The short answer
A properly run removal follows the same pattern every time: confirm what the material is, plan the work, set up the area, remove the material with as little breakage as possible, bag it, clean up, and dispose of the waste with the right paperwork.
How much of that you see depends on the type of work. Most domestic jobs, such as garage roofs, water tanks and textured coatings, are non-licensed. Higher-risk materials such as lagging, sprayed coatings and most insulating board need a contractor holding an HSE licence, with an enclosure and independent clearance testing.
1. Survey or test first
Nobody should start removing a material without knowing what it is. The law says an employer must not start work that could disturb asbestos without first finding out whether it is present, what type it is and what condition it’s in (regulation 5). If in doubt, they must assume it is asbestos and not chrysotile alone.
For a single item, a sample and laboratory test may be enough. For a bigger job, a refurbishment and demolition survey is the right starting point. See asbestos testing.
2. Risk assessment and plan of work
Before work starts, the contractor assesses the risk and writes a plan of work (regulation 7). The plan covers what is being removed, where, how, with what equipment, and how long it will take. A copy is kept on site. HSE’s sheet EM0 explains what these should cover for non-licensed work.
This is also where the job is classified as licensed, notifiable non-licensed (NNLW) or non-licensed. See licensed vs non-licensed asbestos work.
3. Notification, where needed
- Licensed work must be notified to the enforcing authority on form ASB5 at least 14 days before it starts, unless the authority agrees a shorter time (regulation 9).
- NNLW must be notified before work starts. There is no minimum notice period (HSE).
- Non-licensed work doesn’t need notification.
4. Setting up the work area
For non-licensed work, set-up typically includes:
- Segregation: keeping people out of the area with barriers, tape and signs, and closing doors and windows nearby.
- Protecting surfaces: laying polythene sheeting where debris could fall.
- Damping down: wetting the material with a low-pressure sprayer to keep dust down. Pressure washers are not used.
- PPE and RPE: HSE’s sheet EM6 calls for disposable Type 5 overalls, boots without laces, and respiratory protection with a protection factor of at least 20, such as an FFP3 disposable mask. Workers must be face-fit tested.
5. Removing the material
For non-licensed work, the aim is to take the material out whole, with as little breakage as possible. For cement sheets, that means:
- damping the sheets and removing fixings carefully, cutting bolts rather than smashing sheets
- lifting each sheet off whole and lowering it, never dropping or throwing it
- wrapping sheets in heavy polythene as they come off
- using hand tools only: no power saws, grinders or sanders
Other materials have their own methods. Textured coatings are softened and scraped off wet. Floor tiles are lifted with a scraper. Each method is set out in HSE’s Asbestos essentials task sheets.
If cement sheets would be substantially broken up, for example after a fire, the job becomes NNLW.
6. Cleaning up
The area is cleaned using a Class H vacuum cleaner and damp rags. Dry sweeping and ordinary vacuums are not used, because they spread fibres. Workers decontaminate before leaving the area.
After textured coating removal, the area is inspected visually and the person responsible signs a statement of cleanliness, EM10.
7. Bagging, waste and paperwork
Small pieces and debris go into a red asbestos bag, which is sealed and placed inside a clear outer bag. Large pieces are double-wrapped in 1000-gauge polythene and labelled. Used overalls, masks and sheeting go in as asbestos waste too. See EM9.
The waste is carried by a registered waste carrier to a permitted site, with a hazardous waste consignment note. You should get a copy, and EM9 says copies are kept for three years. See asbestos waste disposal.
Extra steps for licensed work
Licensed work adds more controls:
- An enclosure: the area is sealed with polythene and kept under negative pressure, with airlocks and a decontamination unit.
- Air monitoring: carried out by an analyst from a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
- Four-stage clearance: after removal, a UKAS-accredited analyst (HSE strongly recommends an independent one) checks the site and paperwork, inspects visually, tests the air, and makes a final check once the enclosure is taken down. HSE’s analysts’ guide, HSG248, sets this out. If it passes, a Certificate for Reoccupation is issued.
Licensed work must be done by a contractor holding an HSE licence. Before you hire anyone for licensed work, check them on the list of current licence holders linked from HSE’s licensable work page. Licences last up to three years, so check the current list rather than an old certificate. See licensed asbestos removal and air testing and clearance.
What you need to do as the customer
- Share any survey or test results, and tell the contractor about access, parking and neighbours.
- Keep children and pets away from the area while work is going on, and follow any instructions to stay out of rooms.
- Clear the area of belongings where you can, or ask what will be sheeted over.
- Ask questions: what’s the method, how is the waste handled, and what paperwork will you get?
- Keep your paperwork: test results, the consignment note and, for licensed work, the Certificate for Reoccupation.
For an overview of our process, see how it works, or ask us for a quote.
Quick answers
Do I need to leave the house during asbestos removal?
For many outdoor non-licensed jobs, no, but you’ll be kept out of the work area. For licensed work inside, the area is sealed off and you may need to stay out of part of the house.
Will there be air testing after removal?
After licensed work, yes: four-stage clearance by a UKAS-accredited analyst, ideally independent of the removal contractor. It isn’t normally needed for non-licensed jobs.
What paperwork should I get?
A copy of the consignment note for the waste, and, after licensed work, the Certificate for Reoccupation.
Can sheets be broken up to fit in a van?
They should be removed whole where possible. Breaking cement sheets substantially can make the job notifiable non-licensed 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.