Asbestos air monitoring & 4 stage clearance

Are you concerned about the presence of asbestos in a property you own or manage?
Air monitoring can establish the level of risk.

Find out more

Get a free compliance survey
Please contact us info@westlandes.co.uk | 01782 624642
to discuss your requirements in more detail to obtain the most suitable quotation.

If you’re planning asbestos removal work, the law requires air monitoring and 4-stage clearance testing to be conducted
by a UKAS accredited laboratory that is independent from the asbestos removal contractor.
Our dedicated analytical team provide a full range of air testing services during asbestos removal/remediation work.

Types of asbestos air monitoring

Background monitoring

  • Checks that asbestos levels in the air are below recommended level
  • Usually during minor remedial works
  • Or when accidental damage has occured to ACMs
  • Can be used as part of overall monitoring strategy to manage asbestos-related risks

Leak (enclosure check) monitoring

  • Performed outside the enclosure while asbestos work is in progress
  • Checks that control measures are adequate

Personal monitoring

  • Measures operatives’ exposure within an enclosure during asbestos removal works
  • Ensures that the protection factor of their respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is not exceeded

Clearance indicator air monitoring

  • Conducted within an asbestos removal enclosure and/ or hygiene facility
  • Part of the four-stage clearance process
  • Establishes the airborne fibre levels within the enclosure and/ or hygiene facility

Reassurance monitoring

  • Conducted in certain circumstances to confirm that the airborne fibre levels are satisfactory (for example: when an enclosure has been removed on completion of asbestos remedial works)
  • Also conducted following non-licensed asbestos removal projects with materials such as Artex, cement and floor tiles
  • Provides total peace of mind when re-entering the former works area following the removal

Our asbestos air monitoring accreditations

We are a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No.7567 and can provide all forms of asbestos air monitoring.

All our work is carried out in accordance with documented in-house procedures based on HSG 248 The Analysts Guide for Sampling, Analysis
and Clearance Procedures, current legislation and UKAS publications.

Furthermore, all of our authorised personnel are trained to a minimum BOHS P403 Asbestos Fibre Counting & P404 Air Sampling and
Clearance Testing of Asbestos.

In addition, we are a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No.7567 and can provide all forms of asbestos air monitoring.

Ensuring safety is paramount, therefore we conduct compliance monitoring to check exposure doesn’t exceed the control limit – which is calculated over a 10 minute or 4 hour period.

View Example Air Test Reports

4 Stage Clearance

When any asbestos removal work is carried out, under the terms of an HSE Asbestos Removal Licence, you need to obtain a Certificate of
Reoccupation – as required in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This must be issued by an independent third-party laboratory, which
must be accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to ISO 17025.

The Certificate of Reoccupation can only be issued once the UKAS Laboratory has confirmed the 4-stage clearance has been completed to the necessary standard, as follows:

Stage 1

Preliminary check of site
condition and job completeness

  • Check the contractor’s license, notification, training/
    equipment and other records
  • Check enclosure integrity
  • Check transit route and decontamination facilities
  • Visual check of via viewing panels/cctv of completion
    of work

Stage 2

A thorough visual inspection inside the enclosure/work area

  • Thoroughly investigate the enclosure to ensure all areas are dry, stripped surfaces are clean
  • Ensure there is no evidence anywhere within the enclosure of settled dust or debris

Stage 3

Clearance Air Testing

  • Carry out airborne fibre monitoring within the enclosure or work area
  • Ensure it meets the necessary standard of 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre of air
  • Carried out under disturbance to simulate normal occupation (this is normally achieved by brushing all surfaces to raise any fine settled dust.)

Stage 4

Final assessment post-enclosure/work area dismantling

  • Once the air test has passed, dismantle the enclosure and remove all the equipment and materials
  • Visually examine the whole work and transit area again
  • Ensure no trapped or covered asbestos material or debris has become exposed
What happens if a stage fails? Inspection certificate for the decontamination unit

4-stage asbestos clearance accreditations

Westland Environmental Safety Ltd is a participant in the ‘Regular Inter-laboratory Counting Exchange’ scheme (RICE)
for which we are required to maintain a satisfactory classification.

Our trained P403 & P404 specialist team of asbestos site analysts provide a high quality of service and reliability throughout the United
Kingdom for full project management to individual tests 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We have all the required experience, qualifications,
expertise, insurance and an established track record in this field. The UKAS logo is an assurance of our impartiality, independence and integrity.

Get a free compliance survey
Please contact us info@westlandes.co.uk | 01782 624642
to discuss your requirements in more detail to obtain the most suitable quotation.