including visits from either HSE or Environmental Health this is the survey type which includes the information set out in Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage” All commercial & industrial property ( some residential properties are also cover) built prior to the year 2002 are included in the regulation, regardless of size.
Asbestos Refurbishment-Demotion survey ( formally Type 3 asbestos survey) must be undertaken on properties which are due to be refurbished or demolished ( or elements of both). Professionals, occupiers and management agents involved in minor and major fit-outs and strip-out will need to commission such a survey prior to beginning the works. As well as the requirements for this type of survey covered under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSG264, further stipulations are laid out in the CDM Regulations 2015 ( Construction Design and Management). The aim of this survey type is to survey the property in question for asbestos containing materials so as these can be managed safely or as is usually the case removed safely inline with the regulations before the strip-out and re-fit. All property types are covered regardless of size or class of use – residential, commercial, industrial or mixed. RD asbestos Surveys are highly intrusive and damage will occur to elements of the property in order to inspect the fabric of the building, as such this type of survey can only usually be undertaken in a vacant property and one which is owned by the person or company commissioning the survey.
Our Survey reports will always contain a number of key pieces of information such as the material assessment risk rating for each individual occurrence and recommendations on materials found including photographs and highlighted floor plans (where applicable) this information can then be used by those involved in the refurbishment and or demolition works.
If you are unsure as to which asbestos survey type you require please contact us and one of our surveyors will be happy to discuss your requirements
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Asbestos is a heat-resistant, chemical resistant, strength binding naturally fibrous mineral that was commonly added to manufacture building materials. It was found to be a durable material with fire and heat resistant properties. That is why it works so well as a fire proofing & insulating material in particular.
Any building constructed between the 1850 and 1999 will likely have asbestos-containing materials within the property. However, during the 1970’s & 1980s, health experts determined that asbestos was responsible for negatively impact the health of anyone who is exposed to it.
The greatest exposure to asbestos occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged because this action releases fibres into the air which can be readily inhaled and cause severe health consequences. Some of the most significant health consequences include lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, kidney cancer, and gastrointestinal tract cancer.
The Purpose of an Asbestos Survey
Any man made structure, commercial building, residential building or house constructed between the 1850 and 1999 can still pose a risk to the occupants or workers who live or reside within them. UK Regulations require you to conduct asbestos surveys on buildings constructed within this time period. They are required if you are occupying, buying, selling or demolishing such a building. If there are tenants or people living inside the building, then asbestos surveys are also performed as a health and safety check.
The job of an asbestos surveyor is to inspect your building and identify potential asbestos-containing materials. The asbestos fibres themselves cannot always be identified directly because they are microscopic, however an asbestos surveyor is familiar with the types of building materials that might have asbestos in them, such as flooring tiles, roofing materials, window caulks, and so on.
Once the surveyor has located an asbestos containing material a small sample will be taken of each suspect material which will then be analysed at the laboratory for further in-depth analysis. The laboratory will identify the type or types of asbestos present with sample(s) a bulk certificate of analysis is produced detailing the laboratory results.
