Managing Asbestos and Compliance in Education Estates

Department for Education 
Asbestos Management Requirements

In April 2025, to ensure effective asbestos management and safety for all staff and students, the Department for Education reinforced the HSE's guidance, requiring all schools, academies and colleges to have:
1. A professionally managed Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)
2. Up-to-date asbestos surveys and location registers
3. Documented risk assessments and review cycles
4. Clear communication protocols for staff and contractors

Your Obligations Solved with CAFM
CAFM Asbestos and Compliance modules will help you meet your regulatory requirements easily and simply. CAFM will:
1. Help manage your Asbestos Management Plan
2. Store and manage your asbestos surveys and location register
3. Store and manage both planned and reactive works
4. Help you share relevant information with staff and contractors
5. Provide the evidence to show you are managing all the requirements 
6. Help you facilitate all your compliance obligations 

Read on for further information, or download 3i Studio's guide to Managing Asbestos and Compliance in Education Estates with CAFM Software HERE.

What are my obligations?
If you are the duty holder, responsible for the maintenance and repair in a school or education building, ensuring you are complying with the HSE’s strict guidance on managing asbestos can be a heavy burden. You are called upon to have:
 
Asbestos Management Plan (AMP)
Your Asbestos Management Plan outlines the procedures and arrangements for managing asbestos risks within your buildings. It should include details on who is responsible for what, when inspections and assessments are due, and what actions will be taken if problems are found.

Up-to-date Asbestos Surveys and Location Registers
You must have accurate records of where Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) are located within your buildings. These records should be regularly updated, especially after any renovations or repairs.
 
Documented Risk Assessments and Review Cycles
You need to assess the risks associated with ACMs, document these assessments, and review them regularly to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
 
Clear Communication Protocols
You must ensure that staff, contractors, and anyone else who may be working with or around ACMs are aware of the risks and how to manage them safely. This includes providing clear instructions on what to do if asbestos is disturbed and who to contact. 

Your solution - CAFM Asbestos and Compliance Modules

Asbestos Register
A good CAFM solution will contain a comprehensive register of all your asbestos locations and associated risks, including the type of ACM, its condition, and the level of risk. This will include up-to-date survey data, along with reminders of when the next inspections and assessments are due. Your asbestos register will hold and manage everything you need for your Asbestos Management Plan.
 
All Your Information in One Place
CAFM software will store all your asbestos-related information, including survey reports, test results, plans, and risk assessments, in a single database that can be accessed securely by whomever needs access to it. And as you can set the access levels, you can decide how much information a user is able to view, and what information they are able to change, add or update. This all runs live, in real time, so your information is always up-to-date.
 
CAD Integration
CAFM systems integrate directly with CAD software, allowing you and your users to visually see your asbestos information on your floor plans. 

Compliance Management and Reporting
Whilst managing your asbestos compliance requirements, your CAFM systems can also store all your certificates in its Compliance Certificate Register, as well as generate the reports you require to demonstrate your compliance with the asbestos regulations. These reports are normally pre-loaded within the software, so you can swiftly and simply access all the information you need under your duty to manage asbestos in buildings, as outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 
 
Work Order Generation and Management
CAFM will help you generate work orders for your asbestos-related tasks, enabling you to give clear and detailed instructions on what is required, as well as providing you with full tracking as the works progress. Your contractors can add photographs to their job, and ask questions as they go, so you don’t need the delay of a visit to site in order to look at what is happening if you need to answer their queries or make a swift decision.
 
Education and Communication Records
CAFM can help you share information to anyone in the buildings who need to be advised of the risks and issues, particularly regarding potential asbestos hazards, whilst keeping a detailed record of who has been notified, and when. Additionally, with instant access to emergency information, it will hold all the required information on what to do if asbestos is disturbed and who to contact. 
 
Track and Manage Costs
Easily keep track and manage all your past, current and upcoming costs associated with asbestos management. This can include everything from the potential identification and investigation, to the remediation, and of course training. Not only does this help with managing your budgets, but it also demonstrates how well you are managing your duty should you be required to provide evidence in the future.

Free CAFM Guide - Managing Asbestos and Compliance in Education Estates
CAFM experts 3i Studio Ltd have written a guide on Managing Asbestos and Compliance in Education Estates. Download the free guide HERE.

For Further Advice
As CAFM experts, with over 30 years’ experience, 3i Studio Ltd will be delighted to share advice and can even provide you with an online demonstration of their CAFM modules. Get in touch today via email cafm@3istudio.com or our website www.3istudio.com 
 
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