SERVICES

What We Do

ASBESTOS SURVEYS

Asbestos Management Surveys
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-Demolition Surveys
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.

SAMPLING SURVEYS

Asbestos sample testing is generally required to ascertain if asbestos is present in materials which have been sampled and suspected to contain asbestos.

This can be as part of an asbestos survey (bulk sampling) or a singular sample (single sample) of a material which is suspected to contain asbestos.
If analysis of the samples demonstrates that asbestos is present, the analysis will also identify what type of asbestos is present within the sample.

Fire Door Inspections

WHAT IS A FIRE DOOR INSPECTION?

A fire door inspection is a check to make sure the fire doors in a building are functioning properly and meeting safety regulations. Fire doors are crucial for containing a fire and ensuring safe escape in an emergency.

Here's a breakdown of fire door inspections:

Purpose: Verify the fire doors are operational and compliant with fire safety standards.
Legality: In the UK, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes it mandatory for responsible persons (building owners or managers) to ensure fire doors are properly installed and maintained [fire safety legislation england].
Frequency: Inspections are typically done every 6 months, though high-use doors or new buildings may need more frequent checks [fire door maintenance].

If you're the responsible person for a building in the UK, you can find more info on how to conduct fire door checks on the government website

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN FIRE DOOR INSPECTION?

The person ultimately responsible for fire door inspections is the "responsible person" as defined by the Fire Safety Order.

This can be:

The owner of the building
Someone with control of the premises, like a managing agent
A landlord

The Fire Safety Order applies to most non-domestic buildings in England. There are similar regulations in other parts of the UK.

WHAT DO WE CHECK ON A FIRE DOOR INSPECTION?

Here are some key things to check during a fire door inspection:

Door Label and Certification:

Look for a label or marking on the door indicating it's a certified fire door. This might be on the top or side of the door.

Door and Frame:

Check the door leaf and frame for any signs of damage, like cracks, dents, or missing pieces.
Ensure the frame is securely fixed to the wall.

Gaps and Seals:

Intumescent seals are crucial for fire doors. Verify they are present around the doorframe or leaf edge, undamaged, and not painted over.
Check the gaps around the frame and door leaf. These should be consistent and minimal (typically less than 4mm when closed). The gap under the door might be slightly larger (up to 10mm) unless it's a fire/smoke door.

Hinges and Closers:

At least three hinges (CE marked grade 11 or 13) should be firmly attached with no missing screws.
The door closer should function correctly, shutting the door without binding and closing fully from any position (usually within 5-20 seconds).

Fire Door Operation:

Make sure the door opens and closes smoothly without obstruction.
Verify that any hold-open devices are not preventing the door from self-closing. These devices should be installed at the same point (top or bottom) as the closing mechanism (door closer or floor spring).

Additional Checks:

Look for signage clearly identifying the door as a fire door.
Check if there are any modifications to the door (glass panels, vents) that comply with fire safety regulations.

Remember, this is a general checklist. It's recommended to consult the regulations in your area for specific requirements. You can also find more detailed fire door inspection checklists online from fire safety organizations.