Recognising asbestos: the duty before refurbishment
Short answer
Anyone who commissions work on a building must give the contractor existing information on hazardous substances. This duty also applies to private households. If construction started after 31 October 1993, asbestos is usually not assumed. If the records are not enough, the contractor checks further before work starts.
Duty of the person who commissions the work
Before work starts you pass on all available information on the building and its use. You use the documents you can reasonably access. The information goes to the contractor in writing or electronically.
For buildings from 1993 to 1996 you name the exact start-of-construction date. If that date is unknown, you name the year of construction. Before 1993 or after 1996 the year of construction is enough.
Duty of the contractor
The contractor checks this information and writes a risk assessment. If the information is not enough, the contractor checks further as a separate service. A technical survey is then a condition for starting the work.
After 31 October 1993 the rule is usually that no asbestos is present. Some products have other cut-off dates in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. Asbestos work may only be done by permitted contractors with the right equipment.
You will find an overview of removal on the asbestos-removal topic page. The exact duties are in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. The technical rules for asbestos work are in TRGS 519.
Official sources
Open section 5a GefStoffV on the commissioning party's duty →
Open section 6 GefStoffV on the risk assessment →
Open section 11a GefStoffV on work with asbestos →
Asbestos-removal topic
Open asbestos removal →