Farm Building Conversion - Asbestos Survey

[Scraggydog64]

Morning All

Looking to convert the existing stone farm buildings into dwellings before their deterioration gets to the point of no return. I was discussing the way forward with the land agent and he suggested, amongst other things, we would need an asbestos survey which worries me. All of the potential conversions have had asbestos roofs fitted in the past. You cannot dig a hole around the steading without unearthing a piece. Dad used to put bits of asbestos in the ruts to fill them up!

Could this be show stopper for any building conversions? What are my options with an inevitable survey failure?

Thanks.

 

[ollie989898]

I think asbestos surveys are limited to the fabric of the buildings themselves. Not going digging around what will be the garden? Besides, what is to stop you excavating around the building to a depth of 2ft and putting the soil/muck/earth some place else on the farm?

Asbestosis is only a risk where someone is chronically exposed for prolonged periods of time.

 

[Kidds]

I had older relatives like that.
When we came to sell the property we had to sort through two farm dumps getting the asbestos out and an enormous amount of plastic too.
It was no great task tbh, just scrat through it all with a mini digger and separated it out. Wore mask, gloves and disposable coveralls and go on with it. Only took two people a few days and not full days by any means. Then hired in a covered skip for the asbestos, double wrapped it in polythene and chucked it in.
Plastic filled one of those great big hooklift skips.

Either tidy the place up ahead of the survey or get and independent survey first and go from there. Asbestos is fairly safe as long as it is damp and you don't go breaking it up more, wear a mask though.

 

[Ramrod]

From my little experience of asbestos surveys, I believe all asbestos is identified and regarded as safe. It’s when you/something moves it, that is when the problem’s/cost start adding up.

 

[Still Farming]

Think places you can send off samples for analysis and category level of asbestos contents.

 

[robs1]

Roofing sheets arent deemed much of an issue as it encapsulated, it's the loose stuff like insulation that gets the authorities worked up. Artex has it in and no ones made to remove that.

 

[Johndeere]

Contaminated land survey for the garden area will be the bigger issue as the council will want all the asbestos removed

 

[wanton dwarf]

The asbestos in Big Six sheets is some of the least dangerous asbestos there is. Unless it's been crushed to a powder.

 

[renewablejohn]

Asbestosis is only a risk where someone is chronically exposed for prolonged periods of time.

Unfortunately not true. Local builder only did one asbestos commercial building roof and cut the sheets with stihl saw with dust everywhere. Within a year he was dead with asbestosis.