Asbestos Testing Services

Book Asbestos Testing

You cannot confirm whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it. A representative sample needs to be analysed in a suitable laboratory.

HSE recommends that sampling is carried out by someone who is trained and competent, as disturbing a suspected asbestos-containing material (ACM) can release fibres.

We provide controlled asbestos sampling for commercial, industrial and public-sector properties, followed by bulk sample analysis in our in-house laboratory. The analytical methods used are based on HSG248, HSE's guidance for asbestos analytical procedures.

Environmental Management Solutions Ltd holds UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for defined asbestos analytical activities under accreditation number 6604. Our accredited laboratory is based at our Cardiff office and includes the identification of asbestos in bulk materials within its current scope.

Professional asbestos sample collection
UKAS-accredited bulk sample analysis
In-house laboratory facilities
Clear reporting of analytical results
UK-wide sampling support

Why Choose EMS Asbestos for Asbestos Testing Services?

We have worked in the asbestos industry since 2003 and support dutyholders, facilities teams and organisations with surveying, testing and ongoing asbestos management.

Our asbestos testing service combines professional sample collection with analysis in our own laboratory. Bulk samples are analysed within the scope of our UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, giving clients a clear record of whether asbestos has been identified in the material tested.

Testing can be used as a standalone service or as part of a wider project. We also provide asbestos surveys, asbestos management plans, asbestos removal, air testing and project management where required.

How Does Asbestos Sample Testing Work?

Asbestos sample testing involves taking a representative sample from a suspected material and analysing it to establish whether asbestos is present. Where asbestos is found, the analysis also identifies the asbestos type.

Getting a representative sample matters. Testing a poorly chosen or unsuitable sample can give an incomplete picture of the material, which is why asbestos sampling should be carried out by trained and competent personnel.

Our usual process is:

Step 1 - Book Your Asbestos Sampling

Contact us with details of the property, the material you are concerned about and why testing is required. We will discuss what information is already available and arrange sampling where needed.

Step 2 - Sample Collection

A representative sample is taken using controlled methods appropriate to the material and location. Details of the sample and where it was collected are recorded as part of the process.

Step 3 - Laboratory Analysis

The sample is submitted to our asbestos testing lab for analysis. Bulk materials are examined using recognised analytical techniques based on the methods set out in HSG248.

Step 4 - Receive Your Results

You will receive a report setting out the analytical result and, where asbestos is identified, the asbestos type found in the sample.

The result confirms what is present in the material tested. What happens next will depend on factors including the condition and location of the ACM and any work planned in the area.

Step 5 - Further Support if Needed

If the result forms part of a wider asbestos issue, we can help with surveys, reinspections, management plans, air testing, project management and removal support.

Instructions for Sending Asbestos Samples

If you already have a sample that has been taken by a trained and competent person, contact us before sending it to the laboratory. We can confirm the current packaging, labelling, submission and delivery requirements.

If the material has not yet been sampled, avoid disturbing it yourself unless you have the appropriate training and competence. HSE advises that taking samples can release asbestos fibres and recommends using someone properly trained to carry out the work. HSE guidance on asbestos sampling

Call us on 0800 358 1100 if you need submission instructions or would like us to arrange the sampling.

What Materials Can Be Tested for Asbestos?

Our laboratory can analyse a broad range of submitted samples. These are not limited to standard construction products or materials normally associated with buildings.

Common samples submitted for asbestos testing include:

Asbestos cement sheets and roof panels
Textured coatings
Pipe insulation and lagging
Asbestos insulating board (AIB)
Floor tiles and bitumen-based materials
Ceiling tiles
Sprayed coatings
Rope seals and gaskets
Vinyl floor coverings
Roofing felt and waterproofing materials

We can also analyse less conventional samples where asbestos may be suspected. If you are unsure whether a particular sample can be submitted, speak to our laboratory team before sending it.

Bulk sample analysis establishes whether the representative sample contains asbestos and, where it does, identifies the asbestos type or types present.

Testing should be carried out by a laboratory holding the appropriate ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. In Great Britain, UKAS is the recognised accreditation body for this work.

A laboratory result does not, on its own, establish whether the material needs to be removed or what category future asbestos work will fall into. Those decisions depend on the material, its condition, how it could be disturbed and the work being proposed.

FAQs: Asbestos Testing

How Much Does Asbestos Testing Cost in the UK?

The cost of asbestos testing depends on the scope of the service required, including the number of samples and whether on-site sampling is needed.

Call us on for a quote based on your requirements.

Do I Need Asbestos Testing or a Survey?

The two services answer different questions.

An asbestos survey investigates a defined property or area to locate ACMs, or materials presumed to contain asbestos, and records the information needed for the purpose of that survey.

Asbestos testing is the laboratory analysis of a representative sample to confirm whether asbestos is present.

For non-domestic premises, . sets out HSE's guidance on how asbestos surveys should be carried out.

If you are unsure which service you need, speak to us about the property and what you are trying to establish.

What Do I Need to Do Before Asbestos Sampling?

If we are attending to take the sample, have any existing information about the property or suspected material available when you book.

We will discuss access and any site-specific arrangements with you beforehand. You do not need to disturb or prepare the material yourself.

How Often Does Asbestos Testing Need to Be Done?

There is no routine interval at which the same material needs to be repeatedly sent for asbestos testing.

Further sampling may be needed where a new or previously untested material has been identified, where existing information is insufficient or where planned works require further investigation.

For dutyholders, this is separate from the review of the wider asbestos management plan. says the management plan, including records and drawings, should be reviewed at least every 12 months and also when circumstances change.

What Other Asbestos Management Services Do You Offer?

Alongside testing, we provide,,, air testing and asbestos removal support.

Some clients only need us for a specific test. Others bring us into a wider programme of surveying, management or remedial work. We can tailor our involvement to the requirements of the site and project.

What Is the Difference Between Asbestos Testing and an Asbestos Survey?

An asbestos test tells you whether asbestos has been identified in a representative sample.

An asbestos survey looks more broadly at a defined property or area. Depending on the type of survey, it can identify or presume ACMs, record their location and condition and provide information needed for ongoing management or planned works.

Sampling and laboratory analysis may form part of a survey, but testing a single material is not a substitute for surveying a building where a survey is required.

What's the Difference Between Asbestos Sample Testing and Air Testing?

Asbestos sample testing examines a physical piece of material to determine whether it contains asbestos.

measures airborne fibre concentrations. , including background monitoring, reassurance testing, personal monitoring, leak testing and four-stage clearance where appropriate.

Not every air test is a test for reoccupation. Four-stage clearance is a specific process used following relevant licensed asbestos removal work, with HSG248 setting out the analytical procedures that apply.