Industrial properties present some of the most complex asbestos management challenges in the UK. Post-war factories, warehouses, processing plants and engineering facilities were built when asbestos use was at its peak — and many contain substantial quantities of high-risk ACMs in locations that are difficult to access and hard to manage around live operations.
Common ACMs in Industrial Buildings
- Pipe lagging and thermal insulation — on process pipework, boilers, autoclaves and heat exchange equipment
- Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) — in office areas, welfare facilities, switchgear rooms and fire-protected locations within factory buildings
- Asbestos cement roofing and cladding — extensive areas of corrugated sheeting on roofs and walls; the most visible ACM on industrial buildings
- Asbestos floor tiles — in office areas, canteens and welfare blocks attached to factory buildings
- Sprayed asbestos coatings — on structural steelwork for fire protection; among the most hazardous ACMs possible to encounter; requires specialist licensed removal
Planned Shutdown Removal Programmes
Many industrial projects are planned around scheduled maintenance shutdowns — periods when production ceases and full access is available. This allows AIB Solutions to maximise scope within the access window, work concurrently across multiple areas, coordinate with other maintenance contractors, and complete four-stage clearance within defined timescales. We understand permit-to-work systems, plant isolation procedures and the constraints of shutdown scheduling.
Emergency Response for Industrial Sites
Accidental disturbance — through maintenance activity, equipment failure or structural damage — requires immediate controlled response. AIB Solutions provides emergency response services for industrial clients including same-day site attendance for confirmed or suspected ACM disturbance events. Stop work, evacuate, isolate, call a licensed contractor immediately — do not attempt to clean up.
Duty to Manage in Industrial Premises
Under CAR 2012, all non-domestic premises must have an up-to-date management survey, written asbestos register and management plan. For industrial clients with large estates, AIB Solutions coordinates the full programme — working with our trusted surveying partners for R&D surveys ahead of planned refurbishments, and managing removal programmes on a phased or rolling basis across your estate. See our industrial services page and our commercial removal page. Also see our construction services for demolition and major refurbishment projects.