Asbestos Services
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, made up of many small, strong fibres. These fibres can cause detrimental illnesses including Asbestosis and cancer
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fibre that, when disturbed, breaks down into a fine dust that can be inhaled. Until the 1980’s, asbestos was a commonly used building material in New Zealand, favoured because of its strength, flexibility, and insulating abilities. Many older homes and buildings in New Zealand still contain asbestos and, as asbestos was only banned in 2016, it is also very occasionally present in newer builds.
Why is it a problem?
Inhalation of asbestos causes serious respiratory issues, asbestosis (chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres), cancer and death. Since the 1960s, people have become increasingly aware of the serious health risks associated with asbestos and, in recent years, many governments have prohibited its use.
Our services
At Forensic Specialists we have over 40 years of experience detecting asbestos in both commercial and residential properties in New Zealand and creating management plans to deal with its removal.
We are able to offer a range of services related to the management and removal of asbestos, including:
Asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys
Under New Zealand law, any refurbishment or demolition of buildings constructed before the 1st of January 2000 requires the completion of an asbestos refurbishment/demolition survey. In addition, many councils now require a Refurbishment/Demolition Survey to be carried out as part of the required documentation for lodging a building or demolition consent.
As part of a survey, Forensic Specialists locate and identify any asbestos prior to construction or demolition work starting, as well as creating a management plan to ensure those doing the work and/or those present near the work zone won’t be exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos air assessments & clearance certificates
If asbestos is being removed from a building, licensed removalists are required to complete the work. A list of qualified professionals can be found on the WorkSafe website.
Though Forensic Specialists do not remove the asbestos ourselves, we do provide the required air assessments and clearance certificates to ensure an area is safe during and after the removal process.
Asbestos management surveys
Under the 2016 Health and Safety at Work Regulations, all commercial buildings constructed prior to the 1st of January 2000 require the completion of an asbestos management survey and management plan. These surveys are designed to identify the location, type and level of risk of any asbestos in the building.
The overarching purpose of the surveys we provide is to give owners and PCBUs the ability to eliminate the risk of asbestos exposure for building occupants.
An asbestos management survey generally assesses a building on three fronts:
- Location of asbestos: Many common building materials used between the 1930s and the 1990s contain asbestos. At Forensic Specialists we have the knowledge and skills to determine where asbestos is present in your building.
- Type of asbestos: Three types of asbestos are commonly found in building materials. These are Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown) & Crocidolite (blue).
- Risk level: When a survey is undertaken, the risk posed by the asbestos is calculated and described in the final survey report. Essentially, the risk level is related to whether the occupants of a building are in danger of exposure, which is determined by the location, condition, and likelihood of the asbestos being disturbed.
Asbestos management plans and health and safety documentation
As of April 2018, all landlords must have an asbestos management plan (AMP) for their properties. Once a building has been thoroughly assessed, a management plan is implemented and any required health and safety processes are put into practice, ensuring that the building occupants or those engaged to complete work on a building are protected from asbestos exposure.
The plans we provide identify the location, type and condition of the asbestos-containing materials. An AMP generally includes:
- How the existing asbestos will be managed and monitored
- What the reporting process will be if any damage to the building occurs
- Identified areas of isolation
- Health monitoring of occupants
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Servicing: Auckland & Northland
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