Inquilab Housing Association – Asbestos Surveying Contract

Value: £120,000

Inquilab Housing Association operates to the west of London in Brent, Ealing, Elmbridge, Harrow, Hounslow, Richmond, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Slough managing approximately 1,100 residential units ranging from houses, flats and a hostel. Inquilab Housing Association entered into a JCT contract with Armstrong-York in October 2013 to prepare an asbestos policy and management plan, create and manage an asbestos register and to inspect approximately 800 dwellings and buildings.

The scope of work includes:

Creation of an Asbestos Policy and Management Plan
Working with Inquilab to advise on and prepare an appropriate asbestos policy and management plan, detailing how Inquilab can meet and maintain its asbestos obligations over the next five years and to advise and manage a tender process on companies that are suitable for appointment as specialist asbestos removers. The management plan created by Armstrong York includes for any requirement for specific properties and a schedule of re-inspections.

Create an Asbestos Register
Armstrong York have created and maintained an asbestos register for the whole of Inquilab holdings. The method of storing records was agreed with Inquilab and capable of transferring to their Keystone asset management system via a KGI import routine.

Asbestos Surveys
Armstrong York has undertaken a thorough inspection of the programmed properties, both inside and out, to identify materials that may or may not contain asbestos (ACMS) to satisfy the requirements of HSG264 Asbestos: The Survey Guide. The condition of any identified ACMs was

assessed and appropriate advice given i.e. left undisturbed with management plan, repaired, sealed or removed. A full risk assessment was carried out for all properties containing or thought to contain ACMs.

Separate individual survey reports are provided in PDF format for each property and are identifiable by their address in the file title. The reports are available on our web portal and include and assess the following factors:

• The type of asbestos material or product group
• Its condition
• Its location
• Its vulnerability to damage
• Its treatment, e.g. if sealed or encapsulated

Armstrong-York prioritised from a desk top risk assessment the whole of Inquilab holdings and completed the high priority inspections in priority order. We liaised with residents and managed diary arrangements to gain access to properties from resident information provided by Inquilab. All communication with residents was agreed with Inquilab beforehand. Armstrong-York liaised with the Contract Manager to agree the Project Plan prior to commencement of the service.

Other management consultancy services provided by Armstrong-York to Inquilab Housing Association include:

• Management, Refurbishment and Demolition surveys
• Provision of data into a format suitable (KGI Format) for import into Keystone
• Bulk sampling and analysis of samples
• Emergency site attendance and 24-hour call out
• Asbestos awareness training
• Risk assessments
• Analytical monitoring in association with encapsulation, monitoring or removal
• Providing ad-hoc advice on asbestos related issues
• Attending progress meetings with Inquilab