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FAQS · LICENSED MATERIALS
What is licensed asbestos removal and when is it required?.
Licensed asbestos removal is work with the highest-risk asbestos-containing materials that, by law, may only be carried out by a contractor holding a licence from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 draw a clear line: the more likely a material is to release fibres when disturbed, the tighter the controls.
Innov8 UK Group holds a full HSE asbestos removal licence (No. 242606081), so we carry out licensed, notifiable non-licensed and non-licensed asbestos work across Manchester, the North West and the UK.
Written by the Innov8 UK Group asbestos team · Technically reviewed by our Contracts Director · Last reviewed July 2026
LICENSED
Which materials require licensed removal?
As a rule, a licence is required for work with sprayed asbestos coatings, asbestos pipe and boiler lagging, loose-fill asbestos insulation and most work with asbestos insulation board (AIB). These friable materials have a high fibre-release potential and often contain amosite (brown) or crocidolite (blue) asbestos — the most hazardous types.
Lower-risk bonded materials — asbestos cement sheets, vinyl floor tiles, bitumen products and most textured coatings such as Artex — can usually be removed without a licence, provided the work is done with the right controls, training and disposal route.
How licensed work is carried out
Licensed removal is notified to the HSE at least 14 days before work starts. A site-specific plan of work (RAMS) sets out the enclosure, controls and decontamination arrangements. The work area is sealed in a polythene enclosure under negative pressure, with a three-stage airlock and decontamination unit for operatives.
Removal is carried out using wet-injection and controlled techniques to suppress fibre release. All waste is double-bagged, consigned as hazardous waste and removed by a licensed carrier.
Independent clearance before handover
After licensed removal, an independent UKAS-accredited analyst carries out a four-stage clearance: visual inspection and clearance air testing while the enclosure is in place, followed by a final assessment after it has been dismantled, confirming the defined work area is fit for reoccupation. You receive the Certificate for Reoccupation along with waste consignment notes — the documents that record the clearance and the disposal.
Why the licence matters to you
Appointing an unlicensed contractor for licensed work is illegal — for them and potentially for you as the client. It also usually voids insurance. Always ask to see the contractor's HSE licence before any high-risk asbestos work; ours is published in full on our accreditations page.
Need this dealt with?
Explore our
Licensed asbestos removal service, or send a photo of the material via WhatsApp for initial advice. A photograph cannot confirm asbestos; we will explain whether sampling or a survey is appropriate, and provide a written quotation where work is needed.
