Definition
A refurbishment and demolition survey (R&D survey) is a fully intrusive asbestos survey required before any construction work that will disturb the building fabric — including refurbishment, renovation, or full demolition. Unlike a management survey, which covers only accessible areas without structural dismantling, an R&D survey involves destructive inspection: opening walls, lifting floors, removing finishes, and accessing hidden voids to locate all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in the areas affected by the planned work. For demolition, the survey covers the entire building structure; for refurbishment, it covers only the area of planned work. All ACMs identified must be removed by a certified contractor before construction work begins. Because the survey itself involves dismantling and may disturb asbestos-containing materials, it must be carried out in areas that are unoccupied — or can be made unoccupied — and surveyors must use appropriate PPE. The R&D survey is the most thorough survey type, and in most countries it is a legal prerequisite before demolition work can proceed.
See also:
Asbestos Survey
An asbestos survey is an inspection of a building to locate, identify, and assess the condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Most national regulations recognise three survey types: (1) Management Survey — a standard inspection of occupied buildings to locate ACMs that could be disturbed during normal use and maintenance; (2) Refurbishment Survey — a fully intrusive inspection required before any renovation work, covering the specific area to be refurbished and using destructive methods to access hidden spaces; (3) Demolition Survey — the most thorough survey, covering the entire building before demolition, using full destructive access and typically carried out in unoccupied buildings. The survey produces an asbestos register and forms the basis for the asbestos management plan. Only qualified and accredited surveyors may carry out asbestos surveys; the specific qualifications and accreditation requirements vary by country.
Refurbishment Survey (Type 2)
A fully intrusive asbestos survey required before any refurbishment or renovation work. It locates and describes all ACMs in the area being refurbished, using destructive inspection to reach spaces that a management survey cannot access. All ACMs must be removed before refurbishment work begins.
Demolition Survey (Type 3)
The most thorough type of asbestos survey, required before any demolition work. Unlike a management or refurbishment survey, it covers the entire building and uses destructive inspection to locate every ACM. Surveyors work in unoccupied buildings because the process is invasive. All asbestos must be removed before demolition can begin.
Asbestos Register
A record of all known and presumed asbestos-containing materials in a building, noting location, type, condition, and assessment results. The register must be kept current as materials are removed or conditions change, and made available to anyone who might disturb the materials.