Report No : S3931
Issue Date : 3 December 2002
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WOLVERHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL
ASBESTOS SURVEY REPORT S3931
Wolverhampton Civic Centre
St Peter’s Square
Wolverhampton
October 2002
Revised April 2003
Report No : S3931
Issue Date : 3 December 2002
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Report No : S3931
Nature of Work : ASBESTOS SURVEY REPORT
Issue Date : 3 December 2002
Revised : 10 April 2003
Client Name and Address : Site Address :
Wolverhampton City Council Wolverhampton City Council
Property Services Civic Centre
2nd Floor St Peter’s Square
Civic Centre Wolverhampton
St Peter’s Square WV1 1RL
Wolverhampton
WV1 1RL
Order Placed By : Site Contact :
Mr Dennis O’Rourke Mr Dennis O’Rourke
Technical Manager : Surveyor :
B. Walker MBA. H.Dip.Envi Darren Snow
Darren Ely
Date of Work : October 2002
Page 1 of 16
CONTENTS
1. Written Introduction and Methodology Page no. 3
2. Comments and Summary Page nos. 4 & 5
3. Building and Room plans Page no. 6
4. Air sampling details Page no. 7
5. Asbestos Survey Report Page no. 8
6. Summary of Action Priority 1 items Page no. 9
7. Photographs Page no. 10
8. Documented in-house method Page no. 11
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1.0 WRITTEN INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY
1.1 Access was gained in the following areas:
Access was gained to all floors of the Civic Centre.
Typically our surveyors will survey systematically in a clockwise direction around the site or building.
Representative access only will be made into voids, etc.
Where asbestos contamination (or other hazard) is likely in voids or confined spaces access will be minimal unless it is specifically requested in the clients written instruction.
NOTE: If the extent of access is less than required then the client should advise the Technical Manager within seven working days of the issue of this report to arrange additional inspection.
Page 3 of 16
2.0 COMMENTS AND SUMMARY
Asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) were identified during survey works in the following locations:
1. Basement
Asbestos insulating board was located to the plant room ceiling.
2. Ground floor
Thermoplastic floor tiles were located generally thoroughout this floor.
Bitumastic sink pads under sinks.
Asbestos insulating board debris was located in the cupboard in the Engineers stores. We would advise removal of this item and an enviromental clean of the cupboard.
Asbestos insulating board was located to the ceiling above the Keepers entrance and the pedestrian entrance on this floor.
3. Mezzanine
Thermoplastic floor tiles were located generally throughout this floor
Bitumastic sink pads under sinks.
Some textured coatings were located to the ceilings in various rooms on this floor.
Asbestos insulating board was located to the ceiling in the lift lobby and behind the ceramic tiles in the ladies toilets on this floor
An asbestos cement flue was located in the staff flat on this floor.
4. First floor
Asbestos insulating board was located to the internal length of the lift shaft and also the back of the inspection door. This is encapsulated and in good condition.
Thermoplastic floor tiles were located generally throughout this floor.
Page 4 of 16
Bitumastic sink pads under sinks.
Corrugated asbestos cement was located to the ceiling of Core no. 4. We would advise that this item be encapsulated as removal would not be practicable.
5. Second floor
Textured coating containing asbestos was located to the underside of the stairs and the bulkheads within stairwell no 1.
Thermoplastic floor tiles.
Bitumastic sink pads under sinks.
Stair treads were located on this floor.
6. Third floor
Thermoplastic floor tiles.
Stair treads were located on this floor.
7. Fourth floor
Thermoplastic floor tiles.
Asbestos insulating board was located to the lining to the access hatch in the Council Chambers stores.
No further asbestos materials were identified during survey works.
Page 5 of 16
3.0 BUILDING AND ROOM PLANS
Typically the surveyor will incorporate sketches or diagrams to complement the report and if undertaken will be inserted on the following page(s).
Asbestos will be typically shown in red coloration or as detailed and thus this should be taken into account when copying diagrams.
Diagrams or sketches will only be to an approximate scale and should be used as a guide only.
Diagrams included are :
1. Basement
2. Ground floor
3. Mezzanine
4. First floor
5. Second floor
6. Third floor
7. Fourth floor
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4.0 AIR SAMPLING DETAILS
A report will only follow if air sampling was carried out at the request of the client when commissioning the asbestos survey or if requested following commencement of site works.
