Before demolition begins
Demolition Asbestos Surveys
A demolition survey is legally required under CAR 2012 Regulation 5 before any pre-2000 building is demolished — in whole or in part. It is fully destructive, exposes every hidden material, and is the register your demolition contractor and the HSE will want on the site file before the first machine moves. We deliver.
- Reg 5 CAR 2012 compliant
- Fully destructive to HSG264
- Register issued to demo contractor
- HSE F10 & CDM aware
- Independent — no removal contracts
- UK-wide surveyor rota
- UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory partners
- Independent — no removal contracts
- BOHS P402 senior surveyors
- Digital reports (PDF + Excel register)
- Fast turnaround — quote inside 1 hour
- Nationwide UK coverage
Destructive inspection — what to expect
Because the building is coming down, nothing is off-limits. Plaster is broken out, floorboards lifted, ceilings dropped, service risers dismantled, wall cavities exposed. We work with a stripping-out approach — one room at a time, samples logged as we go — and issue a full register by area. On soft-strip contracts we often work alongside the demolition contractor's team during their initial soft strip.
Legal requirement before demolition
CAR 2012 Regulation 5 makes a written asbestos assessment a legal prerequisite for any works that disturb the fabric of a pre-2000 building. Demolition — even partial or facade-retention — falls squarely inside that. Enforcement is active: the HSE regularly serves prohibition notices where a demolition contractor cannot produce a compliant survey on request.
Coordinating with the demolition contractor
We issue the register to the demolition contractor, brief their site team in person, and stay on call throughout the strip. Where a licensed removal is triggered, we can specify, procure and clear the removal on a fee basis (we do not carry out removals ourselves, which keeps the register defensible).
Facade retention, partial demolition & internal soft-strip
Not the whole building coming down? A partial demolition survey is scoped to the works, provided the retained structure is treated with an appropriate refurbishment survey. We commonly deliver a combined R&D + demolition scope for phased schemes.
How it works
A five-step process, no surprises.
1. Scope
We review demolition drawings and phasing with the demolition contractor and CDM Principal Designer.
2. Book
Fixed quote by return, mobilisation aligned to the demolition programme.
3. Survey
Destructive inspection room by room, samples logged, register drafted live for the demolition contractor.
4. Report
HSG264 report and register issued within 5–10 working days. Removals quoted by licensed contractors on request.
5. Site support
Telephone support and 24-hour supplementary attendance included until the site is cleared.
Areas covered
Nationwide coverage, local surveyors.
We survey properties across England, Wales and Scotland through a regional rota of BOHS P402 senior surveyors. Same fixed-price approach whether the property is in Kent, Cumbria or Cardiff.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Is a demolition survey legally required?+
Yes — CAR 2012 Regulation 5 requires a written assessment before any works disturbing the fabric of a pre-2000 building. Demolition is the archetypal 'disturbance'.
How is it different from a refurbishment survey?+
Scope. An R&D survey covers the works package; a demolition survey covers the entire building. Reg 5 makes both mandatory in their contexts.
Can the demolition contractor commission the survey?+
Yes — many do, once appointed. It's often cheaper for the client to instruct us direct and issue the register to the contractor at PC appointment, though.
What happens if asbestos is found during demolition?+
Works stop, the area is isolated, and — where non-licensed removal isn't sufficient — a licensed contractor is called in. Our register is designed to make sure this doesn't happen; unforeseen finds are rare.
Do you clear the site after removal?+
We can specify and procure four-stage air clearance following removal, and re-issue the register once clearance certificates are in. Removal itself is contracted separately with a licensed contractor of your choice.
How much does a demolition survey cost?+
Fixed price per building, based on floor area, storeys, structural complexity and access. Sampling, laboratory analysis and reporting included. Portfolio pricing on multi-building schemes.
How quickly can you mobilise?+
Fast-track slots are available inside 5 working days. For programmed schemes we book in months ahead against the demolition programme.
Do you cover the UK?+
Yes — nationwide surveyor rota.
What about the F10 notification?+
Our surveyors are CDM 2015 aware and will flag whether the works exceed F10 thresholds. Notification is the PC's responsibility, but we support it with a clear register.
Related services
Continue your research.
If demolition isn't the right fit, our surveyors also cover Refurbishment Asbestos Surveys, Refurbishment & Demolition Survey, Commercial Property Asbestos Surveys, Management Survey (Duty to Manage), Asbestos Sampling & Testing and UK-Wide Asbestos Surveys. Every survey uses the same HSG264 methodology, UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory partners and BOHS P402 senior surveyors.
Ready when you are
Book a Demolition Survey.
Fixed-price quote within one working hour. Senior surveyor on site within the working week. Report inside 72 hours of the visit.