HSE guidance · HSG264
Asbestos: The Survey Guide (HSG264)
If a report does not name HSG264, it is not a survey. HSG264 is the yardstick against which every reputable surveying body — and every enforcing authority — measures the sample density, drawings, presumed-material logic and priority scoring in an asbestos survey report.
Health and Safety Executive · Second edition, 2012 · Status: Current
Scope
What it covers.
Covers the two survey types (Management Survey; Refurbishment & Demolition Survey), the surveyor's competence, planning, on-site conduct, sampling strategy, laboratory linkage, presumed-material logic, material assessment (algorithm) and priority assessment (dutyholder). Includes worked examples of report structure and drawings.
Who it applies to
- Anyone commissioning an asbestos survey — dutyholders, buyers, agents, contractors
- Every UKAS 17020 accredited surveying body
- Analysts supporting surveying under 17025 accreditation
- Enforcing authorities auditing report quality
Key provisions
The duties, provision by provision.
Distinguishes Management vs Refurbishment & Demolition
A Management Survey is non-intrusive and produces a baseline register for ongoing management. An R&D Survey is intrusive within the scope area, destructive if necessary, and required by CAR 2012 Reg 5 before any works that could disturb asbestos.
Requires demonstrable surveyor competence
BOHS P402 or equivalent as a minimum, with mentored experience and continuing professional development. Surveying bodies are expected to hold UKAS 17020 accreditation.
Prescribes sample density and presumption logic
Every suspect material must be sampled or presumed. Presumption is permissible where sampling would create more risk than the presumption itself — but must be explicitly justified in the report.
Defines the HSG264 scoring algorithm
Four axes — product type, condition, surface treatment and asbestos type — scored 0-3 and summed. Any material scoring 10 or above is a priority for remedial action; 7-9 warrants close monitoring.
Prescribes report structure
Executive summary, methodology, sample register, individual room / area sheets with photographs, marked-up drawings, laboratory certificates and material assessment. Digital deliverables must be indexed and searchable.
In practice
How we apply it.
- Every survey is scoped, conducted and reported to HSG264 by BOHS P402-qualified surveyors under our UKAS 17020 accreditation.
- Sample density is documented against HSG264 minima on every report cover sheet for auditability.
- Priority assessments are optional under HSG264; we provide them free of charge on every survey unless the client requests otherwise.
FAQs
Common follow-up questions.
Is HSG264 legally binding?
Not directly. It is HSE guidance rather than a statutory instrument. In practice, ACOP L143 refers to it as the methodology of choice, so a court will treat compliance with HSG264 as evidence of compliance with the Reg 5 obligation.
Can a survey use different survey types in one visit?
Yes — combined Management and R&D scopes on different areas of the same building are common (e.g. keep the office block as Management; scope the plant room and roof void as R&D).
How often is HSG264 updated?
The current edition is 2012, second edition. A third edition consultation has been discussed but not published; the 2012 edition remains authoritative.
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