An asbestos management plan is the written plan that regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires once asbestos is, or may be, present in non-domestic premises. It must show where the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are and how their condition is monitored. It must also set out how they are maintained or safely removed, and how information reaches anyone liable to disturb them and the emergency services. Copy the sections below and fill them in from your management survey and asbestos register. Review the plan at least every 12 months, and sooner if something changes [1][2].
Key takeaways
- The plan is a legal requirement for dutyholders of non-domestic premises and of the common parts of blocks of flats [2][3].
- It builds on your register: the plan says who does what and when about each ACM [4].
- HSE expects six elements: responsibilities, the register and site plan, a monitoring schedule, how the register is shared, controls to stop accidental disturbance, and emergency procedures [4].
- The plan can be on paper or electronic, but it must be site-specific and easy to find [4].
- Areas the surveyor could not access must be presumed to contain asbestos until surveyed [7].
Who needs an asbestos management plan?
The duty applies to all non-domestic premises, such as offices, shops, factories, schools and hospitals. It also covers the "common parts" of multi-occupancy residential buildings, such as foyers, corridors, stairs, lifts and roof spaces. It does not cover individual private homes or individual flats [3].
The dutyholder is whoever has a contract or tenancy obligation to maintain or repair the premises. Where there is no such agreement, it is whoever controls the premises [1][3]. You can ask a managing agent to carry out the tasks, but HSE is clear that the legal obligation itself cannot be passed to the agent [3]. Not sure who holds the duty in your building? Read who is responsible for managing asbestos.
What does regulation 4 require the plan to contain?
Regulation 4(8)–(10) of CAR 2012 sets the legal minimum [1]. The table below maps each requirement to a section of the template.
| CAR 2012, regulation 4 | What it requires | Template section |
|---|---|---|
| 4(8)(a)–(c) | Determine the risk, write a plan that identifies the parts of the premises concerned, and specify the measures for managing the risk | 3, 4 and 5 |
| 4(9)(a) | Monitor the condition of asbestos or suspected asbestos | 6 |
| 4(9)(b) | Keep it properly maintained or, where necessary, safely remove it | 5 |
| 4(9)(c) | Give information about its location and condition to anyone liable to disturb it and to the emergency services | 7 |
| 4(10)(a) | Review and revise the plan at regular intervals, and without delay if it may no longer be valid or the premises have changed significantly | 9 |
| 4(10)(b)–(c) | Implement the measures in the plan and record how they were implemented | 5 and 9 |
The Approved Code of Practice L143, Managing and working with asbestos, explains how HSE expects these duties to be met [6]. HSE's own duty-to-manage pages add the practical detail used below [2][4][5][7].
The template: copy these sections
Select a table and paste it into a word processor or spreadsheet; the columns are kept. Prepare one plan for each site. The example rows are illustrative only, so replace them with entries from your own survey report.
Section 1: Premises and document control
| Premises name and address | |
|---|---|
| Building use and occupancy | |
| Approximate construction / refurbishment dates | |
| Parts of the premises covered by this plan | |
| Plan version and date | |
| Next scheduled review (no later than 12 months) | |
| Where the plan and register are kept on site |
Section 2: Roles and responsibilities
HSE expects the dutyholder to appoint a responsible person with the resources, skills, training and authority to manage asbestos. It also expects the plan to name deputies and to say who is responsible for each element [2][4].
| Role | Name / organisation | Contact | Responsibilities in this plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutyholder (regulation 4) | |||
| Appointed responsible person | |||
| Deputy | |||
| Managing agent (if any) | Tasks delegated in writing; the legal duty stays with the dutyholder [3] | ||
| Surveyor / reinspection provider | |||
| Licensed contractor and independent analyst (if removal is planned) |
Section 3: Survey and register summary
| Survey type and date | e.g. management survey to HSG264 |
|---|---|
| Survey organisation, accreditation number and report reference | |
| Laboratory used for samples | |
| Areas not accessed (presumed to contain asbestos) | |
| Location of register and site plan / drawings | |
| Date of last register update |
Section 4: Register extract and risk assessment
For each known or presumed ACM, HSE expects the register to record the type of material, its amount and condition, the dates of the original and latest inspections, a material assessment and a priority assessment. The material assessment covers how readily fibres would be released; the priority assessment covers how likely the material is to be disturbed [5]. Check any priority scores in the survey yourself, because only you know how the building is used [5].
| ACM ref | Location | Material / product | Extent | Sampled or presumed | Condition | Material score | Priority score | Last inspected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: 001 | Plant room, boiler cupboard panel | Suspected insulating board | approx. 2 m² | Sampled | Edge damage | from survey | your assessment | date |
HSG227, A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises, contains scoring algorithms you can use. Other methods are acceptable [5]. For more on keeping the register usable, see how to use an asbestos register.
