Harmful substance survey
Harmful substance survey ‑ asbestos, PAH, lead, PCB and creosote
A harmful substance survey is a statutory requirement before demolition and repair work in properties built before 1994. Onelab handles the asbestos side of the laboratory work with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope, in accordance with the ISO 22262-1 standard.
Which harmful substances are looked for in buildings?
Asbestos
Pipe insulation, floor tiles, roofing felt, façade panels, jointing compounds, vinyl tiles. The most common harmful substance in older properties.
PAH compounds
Coal-tar pitch bitumens, creosote treatment, old waterproofing. Carcinogenic.
Lead
Old paints, solders, cable sheaths, water pipe solders.
PCB
Elastic joint compounds from the 1960s–1980s, capacitors, paints.
Creosote
Pressure-treated timber, roof boarding, bridges, poles.
Microbes and moisture
Mould and moisture damage, in a separate investigation.
When is a survey carried out?
- Before demolition or renovation work (mandatory for properties built before 1994)
- As part of due diligence in a property transaction
- For occupational health and safety and risk assessment purposes
- As part of energy renovations, where old structures are opened
The stages of a survey
- Gathering background information: year of construction, previous studies, drawings
- Field visit: visual inspection and sampling
- Laboratory analyses: asbestos (Onelab, JEOL SEM-EDS) and other harmful substances
- Report: where the substances occur, the analysis results, and what that means for the removal work
Onelab as your harmful substance survey partner
We carry out asbestos material analyses for surveyors and engineering firms, with B2B pricing, electronic ordering and a fast turnaround. Priority samples at critical stages, and contract accounts for recurring projects. For other harmful substances we refer you to trusted partner laboratories.
Frequently asked questions
Asbestos analyses for your survey, from Onelab
B2B pricing, electronic ordering, fast turnaround.