How to choose an asbestos surveyor
Last reviewed 23 August 2026
Check the accreditation, then check it again on the accreditor鈥檚 own register rather than on the provider鈥檚 website. In Great Britain the only accreditation HSE recognises is UKAS. The part most people get backwards is that it matters in two different ways: for the surveyor who walks your building and writes the report, UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 is a strong HSE recommendation and not a legal requirement. For the laboratory that measures airborne fibre concentrations, accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. So a firm can lawfully survey your premises unaccredited, and cannot lawfully do your air testing unaccredited.
The accreditations that matter
What each one actually means, rather than the logo.
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UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020
The inspection-body standard for surveying. HSE strongly recommends it, and it is the only accreditation HSE recognises, but it is not a legal requirement for a surveyor.
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UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025
馃敶 Different standard, different status. For anyone measuring airborne asbestos fibre concentrations, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require the laboratory to hold this. Here accreditation is the law, not a recommendation.
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ARCA membership
The trade association for licensed asbestos removal. Members commit to four unannounced site audits a year. Relevant when you are having asbestos removed rather than surveyed.
Sources
Every claim above is checked against the primary text, and the date is the day we last opened it.
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1
Sourcing professional advice and services on asbestos issues
Health and Safety Executive Primary text read and checked Checked 22 August 2026
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2
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
legislation.gov.uk Primary text read and checked Checked 22 August 2026
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3
Asbestos Removal Contractors Association
Asbestos Removal Contractors Association Primary text read and checked Checked 22 August 2026
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4
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
United Kingdom Accreditation Service Primary text read and checked Checked 22 August 2026