The standards are laid down in the following HSE publication:  MDHS 100  - (HSE standard publication- method for determination of hazardous substances – surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos containing materials)

Type 1 Asbestos Survey

Type 1 asbestos survey - presumptive asbestos survey for compliance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002.

Type 1 Asbestos surveys carried out to MDHS100 standard by qualified asbestos surveyors and chartered building surveyors throughout the UK. (These surveys are visual surveys only and no samples are taken to confirm or dismiss the presence of asbestos).

Type 2 Asbestos Survey

Type 2 asbestos survey - sampling asbestos survey for compliance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002.

Type 2 Asbestos surveys carried out to MDHS100 standard by qualified asbestos surveyors and chartered building surveyors throughout the UK. (These surveys involve the taking of small samples of all materials that would otherwise be presumed to contain asbestos, laboratory testing to confirm or rule out the presence of asbestos).

Analysis of asbestos samples must be undertaken by a laboratory that is accredited by UKAS as complying with ISO 17025 (general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.)

All samples taken by our asbestos surveyors are tested by UKAS approved laboratories.

On completion of the analysis the asbestos register will be compiled, complete with laboratory results identifying the type of asbestos identified, its location and condition, allowing the material to be safely managed

Type 3 Asbestos Survey

Type 3 asbestos survey - full invasive sampling asbestos survey for compliance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002.

Type 3 Asbestos surveys carried out to MDHS100 standard by qualified asbestos surveyors and chartered building surveyors throughout the UK. (These are a full sampling and destructive survey that is necessary only prior to major building refurbishment or demolition.)

When a type 3 survey is undertaken the asbestos surveyor will conduct an invasive survey which means there will inevitably by some damage caused in the areas affected by the survey.
It is not necessary to have a type 3 asbestos survey conducted on parts of a building unaffected by demolition or major refurbishment i.e. 3 storey building only having one floor refurbished.

Due to the nature of invasive surveys it is strongly recommended that the areas affected by the survey are not occupied at the time of the survey.