No air testing was undertaken during survey works.
Page 7 of 16
5.0 ASBESTOS SURVEY REPORT
Page 8 of 16
6.0 SUMMARY OF ACTION PRIORITY 1 ITEMS
No Priority 1 items were found during this survey.
Page 9 of 16
7.0 PHOTOGRAPHS
There are no photographs included in this report.
Page 10 of 16
DOCUMENTED IN-HOUSE METHOD:
ASBESTOS BULK SAMPLING AND SURVEYING
Selected extracts from the current Company Quality Manual.
1. REFERENCES
This method has been compiled with reference to:
a. MDHS 77 – Asbestos in bulk materials.
b. MDHS 100 – Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos containing materials.
2. PURPOSE
The purpose of an asbestos survey is to locate a pre-agreed range of materials (and a pre-determined level of investigation/access) and to make notes on its condition so that action may be taken to minimise any hazard from airborne fibres. Items which are suspected to be asbestos must be sampled and analysed. Some reference samples may be taken which are known to be non-asbestos so that there is no confusion between asbestos and non-asbestos items.
3. ASBESTOS MATERIALS FOUND IN BUILDINGS
3.1 SPRAYED COATINGS
These are a mixture of hydrated cement and about 85% asbestos fibre. It was used for anti-condensation and acoustic control in buildings, decorative finishes and as fire protection for structural steel etc. Any of the three main asbestos types may be used for sprayed coatings but Amosite was the most common. Sprayed asbestos is sometimes found on ceilings e.g. in swimming pools. It is a very friable material and is likely to release fibres.
3.2 LAGGING/THERMAL INSULATION
This term covers a wide range of materials including pipe sections, slabs, rope, tape, paper, quilts, felts, blankets and plastered cement. Lagging may have a protective covering of cloth, tape, paper, metal or cement. Any asbestos type may be found in lagging. Quilts, mattresses and blankets may contain up to 100% asbestos. Asbestos lagging was widely used in public buildings, factories and hospitals as pipe and plant insulation. Quilts are common on steam boilers. Asbestos rope was wound around pipework or used as gaskets. A small number of houses have “loose-fill” asbestos loft or duct insulation.
Asbestos has also been used as insulation between floors. Lagging is susceptible to damage unless well coated due to leaks from pipes or boilers.
Page 11 of 16
3.3 ASBESTOS INSULATING BOARD (AIB)
This has a density of approximately 700kg/cu.m and contains about 16-40% asbestos mixed with hydrated Portland cement or calcium silicate. It is often referred to by the trade name “Asbestolux”. Crocidolite was used in some asbestos insulating boards but they are generally formed from Amosite with a small amount of Chrysotile.
Asbestos insulating board was widely used as fire protection, thermal and acoustic insulation, for resistance to moisture and as general building board. It is often found as ceiling tiles, firebreaks, infill panels, wall linings, bath panels, external canopies, porch linings and in ducts.
Asbestos insulating board linings are found as cladding infill panels, oven linings and suspended floor systems.
Asbestos insulating board can be very friable when damaged.
3.4 ASBESTOS CEMENT (AC)
This has a density of approximately 1500kg/cu.m and contains about 10-15% asbestos.
Crocidolite and Amosite have been used in AC products but Chrysotile is the most common type.
AC is very common and has a wide variety of uses such as roofing, wall cladding, partitioning, decorative panels, bath panels, soffits, portable buildings, fire surrounds, cisterns and tanks, drains, sewer pipes, flue pipes, gutters, fencing, cable troughs and conduits, ventilators and ducts. It is a very hard substance but may release fibres if abraded, sawn or if it has deteriorated or decomposed.
3.5 BITUMEN AND FELTS
Asbestos fibre may be found in roofing felts, flashing tapes and damp proof courses. This is sometimes in the form of asbestos paper in a bitumen matrix. These materials may become brittle with age but during normal use they do not present a hazard. Asbestos mixed with bitumen or bitumen reinforced with asbestos paper was sometimes used as a coating for corrugated steel. This was used as roofing and wall cladding in warehouses and factories. The asbestos is firmly bound but may be released if the bitumen is burned off.
