Commercial Management Asbestos Survey | Romford

Location: Romford, Kent
Survey Type: Asbestos Management Survey (Compliance with CAR 2012)
Survey Date: 16/09/2025

Project Overview:

A commercial asbestos management survey was initiated for an industrial unit on a trading estate in Romford, Essex. The survey was a critical part of the due diligence process for a new tenant preparing to take on the lease. The objective was to provide a definitive asbestos register, clarifying the presence, condition, and location of any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) to ensure a safe handover and compliant management moving forward.

Survey Methodology:

Our surveyor conducted a comprehensive visual inspection of the entire unit, including the main warehouse floor, integrated office block, staff welfare facilities (kitchen and WCs), and plant areas. Despite the building’s modern appearance, its age fell within the timeframe when asbestos was still used in certain construction products. A targeted sampling approach was therefore adopted for materials suspected to contain asbestos. All samples were taken under controlled conditions and dispatched to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis.

Key Findings:

The analysis of the samples confirmed the presence of a limited number of Asbestos-Containing Materials, which are common even in more modern industrial builds. The key findings were:

• Asbestos Cement Soffits: The soffit boards located under the eaves of the office section of the building were identified as asbestos cement.
• Textured Coating on Office Ceilings: The ceilings within the office block had been finished with a decorative textured coating which was found to contain chrysotile (white) asbestos.
• Bitumen Paint on Steelwork: A thick, black bitumen paint applied to some of the internal structural steel beams was identified as containing asbestos fibres.
• Vinyl Floor Tiles: The flooring in the kitchenette area consisted of vinyl tiles which were confirmed to contain asbestos.

The official Asbestos Register, detailing the exact location, condition, and risk priority score for each of these items, is available in the full survey report.

Conclusion & Recommendations:

To ensure the new tenant can occupy and manage the unit safely and in compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the following actions are essential:

1. Integrate Register into Site Induction: The Asbestos Register must be a key document in the site’s health and safety file. All staff and contractors must be made aware of the ACM locations before undertaking any work.
2. Manage Textured Ceilings: The textured coating on the office ceilings is in a good, sealed condition. A policy should be implemented to prohibit drilling into, sanding, or scraping these surfaces to prevent fibre release.
3. Future Steelwork Maintenance: Any future work on the structural steel beams that requires the removal or abrasion of the bitumen paint must be undertaken by a specialist contractor following a thorough risk assessment.
4. Flooring Replacement Plan: While the vinyl floor tiles are currently safe, any future plans to replace the flooring must involve a specialist asbestos contractor to ensure the tiles and any associated asbestos-containing adhesive are removed safely.
5. Schedule Regular Re-inspections:The condition of the external asbestos cement soffits and all other identified ACMs should be formally re-inspected annually to ensure they have not been damaged or degraded over time.

By diligently following these recommendations, the duty holder can effectively manage asbestos risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide a safe working environment.