asbestos.ie

Testing · Dublin

Asbestos testing in Dublin.

Most of Ireland\'s qualified asbestos surveyors operate from or around Dublin. Here is how testing works, when a survey is required by law, and what to ask for in a quote.

Verified: May 2026

Pre-work asbestos check
Before relevant work
Lab analysis method
Polarised light microscopy
Lab accreditation
UKAS
Local authorities
DCC, Fingal, SDCC, DLR

When testing is required

Under S.I. No. 632/2025, before an employer starts relevant work in premises built before 31 December 2004, they must establish whether asbestos is present. If adequate information is unavailable, they must arrange a suitable, work-scoped survey by a competent person. Intrusive refurbishment or demolition normally calls for an RDAS; where doubt remains, the material must be treated as asbestos.

Specific Dublin scenarios that typically trigger a survey:

  • Pre-purchase due diligence on a Victorian, Edwardian, mid-century or 1970s–80s Dublin property
  • Refurbishment of a vacant property under the Croí Cónaithe grant (see the grants guide)
  • Solar PV install on a pre-2000 roof (most installers refuse to work on asbestos cement)
  • Internal insulation or extension work on pre-2000 housing stock
  • Council-housing refurbishment by DCC, Fingal, SDCC or DLR contractors

Which survey type

Two survey types cover most Dublin scenarios:

  • Management survey: non-intrusive, identifies materials in accessible locations. For ongoing-use assessment.
  • RDAS (refurbishment/demolition): intrusive and scoped to materials the planned work may disturb. It is commonly used where refurbishment or demolition requires concealed areas to be inspected.

See the survey types guide for detail.

What does it cost in Dublin?

We do not publish typical Dublin survey prices because there are none we can verify. Asbestos survey work in Dublin is quoted per job by the surveyor against the property and the survey type. Ask for a written quote. The survey is your responsibility and your cost. Don\'t commit to a refurbishment budget before you have it.

Finding a Dublin surveyor

Tell us what you need surveyed: pre-purchase assessment, pre-refurbishment RDAS or suspected-material confirmation. We show you survey specialists listed as covering Dublin and try to email you the same list. You choose who to contact and compare.

Request a Dublin asbestos survey quote

Tell us your area within Dublin, the property type, and what you need surveyed. We show you survey specialists listed as covering Dublin and try to email you the same list, so you can contact them directly and compare quotes.

  • Specialists for your county. We use your county and job type to show firms listed as covering your area.
  • You're in control. Contact them yourself and compare quotes. No waiting to be called back, no bidding war.
  • Your details aren't sold. No marketing, no follow-up, no contact list. A copy of your enquiry comes to asbestos.ie for site administration.
  • Honest about supply. Asbestos specialists in Ireland are few and often booked up. Contacting two or three is worth it.

Republic of Ireland only. For an urgent on-site exposure incident, contact the HSA directly.

When you submit, we show you specialists listed as covering your area and try to email you the same list. A copy of your enquiry comes to asbestos.ie. We do not sell, publish or pass your details to contractors. You choose who to contact. See our privacy notice for what we collect, how long we keep it, and your GDPR rights.

Frequently asked questions

How many asbestos surveyors operate in Dublin?

Most of Ireland's qualified asbestos surveyors operate from or around Dublin. Several firms hold relevant competence (BOHS P402 or equivalent) and use UKAS-accredited laboratories for sample analysis. Dublin has the densest supply in Ireland, but the absolute number is still modest.

What does an asbestos survey cost in Dublin?

There is no published price list for asbestos surveys in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland. Costs vary by property size, the type of survey (management vs RDAS), and how intrusive the sampling needs to be. Ask the surveyor for a written quote against your property and the type of survey you need.

Which Dublin local authority handles surveys?

None. Asbestos surveys are commissioned by the property owner from a competent person (a qualified surveyor); they are not arranged by the local authority. The four Dublin local authorities (Dublin City Council, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown) are involved if your works require planning permission or if you are using a local-authority grant scheme such as Croí Cónaithe.

Where do Dublin samples get analysed?

Samples taken in Dublin go to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for analysis under polarised light microscopy. Most surveyors use UK-based labs because of the concentration of UKAS-accredited asbestos analysis facilities in the UK. The lab returns a written result identifying whether asbestos is present and the fibre type if so.