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Asbestos Laboratory Testing & Training | Consultancy & Survey Specialists
New Zealand wide


Fibresafe NZ offer certified asbestos removal clearance inspections New Zealand wide

We don't remove asbestos, but we're fully licensed to conduct Clearance Inspections following asbestos removal

Fibresafe NZ 's asbestos assessors use an internationally recognised procedure to ensure and validate that an area where asbestos has been removed is fit for reoccupation. When conducting asbestos removal clearances our aim is to provide a fair pragmatic approach to help our clients complete the job without compromising our duties. An asbestos assessor must be separate from the company removing the asbestos to ensure impartiality. All of our licensed asbestos assessors are qualified in the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s proficiency certificate IP404 for Air Monitoring, Clearance Inspections and Reoccupation Following Removal of Asbestos.

Asbestos assessor licences are issued by Worksafe NZ. An individual must be a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner and have relevant experience conducting asbestos clearances. They must have a strong understanding of asbestos materials, their nature when disturbed, and how they affect the surfaces around them. When asbestos is being removed, whether it is an A Class friable material or B class clearances can be undertaken by a independent & competent person.
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Asbestos Classes

It is important to note that some items usually considered as B Class materials have the potential to become friable depending on their condition, how they will react during removal, or if friable materials are part of a non-friable material. Consideration should be taken as to whether an item should be removed as A Class work.  
Friable A Class
Removal of A Class materials requires stronger control measures, as friable materials are very high risk. They have a higher potential for exposure to those carrying out the work. Friable removal of materials such as sprayed coating tend to bring back high air monitoring results and so the level of PPE & RPE for workers must be adequate for those conditions.

Friable A Class materials include:
  • Sprayed Coating
  • Pipe Lagging and Thermal Insulation
  • Asbestos Insulating Board and Millboard
  • Ropes and Paper Products
  • Textured Coatings (Decorative Ceilings)
Non-Friable B Class
Removing non-friable bonded materials is a lower risk job than working with friable materials. The same risks of exposure are present, but the amount of fibre likely to be released will differ greatly. Air monitoring is not a requirement of a B Class removal clearance, but can be an optional method of reassurance.

Non-Friable B Class materials include:
  • Cement Products
  • Gaskets & Washers
  • Bitumen Products
  • Flooring
  • Friction Products 

Defining the difference between Asbestos Clearance & Asbestos Removal 

Asbestos Removal
Fibresafe NZ do everything asbestos, except the removal, and that’s just so we can stay impartial. If you are looking at getting some asbestos removed on your property, we can help you out by gathering quotes and ensuring the right controls are going to be put in place. You can head to Worksafe NZ’s Asbestos Licence Holder Register, where you can search and filter licensed asbestos removal companies by licence type, class of asbestos removal and location.
Asbestos Clearance
If you need an asbestos assessor to conduct a clearance inspection for your removal job, we can offer a professional assessor service with practical considerations to your particular job and site. Just get in touch when you are ready, send through your Asbestos Removal Control Plan, ensure your supervisor is on site when we come to take a look, and we’ll help you tick this job off the list.

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The four stage clearance procedure

1

Preliminary Check
We’ll come have a look at the site's condition and level of completeness.

2

Inside The Enclosure
A thorough inspection will take place inside the work area.

3

Air Monitoring
To detect whether fibres released are below trace level 

4

Without The Enclosure
If all requirements are met, we’ll conduct the final assessment of the work area to check it is fit for reoccupation.
With all stages of the four stage clearance complete, we will then issue a clearance certificate for your client and for your records.

Are you an asbestos removal company requiring a clearance?

If you’re an asbestos removal company engaging Fibresafe NZ to conduct your removal clearance inspection, here are some tips about what we’ll be looking for before and when we come to visit your work site.

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Asbestos Removal Control Plans
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Control Measures
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Removal Work

Asbestos Removal Control Plans (ARCP's)

ARCP’s are crucial parts of your removal work, and also for our assessor work. We need these documents to be spot on so that we understand the scope of your asbestos management needs. They’re also mandatory.

This document also needs to clearly state:
  • Non-asbestos hazards such as slips and trips, work at height, etc.
  • A Method Statement with details of the site, type of work, control measures, item types and conditions, which staff will carry out the work, and transport routes for waste and disposal.
  • A Work Area Plan detailing where decontamination and negative pressure units are, enclosures, all entrances and exits for the removal site, warning signage, and where waste will be contained.

