Professional asbestos removal follows strict procedures to protect workers and occupants while permanently eliminating dangerous fibres. The process typically takes 1-2 weeks from start to finish, involving specialist equipment, independent testing, and comprehensive documentation.
Here’s exactly what happens during each stage of a professional removal job, from initial preparation through to final clearance certification.
Survey Results and HSE Paperwork
The work starts before anyone arrives at your property. A licensed surveyor will have already been through your building, identifying what type of asbestos you’ve got, where it is, and how much needs removing. They write up a detailed removal plan based on what they found.
For bigger jobs, this plan gets sent to the Health and Safety Executive 14 days before work starts. The removal company books specialist waste disposal trucks, sorts out access to your property, and makes sure you’ve moved anything valuable out of the work area.
Plastic Sheeting and Negative Pressure Units
The first thing the removal team does is seal off the work area completely. Every opening gets sealed: doors, windows, air vents, light switches, plug sockets. Everything.
The work area gets divided into three zones: the contaminated work space, a decontamination area, and a clean zone where workers can safely remove their protective gear.
Then they set up negative pressure machines, powerful vacuum units with HEPA filters that suck air out of the work area constantly. This creates a vacuum effect – if there’s any hole in the plastic, clean air gets sucked in rather than contaminated air leaking out. The machines run 24/7 until the job’s finished.
Disposable Suits and Breathing Equipment
Before entering the work area, each worker puts on a full disposable suit, powered breathing equipment or full-face masks with P3 filters, disposable gloves, and protective boots. The level of gear depends on what type of asbestos they’re removing.
Every time a worker leaves the contaminated area, they go through a multi-stage decontamination process. They remove layers of protective clothing in sequence, wash down with water, and pass through different chambers to make sure no fibres leave with them.
Wetting, Cutting and Bagging
Soaking Everything First
The first step inside the work area is thoroughly soaking the asbestos materials with water. This is critical as dry asbestos releases far more fibres when disturbed. Workers use spray bottles or low-pressure sprayers with water mixed with surfactant (a wetting agent that helps water penetrate better).
The water application has to be just right. Too much pressure damages the material and releases fibres. Too little water leaves the material likely to crumble and release fibres during removal. Experienced workers know the exact pressure and coverage needed for each type of material.
Removing Piece by Piece
With materials properly soaked, removal begins. For pipe insulation, workers cut sections into manageable pieces, keeping everything wet throughout. For ceiling tiles, each tile gets carefully lowered and immediately placed in a heavy-duty disposal bag.
The work is slow and methodical. Workers constantly re-wet materials and avoid any sudden movements or impacts. Every piece of removed material goes straight into specially marked red disposal bags, which get sealed immediately.
Wet Wiping Every Surface
Once all visible asbestos is removed, workers clean every surface in the work area to remove residual fibres. This means wet wiping walls, ceilings, floors, pipes, beams – everything – with damp cloths that get thrown away as contaminated waste.
They work systematically from top to bottom, from the furthest point towards the exit. Special attention goes to ledges, corners, and textured surfaces where fibres settle. HEPA vacuum cleaners get used on suitable surfaces, but only with proper filtration to prevent re-releasing captured fibres.
Also read: Asbestos-related diseases cause over 5,000 deaths each year
Independent Air Sampling
Once removal and cleaning are complete, an independent analyst (not the removal company) tests the air to confirm it’s safe. This clearance testing follows strict procedures.
Looking for Missed Spots
The analyst first does a visual inspection of the entire work area, looking for any remaining asbestos materials, poor cleaning, or visible dust. Only if the area passes this visual check can air sampling begin.
Four-Hour Air Collection
Air sampling involves placing calibrated pumps at various points around the work area. These pumps draw air through special filters for exactly four hours. The number of sampling points depends on the room size and job complexity.
Background samples also get taken from areas outside the work zone for comparison. This shows whether fibre levels inside are higher than normal environmental levels.
Microscope Fibre Counting
Samples go to a UKAS-accredited laboratory where technicians count fibres under high-powered microscopes. They identify different fibre types and measure concentrations.
The pass level is 0.01 fibres per millilitre of air (measured over four hours). This is extremely low, essentially the same as normal background levels you’d find in most buildings.
Timeline for a Typical Job
| Phase | Duration | What Actually Happens |
| Paperwork and permits | 1-2 weeks | Survey report, HSE notification, waste booking |
| Setting up barriers | 0.5-1 day | Plastic sheeting, negative pressure units |
| Removing materials | 1-5 days | Wetting, cutting, bagging, initial cleaning |
| Deep cleaning | 0.5-1 day | Wet wiping, HEPA vacuuming |
| Air sampling | 0.5 day | Four-hour sample collection |
| Lab results | 1-3 days | Microscope analysis, report writing |
| Clearing up | 0.5 day | Removing barriers, final paperwork |
Duration depends on how much asbestos needs removing
Double-Bagged Waste and Licensed Disposal
While waiting for lab results, the team starts dismantling the containment. All plastic sheeting and equipment that enter the work area are treated as contaminated waste. Even the negative pressure units get cleaned and their filters disposed of as asbestos waste.
Everything goes into double-bagged red disposal bags, then into rigid containers for transport. Licensed waste carriers take it to authorised disposal sites, with detailed tracking paperwork for every load.
Clearance Certificate and Final Paperwork
When lab results show acceptable fibre levels, the analyst issues a clearance certificate. Only then can the remaining barriers come down, and you can use the area again. If the first test fails, more cleaning is needed, followed by re-testing until levels are acceptable.
You get comprehensive paperwork including removal details, waste disposal certificates, and all test results. Keep this documentation forever – you’ll need it for property sales and insurance.
Also read: Can I Bury Asbestos on My Property in the UK?
What You Actually Get
Professional asbestos removal costs serious money and takes time, but every safety measure has a purpose. When done by licensed specialists, it’s extremely safe for you and your neighbours.
Once you get clearance, the area is permanently safe to use. The dangerous materials are gone for good. You’ll have proper documentation that protects property value and satisfies insurance requirements.
Need asbestos removed safely and professionally? Contact TLC Environmental today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our licensed specialists handle everything from the initial survey to final clearance certification, giving you complete peace of mind.
For a free quote, call our team at 01206 240440.