The objective of an asbestos survey is to identify the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM). In the UK this technique is typically used to identify ACM in workplaces because of the legal obligation to do so.
Asbestos surveys are grouped into 3 types (1, 2 or 3) which indicate which particular surveying technique is to be used. A type 1 survey is the most basic and doesn't actually identify the presence of asbestos at all because it doesn't use asbestos bulk sampling i.e no samples are taken for laboratory analysis. This is known as presumptive analysis.
Presumptive analysis is fairly limited because asbestos can be found in hundreds of different products and materials. Even the most experienced asbestos surveyor cannot identify ACM by eye alone. So, the best they can do is presume its presence.
Type 1 susrveys are, perhaps, best suited to new buildings (post 1990) where the presence of asbestos is unlikely. They are the quickest and cheapest survey available.
The problem with using a type 1 survey in an older building is that you may end up identifying many products as ACM when they are actually perfectly safe.
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