Asbestos Testing

Asbestos Testing

ABP is a UKAS-accredited testing Laboratory (No. 4494) providing services to ensure safety and compliance across diverse range of sectors. Our air monitoring services, including reassurance, background, and personal sampling, verify safe environments during and after asbestos work. We conduct 4 stage clearance testing to certify areas as safe for reoccupation. Our laboratory analyses bulk samples to accurately identify asbestos in bulk materials. Additionally, we offer soil testing for construction and redevelopment projects. Based in Southampton, our expert team provide a professional independent asbestos testing service nationwide.

About Us

Air Monitoring

Background Monitoring
Establishes baseline fibre levels in buildings with known asbestos.
Leak Monitoring
Confirms containment during asbestos removal to prevent fibre release.
Reassurance Monitoring:
Verifies air quality after asbestos disturbance or removal.
Personal Monitoring
Samples air near workers’ breathing zones and mobile sampling for varied activities, ensuring RPE compliance.
Clearance Indicator Monitoring
Tests air during 4 stage clearance for safe reoccupation.
Near-Source Monitoring
Assesses fibre levels close to asbestos work areas, usually in an outdoor environment.
Far-Source Monitoring
Measures air further from work sites to ensure wider safety, usually in an outdoor environment.

4 Stage Clearance Testing

The Certificate of Reoccupation (CoR) is issued by an analyst following a successful four stage clearance process. Issue of the CoR is required to reoccupy an area following asbestos removal.
Our UKAS-accredited team follows HSG 248 to verify compliance:

1

Preliminary Check: Inspects work area, enclosure integrity, and decontamination facilities.

2

Visual Inspection: Confirms all asbestos materials are removed and the area is clean.

3

Air Monitoring: Tests air to confirm airborne fibre concentration is below the clearance indicator.

4

Final Assessment: A final inspection after the enclosure is removed. CoR issued, verifying the area is suitable for reoccupation.

Sample Analysis

Our UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (No. 4494) analyses bulk samples to detect asbestos in materials such as insulation, tiles, or cement. Using polarized light microscopy, we deliver fast, reliable results. You can use this information to guide safe asbestos management or plan for remediation or removal.

Soil Testing

Asbestos in soils is a legacy of asbestos use in buildings, which is widespread in the UK. Asbestos can be present in soil, aggregate and crushed construction and demolition waste and the interpretation of the test results can be challenging.

There is no de minimis for asbestos content in soil in the UK. ABP consultants can interpret the test results in the context of your land project and provide pragmatic solutions to resolve planning conditions often set when asbestos is discovered in soil.

ABP are a UKAS accredited testing laboratory (No. 4494) for asbestos in soils testing (qualitative test only). The test requires up to 1kg of soil. The test report details any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) present, the type of product i.e. board, debris and any loose fibre may be present. Both components can be weighed to provide %w/w asbestos content. This result can be interpreted for waste classification for landfill disposal or for developing a risk assessment for workers. At ABP we have our own in-house method for quantification.