Asbestos can be found in a variety of building materials, such as insulation, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipes, and textured coatings. It was commonly used in construction materials until the mid-1980s, after which it was gradually phased out. Properties built before this time are more likely to contain asbestos, but even newer properties may contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) due to the use of recycled materials.

An asbestos survey is the first step in identifying and managing asbestos in a building. It involves a thorough inspection of the property, including taking samples of suspected ACMs for testing in a laboratory. There are two types of asbestos survey: management surveys and refurbishment/demolition surveys. The type of survey required depends on the intended use of the property and the level of risk posed by asbestos.