BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
ASBESTOS IN SCHOOLS AND
BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR
THE FUTURE PROGRAMME
he recent focus in the press on
T
the presence of Asbestos
Robin Nower, Technical Director,
Containing Materials in schools
has once again brought this
Ayerst Environmental Ltd
contentious issue to the forefront
of many people’s minds. However, what The Building Schools for the Future contractually delegate the responsibility for
is the risk and how does this affect the programme, in a similar vein to the the identification of Asbestos Containing
Government’s drive for delivering its Government’s Decent Homes Programme, Materials to the Principle Contractor
Building Schools for the Future invariably results in a major Construction without maintaining complete control of
programme? (Design and Management) Regulations this phase of the project and must ensure
As with all non-domestic premises, 2007 (CDM 2007) project being notified that ALL available information is
schools have a duty to MANAGE Asbestos to the HSE. disseminated to them.
Containing Materials within their buildings The CDM 2007 Regulations require If the school already maintains a
to ensure that people are not put at the ‘Client’, i.e. the school, Local register of their Asbestos Containing
unnecessary risk from exposure. This Education Authority (LEA), or Local Materials then this can form the backbone
remains the Health and Safety Executive’s Authority, to instruct and employ a CDM of the information to be disseminated BUT
(HSE) primary drive, i.e., to ensure that Co-ordinator at the planning stage and a this is not enough to satisfy the regulatory
schools manage Asbestos Containing Principle Contractor for the construction requirements. A register will ordinarily
Materials sufficiently by complying with the phase. There is always a temptation at result from a survey being undertaken to a
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 this point for the ‘Client’ to include the ‘Type 2’ standard in accordance with the
(CAR 2006) Regulation 4 duty to maintain responsibility for the identification and HSE’s approved asbestos surveying
a suitable Asbestos Management Plan removal of the Asbestos Containing methods, MDHS100. This level of survey
which should include a comprehensive Materials in the framework contract with is non-intrusive and, as such, will not
register of Asbestos Containing Materials. the Principle Contractor. However, this routinely identify any Asbestos Containing
One of the primary objectives of the can often lead to problems further down Materials that may be present within the
Asbestos Management Plan is to ensure the line during the construction phase as fabric of the building.
that the register is disseminated to any there may not have been sufficient time or Prior to any refurbishment, demolition,
person who may carry out maintenance or budget allowed for the removal of or major alteration to the fabric of the
repair works within the school. This Asbestos Containing Materials within the building, an intrusive ‘Type 3’ survey must
should guarantee that suitable and planning stage of the project. be undertaken to identify any further
sufficient risk assessments and plans of The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice Asbestos Containing Materials that may
work can be produced detailing how L144, ‘Managing Health and Safety in be present. This process should
the work will be undertaken without Construction: Construction (Design and incorporate the information already
disturbing the Asbestos Containing Management) Regulations 2007’, clearly known from the register and be carried
Materials. If disturbance of the materials stipulates that the responsibility for out in accordance with the specification of
is unavoidable then the materials will identifying and disseminating information works that are due to be undertaken
have to be removed either by a regarding ‘pre-existing hazards’ such as during the construction phase of the
‘competent person’, in accordance with Asbestos Containing Materials lies with the project.
Regulation 10 of CAR 2006, or, if they ‘Client’. L144 suggests that the only Often this part of the process can only
are deemed to NOT be an exception person who can assist the ‘Client’ with be undertaken once the school is
in accordance with Regulation 3, by an technical knowledge in this process is the decanted prior to the construction phase
HSE Licensed Contractor. CDM Co-ordinator, both of whom will but it MUST be planned for as one of the
But how about when a ‘major’ often use the expertise of a UKAS first items to be carried out once the
refurbishment or demolition programme is accredited inspection body in the school is unoccupied to provide as much
undertaken, such as during the Building identification of Asbestos Containing time as possible for the safe removal of
Schools for the Future programme? Materials. any Asbestos Containing Materials that
It is clear from this that the may be identified.
identification of ‘pre-existing hazards’ Ayerst Environmental Ltd have
such as Asbestos Containing Materials extensive experience in consulting
must be carried out at the planning stage with and assisting ‘Clients’,
or must, at least, be planned for and ‘CDM Co-ordinators’ and ‘Principle
budgeted by the ‘Client’ to ensure as Contractors’ to satisfy all of their duties
much information as possible is available under CAR 2006 and CDM 2007.
prior to the commencement of the If you require any assistance, please
Construction phase. contact our team on 020 8658 8050 or
As such, the ‘Client’ should not email us@ayerstenv.com
18|
SUSTAINABLE FM | MAY 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44