Control Measures

We need to know your control measures. It’s always important to remember which measures work most effectively. This helps to decide whether you are using the best controls for the job.

  • Elimination and Substitution – You’re removing the asbestos, so you could say you’re physically removing the hazard, but have you eliminated non-asbestos hazards?
  • Engineering Controls – reducing the fibres at the source: wetting techniques, H-Class vacuuming with shadowing, access restrictions, barriers and warning signage, tools and equipment, glove bags, wrap and cut methods.
  • Administration controls – Training is a must, but also those toolbox talks and communication can go a long way in improving worker health and safety. Also your SOP’s and JSA’s.
  • PPE and RPE – The last line of defence. Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protective Equipment needs to be adequate for the job. Boots, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hard hats & coveralls must be appropriate for asbestos removal work.
By knowing which control measures are best to use from the start, you can avoid having to elevate the measures used when air monitoring results come back too high.  
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Control Measures

Control Measures

We need to know your control measures. It’s always important to remember which measures work most effectively. This helps to decide whether you are using the best controls for the job.

  • Elimination and Substitution – You’re removing the asbestos, so you could say you’re physically removing the hazard, but have you eliminated non-asbestos hazards?
  • Engineering Controls – reducing the fibres at the source: wetting techniques, H-Class vacuuming with shadowing, access restrictions, barriers and warning signage, tools and equipment, glove bags, wrap and cut methods.
  • Administration controls – Training is a must, but also those toolbox talks and communication can go a long way in improving worker health and safety. Also your SOP’s and JSA’s.
  • PPE and RPE – The last line of defence. Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protective Equipment needs to be adequate for the job. Boots, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, hard hats & coveralls must be appropriate for asbestos removal work.
By knowing which control measures are best to use from the start, you can avoid having to elevate the measures used when air monitoring results come back too high.  
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Removal Work

Removal work and what Fibresafe NZ assessors check

Our duty as asbestos assessors requires us to check much more than just the item being removed. We must assess the job as a whole.

Things we need to check include:
  • Enclosure integrity and design
  • Decontamination units and routes
  • Airlocks and baglocks
  • Negative Pressure Units
  • Worker Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Worker respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
  • Non-asbestos hazard management
  • Site access control
  • Settled dust
  • Waste management
  • Lighting
  • Asbestos Removal Control Plans
  • Worksafe notifications
  • Removal area wetness
  • Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
  • Enclosure integrity and design
  • Decontamination units and routes
  • Airlocks and baglocks
  • Negative Pressure Units
  • Worker Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Worker respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
  • Non-asbestos hazard management
  • Site access control
  • Settled dust
  • Waste management
  • Lighting
  • Asbestos Removal Control Plans
  • Worksafe notifications
  • Removal area wetness
  • Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
                            If you’re concerned there might be an issue with any of the above, talk with us and we can help you find a solution. 

                            Planning and time management

                            We understand the time pressed nature of removal work, but we like a heads up when we’re needed to conduct a clearance, or when you need a little more time before we pop round. To schedule a clearance you can contact us here, or give us a call on either (04) 568 7036 or 0800 333 212. We’ll make sure we’ve got a team member ready for the times you need. You also need to make sure your notification to Worksafe NZ has been sorted for the right time period. This is a great time to let us know to set aside time for your clearance inspection. 

                            Fibresafe NZ welcomes your feedback so we can improve processes

                            When a removal job is done correctly it works out more cost effective for everyone involved. We’d love to help you raise and set the standard of the asbestos removal industry. Feedback is important for us to improve our processes, so we are always happy to provide feedback so you can improve yours too. Fibresafe NZ are able to provide a review of your ARCP, discuss any potential issues that may arise and help find solutions. We are also interested in your ideas for solutions, and like to reward those who continually improve with better rates for our services. If you’d like to provide some feedback for us, please contact us.

                            Talk to Fibresafe NZ when you need professional asbestos removal clearance inspections

                            Fibresafe NZ offers a nationwide service for asbestos removal clearance inspections and all our asbestos assessors and consultants are accredited IANZ surveyors. Our peace of mind processes ensure you meet all the required legislation. We also carry out asbestos surveying, and asbestos air monitoring.
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