How the HSA asbestos permit system works.

What a HSA permit actually is

A HSA asbestos permit is an authorisation issued by the Health and Safety Authority for a specific contractor, for a specific job, at a specific site, for a specific duration. It is not a general licence. Each new job requires a new permit application.

Before December 2025, Ireland operated a notification system: the contractor told the HSA work was happening and could proceed. Under S.I. No. 632/2025, this changed to a permit system: no permit, no work. It is a criminal offence to undertake notifiable asbestos work without a valid permit on site.

How a permit application works

The contractor (not the property owner) submits the application. The submission goes to [email protected] using the HSA's 2025 Notification Form, at least 10 working days before work begins. The application package includes:

• Plan of Work — describes the job, the methodology, the containment, and the disposal route.
• Site-specific Risk Assessment — covers operatives, occupants, and any passive-exposure risk.
• Training records — evidence operatives are trained appropriately for the work.

Once the HSA processes the application and is satisfied with the documents, a unique permit number is issued. The permit number must be available on site for the duration of the work, and it is recorded on a public register the HSA maintains.

What to ask the contractor

As the property owner, the things to ask for and verify are:

1. The permit number on the written quote — or written confirmation that one will be obtained at least 10 working days before work begins.
2. Confirmation against the public register — the permit number should appear on the HSA's published list before work starts.
3. The Plan of Work — a brief written summary of the methodology, containment, and disposal facility.
4. The disposal facility name — the permitted waste collector and the authorised receiving site.
5. The clearance arrangement — the independent analyst conducting the four-stage clearance, and a copy of the clearance certificate after.

Non-notifiable work

Some asbestos work is non-notifiable — typically small quantities of bonded asbestos cement, intact and undisturbed, removed with the right controls but without a full permit application. Even non-notifiable work is regulated:

• Operatives still need appropriate training.
• The waste must still be transported by a holder of a Waste Collection Permit.
• It must still be disposed of at an EPA-authorised facility.
• You should still receive a hazardous-waste consignment note.

The line between notifiable and non-notifiable is set by the regulations and the contractor should be able to explain which side a given job sits on. If they cannot explain it, that is itself a problem.

Sources

• S.I. No. 632/2025 — Irish Statute Book
• HSA — Asbestos notifications
• HSA — 2025 Code of Practice

Frequently asked questions

What asbestos work needs a HSA permit?

Notifiable asbestos work — which covers most insulation, sprayed coatings, lagging and asbestos insulating board (AIB) — requires a HSA permit. Non-notifiable work (such as small quantities of bonded asbestos cement) does not require a permit, but the waste must still be transported and disposed of through a permitted waste collector to an authorised facility. In practice, almost all friable removal in Ireland requires a permit.

Who applies for the permit — me or the contractor?

The contractor applies. The permit application is the contractor's responsibility and includes their Plan of Work, site-specific Risk Assessment, and training records. As the property owner, you should ask for the permit number on the quote (or written confirmation that one will be obtained before work begins) and confirm it appears on the public register before work starts.

How long does a permit take to issue?

Notifications must be submitted at least 10 working days before work begins. Once the HSA processes the application and is satisfied with the supporting documents, a unique permit number is issued. Plan your project around the 10 working day minimum — that is on top of any contractor scheduling time.

How do I verify a contractor has a valid permit?

The HSA maintains a public register of approved permits. Ask the contractor for the permit number on your quote and confirm it on the register before work begins. A permit is specific to a job, a site and a duration — it is not a general "this contractor is licensed" credential. Each new job needs a new permit.

What happens if work starts without a permit?

From December 2025 it is a criminal offence under S.I. No. 632/2025 to undertake notifiable asbestos work without a valid permit on site. The HSA can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, or pursue prosecution. If a contractor proposes to start work without showing you the permit number, do not let them.