The short answer
If you hold the duty to manage asbestos, HSE says you must make and keep up to date a register of known and presumed asbestos, and write, use and review a management plan. The register is the record. The plan is how you act on it. Both should be live documents, not a report that sits in a drawer.
Where the register comes from
Most registers start with a management survey carried out to HSE’s survey guide, HSG264. The surveyor inspects the building, takes samples of suspect materials and sends them for laboratory analysis. The report includes a table of every material found or presumed, which becomes the backbone of your register.
What the register contains
HSE says the register should include, as a minimum:
- all known and presumed asbestos-containing materials;
- the type of material and type of asbestos, where known;
- how much there is and its condition;
- the dates of the original and the last inspection;
- areas the surveyor could not reach, which are presumed to contain asbestos.
It should also record how easily each material could release fibres and how likely it is to be disturbed. HSE recommends adding photographs, actions with due dates, evidence that actions were done, and the next condition check date. A site plan showing locations makes it far easier to use.
What the management plan contains
HSE lists what the plan should cover:
- who is responsible for managing asbestos, including deputies;
- the register, with the site plan;
- the schedule for checking the condition of materials;
- how the register is shared with workers and contractors;
- controls to stop materials being disturbed, such as permits to work;
- emergency procedures if asbestos is disturbed.
It should also set out the decision for each item: leave and monitor, repair, seal or enclose, or remove. Our guide to encapsulation or removal explains those options.
How they’re used day to day
The register earns its keep when work is planned. Before anyone drills a wall, lifts a ceiling tile or runs a new cable, the person in charge checks the register for that area. If the area is marked as presumed asbestos, or the work goes beyond what the survey covered, you need more information first. Major work needs a refurbishment and demolition survey.
Make the register easy to reach. A copy on site, a clear site plan and a named contact help contractors and the emergency services. ACOP L143 says the register should be available on site for the life of the premises.
Re-inspection and review
Materials left in place must be checked regularly, so you notice damage before it becomes a problem. HSE doesn’t set one interval for every building. The right frequency depends on the material, its condition and how busy the area is. HSE says the register should be updated at least once a year as part of your asbestos management review.
Review and update the plan sooner whenever:
- work affects asbestos-containing materials;
- a material is accidentally damaged;
- staff with asbestos responsibilities change;
- a room changes use;
- a condition check finds deterioration.
Common weak spots
Out-of-date registers, plans that name someone who has left, and contractors who were never shown the register are all common. In April 2026 HSE said a missing management plan is among the failings its inspectors find most often.
We carry out surveys and re-inspections that give you the information for your register. Ask us for a quote.
Quick answers
Is the survey report the same as the register?
Not quite. The survey gives you the data. The register is your working record, kept up to date as materials are checked, repaired or removed.
Who should hold the management plan?
The duty holder, with a named person responsible for it. Make sure contractors and staff can see the parts they need.
How often should asbestos be re-inspected?
Regularly, depending on condition and risk. HSE says to update the register at least once a year, or sooner if something changes.
Do homeowners need a register?
No. The duty to manage doesn’t apply to private homes, though a survey report is still useful before work.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.