What we did
Innov8 UK Group removed asbestos insulating board ceiling tiles from the kitchen at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Edward Street, Widnes (WA8 0BW), ahead of a planned refurbishment of the school kitchen. The tiles were confirmed as containing chrysotile and amosite and were in good condition, fixed into the ceiling structure.
The work was HSE notifiable and an ASB5 notification was submitted before the works began. The whole programme was scheduled into the summer holiday period so the school was closed and unoccupied throughout, with teaching unaffected.
Removal was carried out inside a fully sealed negative pressure enclosure by licensed operatives. Tiles were pre-saturated, released and withdrawn intact wherever possible, bagged immediately and removed as hazardous waste under consignment note. The area was handed back following independent four-stage clearance.
Scope of works & method
Overview of works Removal of AIB ceiling tiles from the kitchen area of the school under fully controlled conditions, to facilitate a planned refurbishment of the kitchen. A site visit was carried out on 13 July 2026 to assess the works before the plan of work was issued.
Segregation & enclosure set-up Barrier tape segregation and asbestos warning signage established secure exclusion zones and prevented unauthorised access. A fully sealed negative pressure enclosure was erected to the kitchen area, complete with bag-locks and decontamination arrangements, and remained operational throughout the licensed works.
Controlled removal A mobile tower scaffold, erected and tagged by a PASMA-trained operative, provided safe access at ceiling level. Each tile was pre-saturated with surfactant applied by hand pump sprayer and kept continuously damp, then released with hand tools and withdrawn intact wherever possible — never forced or snapped out. Class H shadow vacuuming and fine-mist suppression were maintained throughout, with each tile bagged and sealed at the neck immediately on removal.
Waste & handover All arisings, including enclosure waste, were double-bagged and removed as hazardous asbestos waste under consignment note to a licensed transfer facility. The kitchen was handed back to the school following independent four-stage clearance, with a full documentation pack issued on completion.
Working around the school The school was closed for the summer holidays for the duration of the works. Access and waste transit routes were managed and monitored throughout, with waste runs carried out during agreed low-traffic periods. The kitchen area was sealed and locked at the end of every shift.
