Standard sampling asbestos surveys are the most common form of asbestos survey undertaken. This requires the surveyor to identify any installations on a site that might contain asbestos. These installations are then sampled and could require several samples to be taken, depending on the size and complexity of the installation. Analysis is carried out at an UKAS-accredited laboratory.

This sampling technique, although more time consuming and expensive, will provide a much more accurate result and confirm the presence of asbestos. It will also give additional information on asbestos types and concentrations on which to base a full assessment of the risk.

The survey does not include breaking into voids or inaccessible areas and as such the surveyor may miss any asbestos present in such areas. 

See Asbestos Refurbishment/Demolition Survey for more details on this topic.