Does it contain asbestos? Asbestos was used in thousands of building products; the only way to determine if asbestos is present is by having the material analysed in a laboratory accredited by UKAS for Asbestos Testing. For an idea of the common building products likely to contain asbestos, please see our gallery pages.
Our experienced asbestos surveyors / analysts carry out the sampling of suspect material in accordance with HSE Guidance Notes HSG 248 and HSG264, and in-house procedures. The samples are then analysed in accordance with HSG 248 and in-house procedures, using both stereo microscopy and polarised light microscopy.
ENV are accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17025 to undertake asbestos testing in accordance with HSG248 (‘The Analysts Guide’) and documented in-house procedures.
ENV implements the methods described in HSG248 in conjunction with stringent internal quality-control procedures as well as participating in the AIMS external quality audit scheme.
The Asbestos in Materials Scheme (AIMS) is an international inter-laboratory proficiency testing (PT) scheme, intended to assess and improve the performance of laboratories analysing different materials for asbestos content. The scheme provides an externally verified indication of performance that analysts can use to satisfy themselves, their organisation, and their clients that their analyses are of the appropriate standard and level of quality. Laboratories in the UK offering the identification of asbestos as a service are required to participate in such a proficiency testing scheme to gain accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
All ENV analytical staff are qualified to BOHS P401 or S301.
Samples can be delivered for analysis, or if required collection can be arranged by one of our operatives.
With our fully equipped laboratory facilities and qualified, experienced staff, ENV have the ability to process 100’s of samples on a daily basis, giving un-rivalled ‘turn-around’ times. We aim to deliver results to the client within 24 hours of receipt of samples in our laboratory.