Should a Full Structural Survey look for potential asbestos?
- Thread starter dbh
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Asbestos used to be common in ships and factories with steam boilers, but is very uncommon in domestic houses (except sometimes in outbuildings and garages with asbestos/cement sheets, which are not very hazardous if dealt with by builders or anyone aware of the procedure); so I would not normally expect a home surveyor to be looking for it.
If you are in an area where houses and flats were known to have been built with asbestos, then I would expect a local surveyor to be aware of the age and type of buildings concerned, and point out the possibility if he was inspecting one of these.
Why are you asking?
If you are in an area where houses and flats were known to have been built with asbestos, then I would expect a local surveyor to be aware of the age and type of buildings concerned, and point out the possibility if he was inspecting one of these.
Why are you asking?
i have had two structural surveys of two separate houses by two different surveyors, one surveyor points out in the report that no asbestos containing materials were noticed.
on the other house the second surveyor doesn't mention asbestos at all but having moved in, there are two areas with pipe lagging. one relating to a redundant boiler, one to electrics.
Since one surveyor felt it was part of his scope to tell me there are no ACM's present - I'd like to know where I stand since the second surveyor had ducked that punch.
on the other house the second surveyor doesn't mention asbestos at all but having moved in, there are two areas with pipe lagging. one relating to a redundant boiler, one to electrics.
Since one surveyor felt it was part of his scope to tell me there are no ACM's present - I'd like to know where I stand since the second surveyor had ducked that punch.
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it's over 150 years old.
if i look into the chimney (or should that be flue?) from the fireplace i can see two disconnected lead pipes (from a redundant boiler i guess), and there is debris from a fibreous material that seems to have fallen off the pipework, it looks suspicious.
also an electrical cable has been lagged with something and again it looks fibreous and also in poor repair.
I guess i won't know until i get it tested. But, my question is, since the surveyor commented on other things not strictly relating to the structure of the building but affecting "the buyers decision to purchase the house" - is it fair for me to have expected him to comment on possible asbestos?
if i look into the chimney (or should that be flue?) from the fireplace i can see two disconnected lead pipes (from a redundant boiler i guess), and there is debris from a fibreous material that seems to have fallen off the pipework, it looks suspicious.
also an electrical cable has been lagged with something and again it looks fibreous and also in poor repair.
I guess i won't know until i get it tested. But, my question is, since the surveyor commented on other things not strictly relating to the structure of the building but affecting "the buyers decision to purchase the house" - is it fair for me to have expected him to comment on possible asbestos?
If it was a proper structural survey, then it should have been carried out by a chartered structural engineer, generally they're not qualified to advise on asbestos.
Hmmmmm, not so sure its uncommon at all, It 'was' the wonder product, in articles as diverse as 'plastic' floor tiles, 'Artex', bathpanels, Boiler insulation panels, and Rawlplug filler, never mind other obvious places such as Guttering, pitchfibre downpipes etc.
Just a few findings to muddy the waters for you - do not worry, specialist contractors exist just to take your mind off the potential issues, and your monies with it!!!!!!
Sheeez, the amount I must have inhaled over the years "just throw some water over the sheet if the dust gets to bad when sawing" was the sole words of caution back in the seventies.
DH
electrical cables shouldn't be lagged!! they cannot dissipate heat and could catch fire.
I think this may be the subject for another thread, but i have played as a child in asbestos, and very possibly blue, i'm now 50 , and feel pretty fit, i feel it's well overblown about asbestos being so dangerous.
I do understand how you feel though.
I do understand how you feel though.
maybe lagged is a bit strong, should i say that the cables have a bituminous coating which i understand can contain asbestos.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've taken a couple of 'loose' samples and sent to be tested. Not an advisable thing to do according to the HSE.
Lots of people say they're not worried about asbestos but my dads friend (a joiner) died of mesothelioma. I agree also that if it ain't broke, don't go near it, but the stuff in my house is in poor condition and in areas where work will be carried out, hense my caution.
Everyone know's someone who smoked 60 a day and lived till they were a hundred but it's generally agreed that smoking is bad for your health.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've taken a couple of 'loose' samples and sent to be tested. Not an advisable thing to do according to the HSE.
Lots of people say they're not worried about asbestos but my dads friend (a joiner) died of mesothelioma. I agree also that if it ain't broke, don't go near it, but the stuff in my house is in poor condition and in areas where work will be carried out, hense my caution.
Everyone know's someone who smoked 60 a day and lived till they were a hundred but it's generally agreed that smoking is bad for your health.
You should get a periodic inspection report done on the house as well as having the gas and plumbing checked, a re-wire and a re-plumb may be needed and you need to budget for that before redecoration, new kitchens and carpets ect.
A full survey on my 1960’s property in 2004 picked up on the asbestos cement boarding used both on the soffits & on the garage ceiling. It’s classed as low grade & does not need a license to strip out but you have to do it with care & dispose at special depots; both are now gone.
We've got a standard clause in our reports (SE) that states that we're not experts at identifying asbestos or moulds - because we aren't. We do structure, pipe lagging doesn't fall under that!
We did have an interesting situation where a client sent a nasty letter stating that we should have noticed the asbestos in his garage and he wanted recompense for removing it. We politely told him that we only glanced in the garage as it was far removed from the wall he was removing, and was hidden at the time of inspection!
We did also however point out to a different house seller that we found what looked like (broken) asbestos in his loft, and that he should get it checked out. I missed it until my colleague pointed it out, it's not what we're generally looking for. On the flip side, we've had a surveyor's report that suspects asbestos in the roof. We've told them in no uncertain terms that we won't be going up there until they can prove they have dealt with it.
We did have an interesting situation where a client sent a nasty letter stating that we should have noticed the asbestos in his garage and he wanted recompense for removing it. We politely told him that we only glanced in the garage as it was far removed from the wall he was removing, and was hidden at the time of inspection!
We did also however point out to a different house seller that we found what looked like (broken) asbestos in his loft, and that he should get it checked out. I missed it until my colleague pointed it out, it's not what we're generally looking for. On the flip side, we've had a surveyor's report that suspects asbestos in the roof. We've told them in no uncertain terms that we won't be going up there until they can prove they have dealt with it.
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