Buy an asbestos survey on comparable terms
Define the premises, intended decision, survey type and work area once, then compare access, sampling, reporting and competence on the same basis.
A comparable quote must answer five things
- Who will survey and what current evidence covers this survey type and premises?
- Which buildings, rooms, voids and planned-work areas are included or excluded?
- What access, intrusion, samples, analysis and making good are included?
- Will the report provide plans, photographs, assessments and data suitable for the register or project?
- What travel, extra samples, revisits, urgent turnaround, VAT and removal work are excluded?
Information to assemble before requesting quotes
Mark unknown items explicitly. Discovery can be priced; hidden assumptions cannot be compared.
- Dutyholder, premises address and maintenance responsibilities
- Building schedule, construction dates, floor areas, plans and room naming
- Existing surveys, asbestos register, management plan and removal records
- Normal occupation and foreseeable maintenance activities
- Refurbishment or demolition drawings and exact disturbance boundary
- Known suspect, damaged or previously identified materials
- Access, occupancy, isolation, destructive opening and making-good constraints
- Required report, register-data and turnaround dates
Project brief
Business and site: ______________________________________________
Reason for commissioning: first / periodic / new installation / change or event
Equipment and identifiers: ______________________________________
Use, process or operating conditions: ______________________________
Documents available: ___________________________________________
Sites and areas in scope: ________________________________________
Access and shutdown constraints: _________________________________
Target visit and report date: _____________________________________
Required quotation format
- Who will survey and what current evidence covers this survey type and premises?
- Which buildings, rooms, voids and planned-work areas are included or excluded?
- What access, intrusion, samples, analysis and making good are included?
- Will the report provide plans, photographs, assessments and data suitable for the register or project?
- What travel, extra samples, revisits, urgent turnaround, VAT and removal work are excluded?
Competence and evidence questions
Competence is specific to the equipment, system and judgement being bought. Ask about the proposed person, not only the company.
- What is the organisation’s current UKAS directory scope for this survey type?
- Who is the named surveyor and what comparable premises experience can they evidence?
- How will the survey plan, exclusions and inaccessible areas be agreed?
- Which laboratory will analyse samples and how is traceability maintained?
- Can you provide a redacted comparable report with plans, photographs and assessments?
- How are survey judgements separated from any removal or remedial-work sales?
- What professional indemnity and public liability evidence applies?
Comparable quote scorecard
| Comparison point | Provider A | Provider B | Provider C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current organisation scope checked | |||
| Named surveyor and relevant experience | |||
| Correct survey type and decision | |||
| Every building and work area listed | |||
| Access and intrusive method | |||
| Sample allowance and extra-sample rate | |||
| Laboratory and traceability | |||
| Plans, photographs and assessments | |||
| Exclusions and inaccessible areas | |||
| Register or project-ready output | |||
| Travel, making good, VAT and total fee |
Do not add the scores blindly. Missing competence, equipment scope or statutory reporting can be a stop condition rather than a small disadvantage.
Report acceptance check
- Correct dutyholder, premises and survey purpose
- Every agreed area is recorded as inspected, presumed or inaccessible
- Samples and analysis results are traceable
- Material locations, extent and condition are clear
- Plans and photographs match room names and findings
- Assessments and actions suit management or planned work
- Urgent findings and limitations were communicated
- Output can update the register or control the defined project
Primary basis: HSE HSG264 .