Frequently Asked Questions

You cannot reliably identify asbestos just by looking at a material. It was used in an enormous range of products including ceiling tiles, floor tiles, roofing, wall cladding, pipe insulation, textured coatings, and adhesives. The only way to be certain is to have samples collected by a competent person and analysed by an accredited laboratory, or to have a formal asbestos survey carried out on the building. Any building constructed or renovated before 2000 should be treated as potentially containing asbestos until surveyed. Recent WorkSafe guidance has also indicated that buildings built up until 2016 could contain asbestos in certain materials, so even newer buildings are not necessarily clear.

Not necessarily. If asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, they can often be managed in place through regular inspection and a documented asbestos management plan. Removal is generally recommended for damaged or deteriorating materials, or where refurbishment or demolition work is planned.

Class B removal covers non-friable asbestos, where the material is bound in a solid matrix such as asbestos cement sheeting, making it less likely to release fibres when handled carefully. Class A covers friable asbestos, where the material can crumble and release fibres easily, such as pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, or contaminated loose materials. Class A work carries higher risk, requires more stringent controls, and must be followed by a Class A clearance inspection before the area can be reoccupied.

An asbestos survey is a systematic inspection of a building to identify potential asbestos-containing materials, assess their condition, and evaluate the risk they pose. The findings are recorded in an asbestos register that guides future maintenance and project planning. There are two main types: a management survey for buildings in normal use, and a more intrusive refurbishment or demolition survey required before any building work begins.

A licensed removal contractor will isolate the work area, set up safety controls such as negative pressure units and decontamination facilities, then carefully remove the asbestos materials. After removal, an independent assessor carries out a visual inspection and air monitoring before issuing a clearance certificate confirming the area is safe to reoccupy.

Air monitoring measures the concentration of airborne fibres before, during, and after asbestos work to confirm that controls are effective. Independent monitoring and clearance testing provide legal and practical assurance that the area is safe to re-enter. Critically, the assessor providing that clearance must be financially independent from the removal contractor, meaning they cannot be hired by, or sub-contracted through, the removalist.

Air monitoring measures the concentration of airborne fibres before, during, and after asbestos work to confirm that controls are effective. Independent monitoring and clearance testing provide legal and practical assurance that the area is safe to re-enter. Critically, the assessor providing that clearance must be financially independent from the removal contractor, meaning they cannot be hired by, or sub-contracted through, the removalist.

For small amounts of non-friable asbestos, New Zealand regulations do allow some owner-occupier removal under strict conditions, provided the area is less than 10 square metres. However, for any friable asbestos or quantities above the regulatory threshold, removal must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist. Attempting unlicensed removal can result in significant fines and serious health risk. If you are uncertain, contact Accurate Consulting before disturbing anything.

Timeframes vary depending on the type and quantity of asbestos, site access, and whether the building is occupied. Small, straightforward jobs may take a day or two, while larger or more complex projects can take several weeks and may need to be staged around other activities. A good removal contractor will scope the project in advance and give you a realistic programme before work begins.

Use a licensed asbestos removalist with relevant experience, good references, and robust safety systems. It is also best practice to engage an independent assessor to review removal plans and provide monitoring and clearance services. Accurate Consulting can take on that independent role, ensuring the removal is done to scope and that clearances are issued without any conflict of interest.

Accurate Consulting is an independent specialist consultancy providing asbestos surveying, testing, assessment, and air monitoring services across New Zealand. Founded in 2016, the company has grown to become one of New Zealand’s largest independent asbestos consultancies, with offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch and a senior team bringing over 60 years of combined industry experience.

Yes. Accurate Consulting does not carry out asbestos removal. We operate solely as an independent consultancy, which means our surveys, monitoring, and clearance certificates are impartial and entirely focused on safety and compliance. This independence is also a legal requirement: the assessor issuing a clearance certificate must be financially independent from the removal contractor.

Accurate Consulting is IANZ accredited, holding accreditation for Chemical Testing Laboratory (Airborne Fibre Counts) and meeting ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards. The company also holds ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) certifications. Accurate Consulting is registered with SiteWise, a pre-qualification system that grades health and safety capability for use by main contractors and principal organisations. Accurate Consulting operates a mobile IANZ-accredited laboratory, meaning air monitoring results can be produced on-site without waiting for samples to be sent to a fixed lab.

Yes. Beyond individual projects, Accurate Consulting can help you develop or update registers and management plans, prioritise remediation works across multiple years, and align asbestos projects with your wider maintenance or capital works programme. This is particularly valuable for organisations managing large or multi-site property portfolios, such as school networks or local government.

Contact us with a brief description of your site, your concerns, and any planned works. We will outline the appropriate survey or assessment, provide a clear proposal, and guide you through each step of the process once engaged. We assign a single point of contact to every project to ensure consistency from initial survey through to final clearance.

Yes. Accurate Consulting is accredited under two categories on the Ministry of Education Accredited List of Suppliers: Asbestos Consultants and IANZ Accredited Laboratories. This means we can provide schools with the full independent assessment and testing service, from initial survey through to laboratory analysis and clearance. Schools can engage us with confidence that they are meeting their compliance obligations under the mandatory accreditation scheme now in effect.

Yes. From 1 April 2026, it is compulsory for all New Zealand schools to use suppliers from the Ministry of Education Accredited List of Suppliers for any asbestos-related work. This applies to asbestos consultants, licensed removalists, and testing laboratories. If you are unsure whether a supplier you currently use is on the list, check the latest version on the MoE website or contact asbestos.management@education.govt.nz.

