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Planning a renovation, refurbishment or demolition at a commercial property? Before work gets underway, there’s one important risk that needs to be considered: asbestos.
Asbestos can still be found in many commercial and industrial buildings across New Zealand. If asbestos-containing materials are disturbed during construction or maintenance work, harmful fibres can be released into the air.
The good news is that with the right planning and a licensed asbestos removal specialist on your side, asbestos doesn’t have to derail your project. Identifying the risk early means it can be safely managed or removed, helping protect everyone on site and keep your project moving.
Asbestos was used in a wide range of building products because of its durability, insulation and fire-resistant properties. That means it can turn up in more places than you might expect.
Depending on the age and construction of the building, asbestos-containing materials may be found in roofing and cladding, insulation, vinyl flooring, wall and ceiling linings, textured coatings, pipes and other building materials.
This is particularly important to consider before:
You can’t reliably confirm asbestos just by looking at a material. If there’s any uncertainty, professional asbestos testing is the safest place to start.
Finding asbestos halfway through a commercial project can mean work has to stop while the material is assessed and the right controls are put in place.
Testing before work begins gives you a much clearer picture of what you’re dealing with.
Samples of suspected asbestos-containing materials can be safely collected and sent for laboratory testing. If asbestos is confirmed, the next steps can then be planned around the type of material, its condition and the work you intend to carry out.
Taking care of this early can help prevent unexpected delays and allows any required commercial asbestos removal to be factored into the wider project.
If you’re planning demolition or refurbishment work on a building constructed or renovated before 1 January 2000, an asbestos survey may be required before work begins.
The survey helps identify asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during the project, so they can be safely managed or removed before other work gets underway.
It is the client’s responsibility to arrange the required survey. AR Plus does not carry out asbestos surveys directly, but we can recommend and liaise with experienced, independent surveyors. You can also find a licensed asbestos assessor on the WorkSafe register, or we can suggest a local assessor.
Once the survey is complete, AR Plus can use the findings to plan any required commercial asbestos removal and coordinate this with your wider project.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to asbestos removal. Every commercial site is different, and the removal process will depend on the asbestos-containing material, where it is located and the scale of the work.
The process starts with understanding the site and developing a clear plan for completing the work safely.
Depending on the project, this can involve isolating the work area, putting appropriate containment measures in place, safely removing the asbestos-containing materials and arranging approved disposal.
Once the asbestos has been removed, the area is thoroughly cleaned and the required clearance process is completed before the next stage of work begins.
The aim is simple: manage the risk properly, complete the removal safely and allow your wider project to continue with confidence.
Asbestos removal is specialist work, and New Zealand has strict requirements around how certain asbestos-containing materials must be handled and removed.
Working with a licensed asbestos removalist means you have a team with the training, equipment and procedures required to manage the work safely.
AR Plus is licensed by WorkSafe NZ for both Class A and Class B asbestos removal. This allows our team to manage a wide range of asbestos projects, including more complex commercial remediation work.
We can also coordinate third-party testing and air monitoring where required, helping make the process straightforward from the initial assessment through to clearance.
If you’re planning work on an older commercial building, arranging an assessment before construction begins gives you time to understand the site, organise any required asbestos service and coordinate removal with the rest of your project.
It’s a much easier approach than discovering asbestos once walls are already coming down or contractors are ready to start.
Commercial asbestos work can range from removing a small amount of material through to complex, multi-stage remediation and demolition projects.
When choosing an asbestos removal specialist, look for a contractor with the appropriate licences, strong health and safety systems and proven experience working in commercial environments.
It also helps to work with a team that understands the bigger picture. Asbestos removal is often just one part of a renovation, demolition or redevelopment, so good communication and coordination with builders, contractors and other trades can make a real difference.
AR Plus works across residential, commercial and public sector sites and is licensed for both Class A and Class B asbestos removal. Our team can manage everything from initial testing and removal through to demolition, site clearance and reinstatement where required.
If asbestos could be present, getting it checked early can save a lot of uncertainty later.
AR Plus provides professional asbestos testing and licensed asbestos removal for commercial properties, with an experienced team that can help you understand what’s required and manage the process from start to finish.
Planning a renovation, demolition or other work at your commercial property? Get in touch with AR Plus for practical advice and a free, no-obligation quote.
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