HSG264 Explained: The HSE Survey Guide Every Duty Holder Should Know

What Is the HSG264 Asbestos Survey Guide?

HSG264, titled “Asbestos: The Survey Guide,” is published by the Health and Safety Executive and sets out the recognised methodology for carrying out asbestos surveys in the UK. It defines the different survey types, the competencies a surveyor needs, and the standards a report should meet. While CAR 2012 sets the legal duty, HSG264 is the practical guidance that shows how that duty should be met in practice.

The Two Survey Types HSG264 Sets Out

• Management Survey – for occupied buildings, to locate ACMs likely to be disturbed during normal use and maintenance, forming the basis of the asbestos register
• Refurbishment and Demolition Survey – a fully intrusive survey for areas about to be disturbed by construction, refurbishment or demolition work

Why Following the HSG264 Asbestos Survey Guide Matters for Duty Holders

A survey carried out to HSG264 standards gives you a defensible position if the HSE ever asks how you have met your duty to manage under CAR 2012. It also means your surveyor should hold recognised qualifications, most commonly BOHS P402 for building surveys and P405 for the management of asbestos in buildings, and should follow a consistent, repeatable methodology rather than an ad-hoc inspection.

What a Compliant Report Should Include

Under HSG264, a report should clearly set out the survey type carried out, the areas inspected, sample results where taken, a risk assessment for each material identified, and clear recommendations for management or removal. If your existing report is missing any of these, it may not meet the standard required to demonstrate compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HSG264 itself a legal requirement?

HSG264 is guidance rather than law, but it describes the recognised way of meeting your legal duty under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, so following it is the standard expected by the HSE.

How do I know if my surveyor follows HSG264?

Ask whether they hold BOHS P402 and P405 qualifications and whether their reports are structured around the management and refurbishment and demolition survey types HSG264 describes.

Does HSG264 apply to domestic properties?

The guidance applies most directly to non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings, though the same survey methodology is used for surveys on individual domestic properties too.