Asbestos removal work
Asbestos removal work - what the law requires and where to start
Asbestos removal work needs a permit, and an asbestos survey must always be done before it begins. Onelab handles the laboratory side of the job: material analyses, air samples and result reports, in accordance with the ISO 22262-1 standard.
The stages of asbestos removal work
- Asbestos survey - a building specialist locates the asbestos-containing materials and takes samples
- Material analyses - the laboratory (Onelab) identifies asbestos with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope
- Removal plan - the authorised removal contractor draws up a work plan based on the results
- Official notifications - to the occupational safety authority, where possible 7 days before work starts
- Asbestos removal - in a sealed enclosure under negative pressure, with P3 respiratory protection and a protective suit
- Air samples - during the work and for the clearance certificate
- Final cleaning and clearance certificate - before the space goes back into normal use
Legislation and responsibilities
Asbestos removal work is governed by the Act on certain requirements for asbestos removal work (684/2015), the Government Decree (798/2015) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The client is responsible for commissioning the survey, the contractor for carrying out the work and the employer for protecting the workers. Under EU Directive (EU) 2023/2668, the binding limit value of 0.01 fibres/cm³ applies to all asbestos work from 21 December 2025, and from 21 December 2026 fibres in air samples must be counted with an electron microscope.
When is asbestos removal work needed?
- Renovation or refurbishment of a property built before 1994
- Removal of old floor tiles, pipe insulation or roofing felt
- Removal of façade panels (e.g. Minerit)
- Complete demolition of a property
- Renovation of industrial plants
Onelab's role in removal work
We turn around material analyses for asbestos surveyors, removal contractors and clients on the day the sample arrives. Business customers get negotiated pricing for large volumes, electronic ordering and reporting, and priority samples for critical stages on site. We already analyse air samples with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope, although an electron microscope only becomes mandatory on 21 December 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Order the sample analyses for your removal project
Material and air samples for removal contractors. B2B pricing.