Asbestos Management Commercial Survey – Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

Location: Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
Survey Type: Asbestos Management Survey 
Survey Date: 2/12/2025

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Project Overview

Our team was instructed to carry out an asbestos management survey at a community healthcare building in Walton-on-the-Naze. The premises include a reception area, treatment rooms, meeting spaces, and staff facilities, all arranged across a single-storey brick structure with a pitched tiled roof.

The survey formed part of the client’s routine compliance programme, ensuring the building continues to meet the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and remains safe for staff, visitors, and service users.

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Survey Approach

A detailed management inspection was carried out across all accessible rooms and service areas, including the reception lobby, consultation rooms, rear corridors, kitchen, plant cupboard, storage spaces, and external building elements.

Following HSG264 guidance, all suspect materials were sampled discreetly and sent to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis. The survey was completed outside of public opening hours to minimise disruption to the centre’s operations.

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Key Findings

The building contained a number of asbestos-containing materials typical of public-service constructions from this period:

• Pipe Boxing Panels: Several inspection openings revealed asbestos insulating board (AIB) sections used within pipe boxing along the rear corridor.

• Vinyl Flooring Adhesive: Bituminous adhesive beneath older vinyl tiles in a disused staff room tested positive for chrysotile asbestos.

• Textured Surface Finish: A small area of textured coating on a ceiling bulkhead in the main entrance area was confirmed to contain low-level asbestos fibres.

• Electrical Fuse Board Backing: The original electrical intake cabinet retained an asbestos-based backing panel.

• Roofline Elements: Asbestos cement soffits were identified along the side elevation of the building.

No asbestos was found in the plaster finishes, window reveals, roof tiles, or recent refurbishment materials.

A complete asbestos register with photographs and material assessments has been issued as part of the final documentation.

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Recommendations

To support safe building management and compliance, we advised the following actions:

• Safe Retention: All identified ACMs are suitable for continued management in situ provided they remain undisturbed.

• Encapsulation & Labelling: Encapsulation of AIB pipe-boxing sections is recommended, along with appropriate labelling for maintenance staff.

• Routine Monitoring: Annual reinspections should be undertaken to confirm ACM condition.

• Contractor Briefing: Any maintenance or electrical work must follow the asbestos register and comply with relevant control measures.

• Removal During Refurbishment: If future remodelling or upgrade works are planned, ACMs in affected areas should be removed by licensed contractors.

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Outcome

The completed asbestos management survey has provided the client with a clear, up-to-date asbestos register and a practical management plan. With all ACMs identified, risk-ranked, and documented, the building can continue to operate safely while meeting all HSE asbestos management requirements.