UNIVERSITY DEMANDS AND RECEIVES RESPONSIVE ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT SERVICES
BACKGROUND
The university is one of the UK’s foremost further education establishments and a leader in teaching and research in medicines, science, informatics, law, humanities and business among other disciplines.
It has a portfolio estate that includes teaching departments, lecture theatres, assembly rooms, places of worship, laboratories, libraries and accommodation widely used by its staff and students, as well as visitors and guests. The buildings are in constant use by a total of over 34,000 people throughout the year.
The university needed a managed asbestos services consultancy to help it develop an asbestos management strategy and then deliver appropriate services across all its properties.
The programme included the following activities:
- management surveys
- reassessment and demolition surveys
- air monitoring
- 4-stage clearances
- bulk sampling
- asbestos monitoring
- acting as the university’s analytical specialists during works
- reporting of any asbestos removal and on all aspects of analytical works on its properties.
In short, the university needed a consultancy that could meet its complete asbestos management requirements.
The decision to appoint our asbestos team* was based on our extensive technical expertise and experience in managing asbestos compliance issues across the UK for over 30 years, and specifically in large, geographically spread property portfolios.
This case study highlights the asbestos refurbishment requirements needed for the university’s teaching and research areas.
APPROACH
The team carried out intrusive asbestos refurbishment surveys on selected properties, as part of preparations for a full internal strip and complete refurbishment of the building.
In doing so they were able to obtain samples of suspect materials to identify those asbestos containing materials (ACM). The surveyors reported all actual, presumed and strongly presumed ACM; all suspected or strongly suspected ACM was required to be treated as though they actually contained asbestos and removed before construction work.
As the buildings were unoccupied, the asbestos site services team was able to conduct all works during office hours.
The team assigned a project manager to conduct a RAMS on the properties and project-specific risk assessments at the commencement of each day’s work.
The asbestos services site team recommended the following outcomes, which were carried through to achieve the required compliance:
Asbestos containing materials (ACM):
- Must be removed from any building or part of a building programmed for demolition
- Considered for removal if damaged or likely to be damaged during use or occupancy
- High material assessment scores be reduced by remedial action to take advantage of refurbishment works – remedial actions were listed in EDP’s report findings
As project managers throughout, working alongside the university’s estate manager, the asbestos site services team set out the actions required to achieve compliance and implemented safe working methods. In addition, they developed the management policies and plans for the university to achieve ongoing asbestos compliance for this particular site.
RESULTS
The team delivered a strategic and hands-on approach in managing and providing its technical expertise to the university, providing the assurance that those studying, working and visiting its main properties, are safeguarded from harmful asbestos contamination.
Successful outcomes were achieved with managed solutions, on time and within budget – and the team continue to deliver asbestos management solutions across the university’s full property portfolio.
*EDP acquired IOM Consulting Ltd's (IOM) asbestos services division on 26th May 2017. Under the acquisition, the 'Team' referenced are now employed by EDP, and their expertise complements EDP's existing full range of property compliance and risk management services.