39 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London

Asbestos Survey Case Study

Kent Asbestos Solutions were successfully awarded the project to complete a targeted refurbishment asbestos survey London to the ground floor and basement area at 39 Drury Lane.

The site was previously used as a fast food restaurant and comprised of a ground floor seating and service area, a basement level with kitchen, multiple store rooms and a WC.

The scope of works entailed a full strip out of all services along with removal of suspended ceilings. With the building being unoccupied, Kent Asbestos Solutions were allowed to conduct the asbestos refurbishment survey with no limitations.

Challenges Faced

During the course of the survey, Kent Asbestos Solutions identified an asbestos insulating board (AIB) ceiling panel within one of the store rooms and it had been severely damaged. Upon closer inspection, the AIB debris was also noted to have been spread into the adjacent room. This was confirmed via positive asbestos debris sampling. It was also noted that electrics within a store room in the basement may be asbestos containing.

Actions taken 

Kent Asbestos Solutions notified our client immediately and instructed that the doorway to the basement be sealed up. This was to prevent any contractors/visitors to site being exposed to potentially airborne asbestos fibres and also reduces the risk of the debris being spread.

We arranged for emergency reassurance air monitoring within the basement area to be conducted the following day. Once it was identified that the airborne fibre levels were below the limit of detection of 0.01 f/ml, our clients felt a wave a relief. We then arranged for the safe removal and disposal of the ceiling panel and associated debris by a licensed asbestos removal contractor, along with the removal of the electrics by a suitably trained asbestos removal operative.