building valuations

 

Dealing with Asbestos in Retail Units

Asbestos in retail units

We market the services of independent Surveyors. Surveyors pride themselves on a high standard of work. We can offer Schedules of Condition with regard to leases , Property Reports, Schedules of Dilapidations, Section 18 Valuations, Scott Schedules, Commercial Building Surveys, Structural Reports, Specific Defects Reports. Note these are not for bank lending but are to advise you how much we feel the property is really worth. If you have a property problem we may even already have written an article on it and we would refer you to the many articles we have on our home page 1stAssociated.co.uk. use independent surveyors who are more than happy to chat. Please Free phone us on 0800 298 5424 and surveyor will call you back.

 

Asbestos in retail units in the 60s and 70s

Many of the retail units built in the 1960's and 1970's, possibly a bit earlier, possibly a bit later, have utilised asbestos in their construction as a key component in the fire compartmentisation process. In a unit of retail shops with residential flats above the asbestos can be used as a fire break. It may also have been used as a firebreak around the plant room incorporating the boiler, or it may also have been used around a storeroom that perhaps had flammable materials, such as cleaning fluids, etc. Equally, it may have been used in some of the finishing products, such as the ceiling tiles, or the floor tiles.

 

Free phone 0800 298 5424

Asbestos comes in different types and there are different tests available

Most retail units (at the time of writing) that are leasehold require a Type 2 asbestos test / report, which is non-evasive. However, if work is being carried out, such as alterations, extensions, amendments, perhaps even a new air conditioning system, then a Type 3 asbestos report is needed. This is an evasive test where samples are taken.

Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive (known as HSE) have a very good website with regard to asbestos and carry out a search for asbestos. There is detailed information, including where you find asbestos? which covers:

1.  asbestos cement products

2.  textured coatings

3.  floor tiles

4.  textiles and composites

5.  spray coatings on ceilings, walls, beams and columns

6.  asbestos insulation board

7.  lagging

8.  loose asbestos in ceilings or floor cavity

 

They have a great interactive picture, which if you click on highlights some areas on the property sketch, and if you click on again bring up detailed information on it. There has obviously been a great deal of time and information spent.

The other thing we feel is great about the website is myth of the month, where they reveal everything from whether Punch and Judy needs a risk assessment, to hard hats for trapeze artists, to Health and Safety Executives banning stepladders for workers putting up decorations.

 

Repair, replace or overclad/encapsulate

There are three options, or variations, of these options with asbestos.

Repair

It may well be the best option if the retail units are operating. Anything more than repair may have a large cost implication for the business operating in the premises.

Replace

This is a long-term solution, possibly one that is more appropriate to freeholders than leaseholders. This over time removes the problem and also when the property is sold on, it removes the problem, or a perceived problem, that can affect value as, all things being equal, a prospective buyer would purchase a property without asbestos rather than with. The Building Regulations also poses an interesting problem, which means that sometimes repair or encapsulation cannot be used and replacement is the only answer. This is such as a sound insulation between a ground floor retail unit and a first floor flat, which has previously had an asbestos firebreak. As far as we are aware the only alternative is to remove and bring up to date. An alternative and appropriate case where the asbestos is in good condition is to lift the floorboards in the flat or residential unit above the retail unit, therefore meaning that shop side can continue trading.

Overclad/encapsulation

This is often used where there is an asbestos roof and it is still necessary for the occupiers to continue trading. Overcladding with an appropriate system lowers the risk of the deteriorating asbestos (but it is still present). It may be a long term cost effective solution, which at some point in time can then have the asbestos removed. Interestingly, it should be noted that you have to drill through the asbestos to fix the metal profile sheeting.

 

Disposing of asbestos

Much easier said than done. For the latest advice on this consult the Health and Safety Executive website.

You may like to read some more information about asbestos:

Asbestos

Industrial Commercial Properties - The Asbestos Cement Dilema

 

If you need help and advice with regard to asbestos, asbestos cement, leases, dilapidations, schedules of condition, dilaps claims, break clauses, scott schedules, building surveys, structural reports / engineers reports / specific defects report, structural surveys, home buyers reports or any other property matter please call 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat. Please note we are independent surveyors. If you have a commercial leasehold property, or are a landlord, and are contemplating dilapidations then please visit our website on Dilaps Help then please visit our www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com . We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human).

The contents of the website are for general information only and are not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision. All rights are reserved and the contents of the website are not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or part without the express written permission of 1stAssociated.co.uk.

 

building engineers

 

 

Home Buyers Reports Property Surveys - why we're the best. Engineers Reports
© Copyright 1stAssociated.co.uk
Site Map

1stassociated-logo-for-footer IVSA-badge IVSA-putting-client-first call-us-for-footer

We have thousands of free property articles to help you - or call us freephone on 0800 298 5424

We have been working in the property industry for many years and have been
providing free property articles for over ten years. All for free and to help you with buying your next property.

