If you have started looking for an asbestos surveying company in North Wales or the North West, you will have noticed there is no shortage of options. A search returns a long list of companies, most claiming to be experienced specialists. Some hold formal accreditation. Others do not. And from the outside, it can be genuinely difficult to tell the difference. So how do you identify a company that meets a recognised professional standard from one that simply says it does?
The answer, in most cases, comes down to three letters: UKAS.
What Is UKAS?
UKAS stands for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. It is the national body appointed by the government to assess and accredit organisations providing testing, calibration, inspection and certification services. UKAS independently checks that a company’s methods, equipment, staff qualifications and internal quality systems meet a defined national standard. Critically, accreditation is not a one-off award. Accredited organisations are subject to ongoing monitoring and regular reassessment. If standards slip, accreditation can and does get withdrawn.
All UKAS-accredited organisations are listed publicly on the UKAS website at ukas.com, along with their accreditation reference numbers and the scope of what they are accredited for. This makes it easy to verify any company’s status before appointing them.
Why It Matters for Asbestos Work
Asbestos surveying and analysis is a discipline where errors carry serious long-term consequences. An inaccurate survey can leave dangerous materials unidentified, exposing building occupants, maintenance workers and contractors to health risks they are unaware of over a prolonged period. Poor advice or inadequate reporting can trigger unnecessary remediation, significant cost and major disruption. And where an incident occurs and it emerges that an inadequate or non-accredited survey was relied upon, the legal and financial consequences for the duty holder can be significant.
UKAS accreditation for asbestos surveying is held under ISO 17020, the international standard for inspection bodies. Accreditation for asbestos analysis is held under ISO 17025, the standard for testing and calibration laboratories. Together they confirm that an organisation’s quality management systems, analytical methods and staff competency have been independently verified and are maintained to a consistent standard.
For organisations with a legal duty to manage asbestos, using a UKAS-accredited surveyor is the clearest way to demonstrate that the duty has been properly met. Many insurance policies, public sector procurement frameworks and contractor approval schemes require UKAS accreditation as a minimum before an asbestos company can be appointed.
What About BOHS Qualifications?
BOHS is the British Occupational Hygiene Society, the professional body for occupational hygiene specialists in the UK. Their qualifications in asbestos surveying and analysis are the recognised benchmark of individual competency. The relevant certificates are P402 for asbestos surveying, P403 for bulk sampling and P404 for asbestos fibre counting and analysis. Holding these certificates means an individual has completed and passed formal, assessed training in their specific area of practice.
UKAS accreditation and BOHS qualifications are complementary. Accreditation confirms the quality systems and methods of the organisation. BOHS qualifications confirm the competency of the individual surveyor. Both should be in place before any asbestos company is appointed.
Questions to Ask Before Appointing a Surveyor
Before appointing any asbestos company, these questions are worth asking directly.
Are you UKAS accredited, and what is your accreditation number? Any accredited company should answer this without hesitation. Numbers can be verified at ukas.com.
Which BOHS qualifications do your surveyors hold? Ask for the specific certificate references relevant to the work required.
Do you have your own laboratory for sample analysis, or do you send samples to a third party? An in-house laboratory means faster results and more direct quality control.
Can you provide a sample survey report? A real report from a previous job shows the standard and depth of work you can expect.
JB Monitor: UKAS Accredited Asbestos Specialists in Conwy and North Wales
JB Monitor are a UKAS-accredited asbestos surveying company based in Colwyn Bay. Their accreditation number for asbestos surveying is 0294 and for bulk sampling and laboratory analysis is 2075, both verifiable on the UKAS website. All surveyors hold BOHS qualifications, and every survey is carried out in full compliance with HSG264. Their in-house Colwyn Bay laboratory provides fast, controlled sample analysis with 24-hour turnaround available by prior arrangement.
Their asbestos consultancy services support organisations across the region in developing and maintaining compliant asbestos management systems. They work with duty holders managing single sites and complex multi-property portfolios, providing practical compliance advice tailored to the specific requirements of each client.
Clients include local councils, NHS trusts, housing associations, utility companies and major construction contractors across North Wales and the North West.
North Wales: 01492 536 444 | Manchester: 0161 359 3684
www.jbmonitor.co.uk