3.6 FLOORING MATERIALS
Asbestos may be present in certain PVC and thermoplastic floor tiles and sheet material. Also, some types of PVC flooring have a backing of asbestos paper. Fibres bonded into the flooring may be released as the material wears.
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3.7 TEXTURED COATINGS AND PAINTS
Asbestos may be present in some textured coatings or paints. Fibres will be released if the coating is sanded or scraped dry.
3.8 MASTICS, SEALANTS AND PUTTIES
Small amounts of asbestos may be present in mastics, waterproofing sealants, putties and adhesives to improve covering power and to prevent cracking and “slumping”.
3.9 REINFORCED PLASTICS
Asbestos reinforced PVC has been used to make cladding and panels. Asbestos reinforced plastics have been used to make handles, battery cases and other household items.
4. SAMPLING STRATEGY
Prior to commencement of sampling, a strategy must be formed to determine where and how many samples are to be taken. It is important to formulate this plan before sampling commences and so a thorough inspection of each area is necessary. It may also be advantageous to talk to any caretakers and boiler-men etc. who have worked on the site and know what materials were used for construction purposes and any areas where alterations/repairs have been made. The sampling strategy employed will take into account the requirements of the client. If Bradley Environmental are given no restrictions then the following method will be used but if the client has specific objectives e.g. he requires to know only the presence or absence of asbestos or there are financial constraints, then the sampling method will be modified and the reason explained. For larger sites, the sampling frequency may be reduced where the material appears to be uniform.
5. SAMPLING FREQUENCY
The number of samples taken will be representative of the suspect material.
· In manufactured products containing asbestos, such as boards, sheets, cement pipes, textiles, ropes, friction products, plastics and vinyls, mastics, sealants, bitumen roofing felt and gaskets, it can be assumed that the asbestos is uniformly distributed throughout the material. Hence in most cases a single sample can be taken as being representative
Of the whole. Further samples will be taken should the appearance of the material alter or if it is obvious that repairs have been made.
Page 13 of 16
· Insulation and spray materials.
Asbestos content of such material can be variable. Subsequent repairs and patching may add to this variability. After a visual examination to assess any apparent areas of different material, samples of each distinct area should be taken with the aim of collecting a group of samples which is representative of the whole material.
· Attention must be paid to pipe elbows, taps and valves where the insulation may differ from the main run of pipework.
· The domes of boilers and calorifiers must be examined and sampled along with the insulation to the main body of the plant.
· Debris - a visual inspection should be performed to identify any suspect asbestos material and if none can be seen then a representative piece will be taken.
6. SAMPLING METHOD
An asbestos survey requires the inspection of all areas of a building/defined site. This means that access must be gained to ducts, roof-spaces, above ceiling tiles (only if they are not asbestos) and into all rooms unless these areas are specifically excluded. Voids behind asbestos panels will not be investigated where there is perceived to be a risk of fibre release. Areas such as lift shafts will only be investigated in the presence of a competent lift engineer. Other voids and confined spaces will only be investigated where there is easy access and no risk to health from other factors. Services (such as drains) and construction cavities will not be accessed unless specifically requested. Plant and machinery will not be investigated internally unless specifically requested.
A note of the name and address of the manufacturer will be made.
Sampling will follow the same method every time:
· Sprayed coatings and lagging - a core sample will be taken to incorporate the full depth of the insulation.
· Insulating board, cement, cloth, yarns, paper and floor tiles - a piece of at least 1 sq. cm will be taken.
· Textured coatings - a sample of up to 5 sq. cm. will be adequate but care should be taken not to cause too much damage to decorations.
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All sample locations will be repaired with filler, tape etc. Any debris produced during sampling will be cleaned away with wet wipes and all sample positions will be labelled with a unique reference and the date. To capture any debris produced, several wet ones should be placed on the floor area below the sample site.
Each sample will be placed in a self-sealing polythene bag which is uniquely labelled with a reference number. This number is taken from a raffle ticket book which has a unique prefix. Therefore, the reference number is this prefix and the actual number on the raffle ticket e.g. 18/120. As samples are taken, the raffle tickets are taken out of the book and placed in each polythene bag. The reference numbers are written on the bag. Each bag is then placed into a bag on which the survey address is written. In this way each sample is contained within two bags. Where a sample is friable, it will be individually double bagged. Details of sample location and condition are recorded on survey sheets.