Asbestos-containing building materials are still widely prevalent in many buildings. All buildings from before 1994 are considered to be potentially asbestos-contaminated. This means that asbestos fibers can be released, especially during renovation or demolition work, posing a risk to users and craftsmen. A systematic inspection and documentation should therefore be standard for all older buildings. It is mandatory prior to demolition anyway (see article “LAGA M23“).
A professional investigation primarily requires extensive experience of the expert in building pollutants and their locations. The VDI Guideline 6202-3 ("Polluted Structural and Technical Installations, Asbestos – Investigation and Assessment"; 2021-09) describes the required systematic approach for asbestos investigation in buildings. During a detailed inspection, the expert identifies all "suspicions" (i.e., potentially contaminated materials and their locations). Based on a secured statistical foundation, the number of necessary samples is then determined (sampling plan). This ensures that asbestos-containing materials can be identified with sufficient certainty. Only in this way can hazards be excluded and the required proof of "asbestos-free" status for the disposal of construction debris be provided..
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