Asbestos is usually harmless when its not disturbed or damaged. However, when its damaged, fibres can be released into the air, which can lead to serious health issues. For this reason, the UK government requires all building refurbishment and demolition projects to be preceded by an asbestos survey.

An asbestos survey involves identifying the presence, location, and extent of asbestos-containing materials in a building or property. There are two types of asbestos surveys: Management Survey and Refurbishment/Demolition Survey.

A Management Survey is aimed at locating any asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during normal occupancy or maintenance of a building. On the other hand, a Refurbishment/Demolition Survey is required before any refurbishment or demolition works are carried out in a building. This survey is more intrusive and involves aggressive inspection techniques to identify any asbestos-containing materials that might be present.