House and Home Surveys and Useful Information

All you need to know about Building Surveys

Building Control, what do they do?

Designers and Architects will they save me money or will they cost me money

Enviroment, Your Building and Garden Gnomes

Estate Agents help sell houses and work for the vendors

Have a Structural Survey to protect you against structural problems

Home improvements, builder problems and ideas for you on how to solve them

How a Surveyor values a property, Chartered Surveyors and Regulated Valuers

How Chartered Engineers and Building Engineers can help you

Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

NHBC National House Building Council

Structural Surveys and How We Can Help You

Traditional and Non-Traditional Houses and Mortgage Problems

Valuations and how much is the building worth?

Whats the difference between a Chartered Building Surveyor, Chartered Surveyor and an Independent Surveyor

Useful property problem articles by Chartered Surveyors explaining building issues to avoid

External - Helpful information on building problems on the outside of the property

Chimney issues and problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Flat Roof Problems, how we can solve them

Foundations and Structures and Settlement and Subsidence and Underpinning

Pitched Roofs Problems and Solutions

Roof Problems

Wall Problems

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Internal - House problems we have investigated inside

All you ever need to know about floors

Asbestos in your home, what you need to know

Ceiling Cracks and Structural Problems

Condensation, Damp and Black Mould Problems

Cracking and Movement Problems and Surveying Solutions

Windows and Doors and Fascias and Soffits and Wet Rot and Dry Rot and other problems

Woodworm is it a problem or not? Is it active or not?

Services - Building help and advice on costly services

Drainage, what's underground can affect what's above ground

Heating; I just can't get my house warm enough or alternatively I just can't get my house cool enough

You can't mess around with the electric, you need an expert

 

Commercial Property Services

Building Terms Explained and Directories

Commercial Property Surveys

Commercial Structural Surveys

Leisure Facilites

Offices Large and Small

Shops and Retail

Warehouse and Industrial Buildings

Dilapidations Help and Advice What is a Dilapidations Notice?

A Beginner's Guide to Dilaps

Damp Mould and Condensation

Dampness Rising Damp Mould Black Mould Condensation

Dilapidations and Negotiations

Dilapidations Claim by a Landlord

Energy Saving what can I do?

Finance what is a Financial Adviser (We are not Financial Advisors)

Fire Risk and Help

Health and Safety Risks

Insurance how do I get the correct property insurance?

Landlords Surveying Advice

Property Investment how can I invest in property?

Property TV Reviews by an Independent Surveyor

Schedules of Condition Leasing a Commercial Property

Scotts Schedule and Section 18 Valuation

Tenants Surveying Advice

Weather how does weather affect my property?

Flooding

Rain

Snow and Ice

Strong Winds

Reviews from clients on Commercial Building Surveys

Churches and Charities, helpful reviews from our clients

Industrial Buildings and Warehouses and what our clients say about us

Offices Large and Small, reviews and feedback from our clients

Pubs, Restaurants, Hotels and other Leisure facilities we have surveyed over the years

Shops and Retail, helpful reviews from our clients

 

First Time Buyers

Buying a Leasehold or Shared Freehold Home

Buying and Selling Houses for the experienced house and home purchaser

First Time Buyers how do I go about buying my first house and home?

Improve your property knowledge with our presentations on house, homes and commercial property

Building Surveys

Building Surveying Useful Information

Dilapidations

Dilapidations Presentations in Detail

Final Year Building Surveying Exams for University Students or those that would like to know more

How old is your Building? Which era was it built in?

Party Walls

Surveyors and Design Tools

Disputes and Party Walls

Boundary Disputes

Building and Property Disputes

Party Wall Book Reviews

Party Walls Your Rights and Responsibilities

1stAssociated Surveyors Review for Structural Surveys and Building Surveys

Building Surveys, reviews and feedback from satisfied customers

Buy to let property clients, what they say about our structural surveys

Buying at auction, review of the survey

Buying bungalows and retirement properties and how our surveyors can help

Both at work / busy couples, how we can help and some 1stAssociated client reviews

Families with a young person flying the nest, reviews and feedback

First Time Buyers, what they say about us

Listed buildings, structural surveys

Older buildings, a review of buying an older house

Families with children looking for a new home, feedback and reviews

Buying a Non-Traditional Property

Residential Surveys

House and Home Surveys

Commercial Building Surveys

Commercial Surveys

1st Associated Surveyors Are Also Available in the Following Areas:

East Anglia and East

South and South East

West Country and South West

Midlands

North and North East

 

London

London Markets

London Parks

 

Wales

Areas of Britain

1stAssociated Independent Expert Property Surveyors

Specialists in Home Buyers Reports, Building Surveys and Structural Surveys and Schedules of Condition

All Surveyors are Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors qualified and RICS regulated

and are Members of the Independent Surveyors and Valuers Association

Putting the Client First

We do not accept service of documents by email or fax