What Is an Asbestos Refurbishment Survey?
A refurbishment survey — previously known as a Type 3 survey — is required before any refurbishment, renovation, or maintenance work that could disturb the building fabric. Unlike a management survey, it is fully intrusive: the surveyor will access concealed areas including wall cavities, floor voids, and roof spaces, and may cause some minor damage to the fabric of the building in order to take samples.
Legal Requirement
Under CAR 2012 Regulation 7, a refurbishment survey is mandatory before any work that disturbs the building fabric. A standard management survey is not sufficient — using one without a refurbishment survey before building work is a breach of the regulations and can expose contractors and clients to serious legal liability.
Management vs Refurbishment Survey
| Feature | Management | Refurbishment |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Ongoing management | Before building work |
| Intrusiveness | Minor | Fully intrusive |
| Concealed areas | Not accessed | Opened up & sampled |
| Building in use? | Yes | Area must be vacated |
| Legal basis | CAR 2012 Reg 4 | CAR 2012 Reg 7 |
| Typical cost | £200–£800 | £300–£2,000+ |
When Is a Refurbishment Survey Required?
- Loft conversions or extensions
- Kitchen or bathroom renovations in pre-2000 buildings
- Structural alterations, wall removals, or new openings
- Rewiring or new pipe runs through walls or floors
- Ceiling or floor replacements
- Any work involving drilling or cutting into the building fabric
Cost
| Property Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Small residential | £300 – £500 |
| Medium residential / small commercial | £500 – £1,000 |
| Large commercial | £1,000 – £3,000+ |