Section 5: Priority action plan
Give the highest priority to damaged ACMs and to those likely to be disturbed, including by planned work. ACMs in good condition that are unlikely to be disturbed are usually safer left in place and managed. Damaged ACMs should be repaired, protected, sealed or removed, depending on how badly they are damaged. Actions should be clear, time-based and reviewed [4].
| Priority | ACM ref | Action (manage in place / repair / seal / protect / remove) | Licensed work? | Owner | Target date | Completed (date and evidence) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 001 | Obtain advice on repair or removal before the boiler replacement | To be confirmed by contractor | Responsible person | date | |
Section 6: Condition monitoring schedule
HSE requires regular condition checks of ACMs left in place but does not set one interval for every material. Base the frequency on risk, and update the register at least once a year [5][7].
| ACM ref / area | Check frequency (risk-based) | Checked by | Date checked | Condition change? | Register updated? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For the difference between condition checks and a professional reinspection, see how often asbestos should be reinspected.
Section 7: Information and control of work
HSE says you must tell site and building managers, employees, contractors and maintenance workers about the plan. Share it with safety representatives, and give the emergency services information on known ACMs. Occupants who are unlikely to disturb asbestos still need to know where ACMs are in their area and what to do if one is damaged. Contractors need the information before they start work on the building fabric, ideally when they quote [8].
| Control | How it works on this site | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Register check before any work on the building fabric | ||
| Permit-to-work for work near ACMs [7] | ||
| Contractor induction / sign-in and hand-back | ||
| Refurbishment & demolition survey before intrusive work [8] | ||
| Labelling or marking of ACMs and repaired areas | ||
| Information for emergency services | ||
| Information for occupants and safety representatives |
Section 8: Emergency procedure if ACMs are disturbed
HSE expects the plan to include emergency procedures [4], and CAR 2012 has a separate regulation on accidents, incidents and emergencies (regulation 15) [1]. Write the procedure for your site in a few clear steps:
- Stop work in the area and keep people out.
- Tell the responsible person (name and phone: ________).
- Do not sweep or vacuum debris with ordinary equipment. Get competent advice on clean-up and on whether licensed work is needed.
- Record what happened, where, and who may have been exposed.
- Update the register and review the plan, since HSE lists accidental disturbance as a trigger for an update [4].
Section 9: Review and implementation record
HSE says the plan should be reviewed every 12 months, or sooner if necessary [2]. It should also be updated after work affecting ACMs, after changes to staff with management responsibilities, after accidental disturbance and after scheduled condition checks [4].
| Date | Trigger (annual / works / staff change / disturbance / condition check) | Changes made | Actions completed since last review | Reviewed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How to fill in the template
- Get a management survey. It identifies the ACMs that are reasonably accessible during normal occupation and feeds your register. See our management asbestos survey page. If works are planned, read management vs refurbishment & demolition survey before you book.
- Copy the register into Section 4 and validate the priority scores against how the building is actually used.
- Agree actions and owners in Section 5, starting with damaged or likely-to-be-disturbed materials.
- Set up the controls in Section 7 before the next contractor arrives.
- Diary the review (Section 9) and the condition checks (Section 6).
HSE also publishes its own example and blank asbestos management plan templates in PDF and Word [4]. The sections here follow the same elements, so you can use either.
Common gaps in asbestos management plans
- Areas marked "no access" treated as asbestos-free rather than presumed to contain asbestos [7].
- A survey report filed away, with no named owner for each action.
- Contractors not shown the register before drilling or cutting [8].
- No record that actions were completed, although regulation 4(10)(c) requires one [1].
- A plan never reviewed after a change of facilities manager or after building works [4].
FAQ
Is an asbestos management plan a legal requirement? Yes, for dutyholders of non-domestic premises and common parts where asbestos is, or may be, present. Regulation 4(8) of CAR 2012 requires a written plan [1].
How often should the asbestos management plan be reviewed? HSE says every 12 months or sooner if necessary [2]. Review it without delay if it may no longer be valid or the premises have changed significantly [1].
Is the asbestos register the same as the management plan? No. The register records the ACMs, their condition and their risk scores. The plan sets out who manages them, how and when, and it includes the register [4][5].
Can a managing agent take over the duty to manage? An agent can carry out the tasks, but HSE says the legal obligation cannot be passed to a managing agent [3].
Do I need a plan for my own house? No. The duty to manage does not apply to individual private homes or flats [3]. It does apply to the common parts of blocks of flats.
Next step
If you do not yet have a reliable survey, start there. Prepare one written scope with our brief tool, check each firm's credentials, then prepare your request. HSE is planning changes to surveying and clearance guidance, summarised in our HSE consultation update.
Please note: this template is general information, not legal advice. A completed template does not by itself show compliance: the plan must reflect your actual premises and survey findings, and you must put it into practice. Check current HSE guidance and seek competent advice for complex sites.
Sources
- The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Part 2 (regulation 4) – legislation.gov.uk
- The duty to manage asbestos in buildings: overview – HSE
- Check if the duty to manage applies to you – HSE
- Write and monitor an asbestos management plan – HSE
- Create a register and assess the risk – HSE
- L143 Managing and working with asbestos (ACoP, 2nd edition) – HSE
- Put the plan into action – HSE
- Provide information to anyone who might disturb asbestos – HSE
Independent general information. Requirements and prices depend on scope, locality, technical standards and current regulations. Verify critical details with qualified professionals and relevant authorities.