the South East and East of England · CDM 2015 & CAR 2012 · Independent asbestos surveying specialists
Independent refurbishment & demolition surveys, across the South East and East of England.
Fully intrusive R&D surveys for contractors, designers and developers — scoped against your works and delivered as a Principal Designer-ready PCI pack with detailed floor plans. Evidence-based, conflict-free advice from Elements Surveying Group. Reports typically issued within 48–72 hours; large or unusually complex projects may require a longer reporting period, which will be confirmed when the scope is agreed.
Get a quote
Get an R&D survey quote
Refurbishment and demolition surveys from £300–£400 + VAT for typical properties, scoped against your works programme. Send the details and we'll confirm a firm price.
- P402/P405 qualified surveyors
- HSG264 survey methodology
- Thousands of surveys completed
- UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis
- Independent — we do not sell asbestos removal
Independent asbestos surveying and testing — no asbestos removal sales
We survey and advise — we do not sell the removal work.
Elements Surveying Group specialises in asbestos surveying, sampling and independent advice. We do not sell asbestos removal services, so our survey recommendations remain focused on the condition, risk and appropriate management of the material identified.
Where removal or remedial work is genuinely required, we explain what that normally involves and what a licensed contractor would need — then leave you free to appoint whoever you choose.
How we workStarting works on a property built before 2000 without a valid R&D survey is a breach of Regulation 5 of CAR 2012 — and the most common cause of stop-notices and HSE prosecutions on construction sites.
What's included
A PCI-ready pack, not just a survey report.
Every R&D survey we deliver is scoped against your construction programme and the Principal Designer's information requirements. The deliverables drop straight into the pre-construction information pack and any licensed removal tender.
- Fully intrusive inspection of every area within the scope of works, in line with HSG264
- Destructive sampling — lifting floors, opening ceilings, cutting risers and behind permanent fixtures where required
- Bulk sampling analysed through UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory partners
- Photographic register and annotated drawings of all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) identified
- Material and priority risk assessments for each ACM
- Pre-construction information (PCI) suitable for the Principal Designer under CDM 2015
- Removal recommendations and licensed/non-licensed work categorisation under CAR 2012
Who commissions an R&D survey
Anyone responsible for works on a pre-2000 building.
Principal contractors
An R&D survey is required before any work that disturbs the fabric of a pre-2000 building — strip-outs, refits, structural alterations or full demolition.
Principal designers
We scope the survey against your information requirements under CDM 2015, so the report drops straight into the pre-construction information pack.
Architects & developers
Early R&D surveys protect programme and budget — late asbestos discoveries routinely trigger delays of 4–8 weeks.
Landlords & duty holders
Even partial refurbishments to non-domestic properties built before 2000 require an R&D survey under CAR 2012.
Our process
Scoped, intrusive, lab-verified — PCI ready.
01
Scope agreement
We review drawings and the scope of works with you, agree intrusion levels and access requirements, and confirm a fixed price.
02
On-site survey
Our qualified surveyor inspects intrusively — lifting finishes, opening voids and sampling concealed materials within the agreed scope.
03
Lab analysis
Bulk samples are analysed through a UKAS-accredited lab partner, with laboratory analysis typically 24–48 hours after sample receipt.
04
PCI report
You receive a full HSG264 R&D report, annotated drawings and a pre-construction information pack — ready for tender, the Principal Designer and any licensed removal contractor.
FAQs
R&D asbestos surveys — common questions.
What is a refurbishment & demolition (R&D) asbestos survey?
An R&D survey is a fully intrusive asbestos survey carried out before any work that will disturb the fabric of a building — refurbishment, strip-out, refit or demolition. It is required under Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) for non-domestic premises and the common parts of domestic blocks built before 2000.
How is an R&D survey different from a management survey?
A management survey is non-intrusive and identifies ACMs that could be disturbed during normal occupation. An R&D survey is fully intrusive — surveyors lift floors, open ceilings and cut into walls within the scope of works to locate all ACMs that any contractor could disturb. R&D surveys take longer and cost more, but they are the only legally compliant survey ahead of refurbishment or demolition.
How much does an R&D survey cost?
Guide prices start from £300 + VAT for a refurbishment survey of a flat up to 3 bedrooms, £400 + VAT for a house up to 4 bedrooms, and £500 + VAT for a demolition survey of a house up to 4 bedrooms. Commercial premises and larger projects are priced per project after a short scoping call.
When do I need to commission the R&D survey?
As early as possible — ideally during RIBA Stage 2/3 design or before tender. Commissioning the survey only at mobilisation routinely causes 4–8 week delays and licensed-removal cost overruns on live projects.
Can the works start without an R&D survey?
Regulation 5 requires suitable steps to determine whether asbestos is present before work that may disturb the fabric proceeds. A non-intrusive management survey does not normally provide that information, so an appropriately scoped intrusive survey carried out in accordance with HSG264 is the usual way to obtain it.
Which areas do you cover for R&D surveys?
Colchester and the whole of Essex, all 32 London boroughs and the City, Kent, and the wider South East and East of England. We regularly support multi-site refurbishment programmes across the region.
Where we survey
Looking for a refurbishment or demolition survey locally? See asbestos surveys in Colchester, asbestos survey services across Essex and London asbestos surveying for local guide prices, survey types and turnaround times.
Mobilising a project? Don't let asbestos delay it.
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