The Accredited List of Suppliers for Asbestos-related Services is the official list mandated by the New Zealand Ministry of Education (MoE). From 1 April 2026, it is compulsory for all schools to use suppliers from this list for any asbestos-related work. Schools should always refer to the latest version directly from the MoE to ensure any supplier they engage remains current on the list.

As an MoE accredited Asbestos Consultant and IANZ Accredited Laboratory, Accurate Consulting covers the full independent assessment and testing side of asbestos work: surveys, testing and air monitoring, asbestos registers and management plans, independent oversight of removal projects, clearance certificates, and staff awareness training. We do not carry out physical removal. We work alongside your licensed removal contractor as your independent Licensed Asbestos Assessor (LAA), which is a legal requirement and a practical safeguard for your school.

No. Accurate Consulting does not carry out asbestos removal. We are on the MoE Accredited List under the Asbestos Consultants and IANZ Accredited Laboratories categories, which covers the assessment, testing, and oversight side of asbestos work: surveys, air monitoring, laboratory analysis, management plans, independent oversight of removal works, and issuing clearance certificates. The physical removal is carried out by a licensed removal contractor, who must also hold their own MoE accreditation. Accurate Consulting and your removal contractor work alongside each other but are always kept financially independent, as required by law.

The full list is published by the Ministry of Education and updated every six weeks as new suppliers are reviewed and confirmed. Because the list changes regularly, schools should always download the latest version directly from the MoE rather than relying on older copies. To verify a specific supplier’s current status or make enquiries about the scheme, schools can contact the MoE at asbestos.management@education.govt.nz.

Many schools were built or extended between the 1950s and 1990s, when asbestos-containing materials were standard in roofing, wall linings, flooring, ceiling tiles, and pipe insulation. A 2023 Ministry of Education business case estimated that around 90,000 school spaces needed checking, with approximately one in five likely to contain asbestos requiring removal or sealing. These materials can be safely managed if left undisturbed, but present a real risk if damaged or if building work takes place without proper surveys.

Asbestos-containing materials were used extensively in New Zealand school construction from the late 1930s through to the late 1980s, with peak use between the 1950s and the mid-1970s. Common materials included Super Six and Hardiflex roofing and cladding sheets, ceiling and floor tiles, pipe lagging, boiler insulation, and textured coatings. As a result, any school building constructed or significantly renovated before 2000 should be treated as potentially containing asbestos until a formal survey confirms otherwise. Buildings constructed after 2000 should also be assessed with caution, as some asbestos materials remained in use in small quantities through that decade. Recent worksafe guidance has indicated that asbestos can be find in elements such as fire doors and as recently as 2025.

School boards and principals are responsible for identifying asbestos-containing materials, maintaining an up-to-date asbestos register, and having a practical asbestos management plan in place. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, they must ensure any asbestos work is carried out by competent, licensed professionals and that staff, contractors, and others on site are informed of the risks. The Ministry of Education provides guidance, but legal liability sits with the board.

Yes. Schools must complete an asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey before undertaking any work that could disturb building materials. This applies even to routine maintenance. The survey must be carried out by a qualified asbestos surveyor and the results shared with all contractors before work begins. Accurate Consulting can turn around refurbishment surveys quickly to avoid delays to planned works.

A licensed asbestos removal contractor carries out the physical work of removing or encapsulating asbestos materials. An asbestos surveyor inspects buildings to identify and document asbestos-containing materials before any work begins. A Licensed Asbestos Assessor (LAA) is an independent party who oversees removal works, conducts air monitoring, and issues the clearance certificate confirming the site is safe to reoccupy. The LAA must be financially independent from the removal contractor. For schools, this typically means engaging a surveyor first to assess the building, then a licensed removalist to carry out any removal, with an independent LAA overseeing the process and issuing clearance. Accurate Consulting staff are qualified to act as both asbestos surveyors and Licensed Asbestos Assessors.

With the right planning, some works can proceed during term time, provided the licensed removal contractor has fully isolated work areas, access is strictly controlled, and independent air monitoring is in place throughout. Higher-risk Class A removal is usually scheduled during school holidays or weekends to minimise disruption and risk. Accurate Consulting acts as the independent Licensed Asbestos Assessor (LAA) on these projects, reviewing removal plans, conducting air monitoring, and issuing clearance certificates. We can advise on what is safe to run in-term versus what should wait for a break, and work alongside your chosen contractor to keep the project on schedule.

Stop work immediately in the affected area, isolate it, and do not allow anyone back in until a Licensed Asbestos Assessor (LAA) has inspected the site. Schools should have an emergency asbestos action plan in place before any building work begins so staff know exactly what steps to follow. If your school does not have that plan, contact Accurate Consulting. We can respond quickly, assess the situation, and manage the process through to clearance.

Transparency and clear communication are key. Sharing straightforward information about where asbestos is located, how it is being managed, and what independent monitoring and clearances are in place helps build confidence in the community. Accurate Consulting can assist with preparing easy-to-understand summaries alongside the technical documentation, so you have something suitable for a board meeting and something suitable for a school newsletter.

At a minimum, management plans must be reviewed every five years. They should also be updated before any refurbishment or demolition work, whenever materials deteriorate, after any removal or encapsulation work, and if new information comes to light. Accurate Consulting can manage that review cycle on your behalf so it does not fall through the cracks between property cycles and board changeovers.