If it is your responsibility to manage the asbestos risk for a commercial or industrial building you will be understandably concerned that you are complying effectively with your obligations. The fact that you may have employed an accredited company to analyse samples of materials that could potentially contain asbestos or that you have employed a specialist contractor to effect repairs in a safe manner does not absolve you of this duty so it is always worth being absolutely sure that any health risks have been minimised.

There are a number of main steps you can take to be confident that you have covered all aspects of an asbestos risk assessment correctly for an industrial building.

Determine if asbestos is likely to be present

Generally speaking in the UK, if the building or buildings for which you are responsible were constructed from the year 2000 onwards, then they will not have been built with any asbestos containing materials. Otherwise you will need to take all reasonable steps to determine the likelihood of asbestos containing materials being present.

For example, consult the original architects and any contractors who carried out repairs prior to the year 2000. They should be able to provide information on the materials used in the original construction or later repairs. If necessary, remind external companies and individuals that they are obliged to provide this information to you.

Certain construction materials such as wood, glass, bricks and stone clearly do not contain any asbestos so buildings constructed only from these materials will not contain asbestos.

Arrange an Asbestos Survey, Sampling and Analysis

For large premises it is more practical to employ an accredited and experienced asbestos company to perform a survey of the premises to identify construction materials suspected of containing asbestos. But do be aware that the only reliable means of accurately identifying asbestos containing materials is to have samples taken and professionally analysed – this may or may not be a service provided by the same company carrying out the survey. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has an accreditation scheme for organisations which do asbestos surveys and a separate accreditation scheme for those performing sampling and analysis of asbestos in construction materials.

For smaller premises with relatively few different construction materials you can often employ someone to simply sample and analyse the suspect materials. It is not advised to try to take samples yourself as it is when asbestos containing materials are disturbed that they release their fibres into the air – fibres that are invisible but can lead to potentially fatal diseases.

Assess the condition of the asbestos containing materials

Once you have confirmed the presence of an asbestos containing material you must then make a formal assessment of its condition and the chances of the material being damaged or worn in the near future, for example, if removal is required to carry out other building repairs. This will help you to assess the risk of any asbestos fibres being release into the air.

Generally speaking any surface that is cracked or pitted is damaged enough to potentially release asbestos fibres. Similarly, there is a potential health risk if any surface sealants such as roof coatings are peeling off. In these cases the extent of the damage will be an indicator as to whether any industrial roof repair necessary will involve re-coating, encapsulating or removing and replacing the asbestos roof entirely.

Asbestos was widely used in residential and industrial buildings in the UK from the 1950s until the mid 1980s when its use was banned. It was used for sound-proofing and also because of its fire-retardant properties. But it was also used for gutters, roofing shingles, water and waste pipes.

Although banned in the 1980s as a construction material, its widespread use before that means that there are many buildings today that still contain asbestos within their fabric. In commercial and industrial buildings it is commonly found in the roofing panels, wall cladding and insulating boards. Asbestos can be a dangerous material because it is a carcinogen – it has been proven to cause asbestosis, lung cancer (particularly in smokers) and mesothelioma so dealing with it safely is of paramount importance.

Thankfully much of the asbestos used in buildings is of the non-friable type i.e. it cannot be easily broken up into a powdery substance. So the necessity for complete removal is not always necessary if the asbestos containing material is still in good condition. Although many individuals and companies may prefer to remove it, this may not always be a financially viable option or, indeed, the safest option. In the case of industrial asbestos roofs there are a number of safe refurbishment options available.

But if the asbestos in your premises is worn or damaged then the area should be tested by a professional for possible contamination. If a survey reveals that contamination is present and removal is the only option then there are procedures to be followed to ensure the removal if done safely and does not expose anyone to any unnecessary dangers.

In the UK it is important to be aware that the responsibility for managing the potential risk of asbestos in commercial buildings lies with whoever is responsible for maintaining the building. Asbestos removal should always be performed by professional workmen who should adhere to a number of safety procedures but the final safety assessment, after any works have been carried out, still remains with the person responsible for building maintenance.

The UK has an accreditation scheme for companies that carry out asbestos surveys as well as separate schemes for those who sample and analyse materials that possibly contain asbestos. It is important to note that some companies are only accredited for one aspect of asbestos assessment: sampling, analysis or surveys and a full assessment may require the use of different companies.

Individuals can also be certified under the Asbestos Building Inspectors Certification Scheme but this does not reflect on the quality of the whole organisation in the same way as the UK Accreditation Scheme (UKAS).

Depending on the outcome of the analysis and survey you may need to decide what action to take – particularly if the asbestos is in good condition. If you decide to leave it in place then you must keep detailed records of where the asbestos containing materials are so that workmen performing repairs and maintenance work in the future can take adequate safety precautions to avoid any health hazards.

For example roofing contractors performing an industrial roof repair to a leaking roof must be made aware of the presence of asbestos roofing sheets so that they apply the correct specialist roof coatings or encapsulate the industrial roofing in suc a way to minimise the escape of asbestos fibres.

Construction shelters are becoming a staple in the industry. As a foreman, project manager or job superintendent in charge of a construction project, you understand the importance and the struggles of getting every job done on time. At certain times of the year, progress can be hindered greatly by forces of nature beyond your control. However, these shelters make it possible to keep the workflow going no matter what the weather is doing on the other side of the fabric walls.

The construction industry is competitive, especially in today’s economy. This means that the company that gets the job done with the best quality and the fastest lead-time rises above all others. Proper use of construction shelters can ensure that top company is yours.

Heavy rain, high winds, snowstorms, extreme heat and freezing temperatures can lead to costly delays for construction projects. As a general rule, rental equipment and job materials are ordered at the start of a construction project. When bad weather hits, not only are you left responsible for extended rental fees on heavy equipment, but everything is exposed to the elements, which can lead to even greater delays and expense.

When the temperatures are extremely hot or cold, the progress of work crews slows to an eventual halt. Such unfavorable conditions will have workers showing up late, leaving early or failing to come in at all because they do not want to be exposed to the torturous elements. Without your full crew to get the job done, there is no hope of meeting your deadlines, losing more and more money all along the way.

The solution to your problem is construction shelters. These fabric buildings can be ordered and set up on your project site quickly and easily. Underneath the cover of these shelters, your workers will be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This means they will report to work and put their best effort into completing every project on time.

In addition to providing shelter from increment weather for your crews, you may also choose to set up construction shelters at your site to serve as storage space for equipment and materials. Never have to worry about replacing damaged or stolen supplies again by securing them in a durable tension fabric structure.

These shelters can be set up on a temporary or permanent basis. In addition, they are completely portable regardless of size, making it easy to move the shelter from one location to the next as your projects progress.

A large number of accessories are available for these fabric construction shelters, which means you can get the exact structure to suit your project needs. It makes no difference what branch of the construction industry in which you specialize from excavation to renovation, you are sure to find a fabric shelter that will keep your equipment and materials safe, all the while keeping every member of your work force healthy and happy. Never miss another deadline due to a weather delay and start saving time and money now.