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 begin notifiable asbestos work before the required permit number has been received.

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 days before work begins. The HSA can agree in writing to a shorter period through its waiver process. 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. HSA guidance says the permit number should be available on site for inspection, 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. Whether the work is notifiable, and, if it is, written confirmation that the contractor will complete the HSA process 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, including the independent analyst and four-stage clearance where the assessed work requires them.

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 submission is the contractor's responsibility and includes the HSA notification form, Plan of Work, site-specific Risk Assessment and training records. At quote stage, ask for written confirmation of whether the work is notifiable. If it is, confirm the job-specific permit number on the HSA register before work starts.

How long does a permit take to issue?

Notifications must normally be submitted at least 10 days before work begins. The HSA can agree in writing to a shorter period through its waiver process. Once the HSA processes the application and is satisfied with the supporting documents, a unique permit number is issued.

How do I verify a contractor has a valid permit?

The HSA maintains a public register of current permits. Ask the contractor for the permit number 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 begin notifiable asbestos work before the required permit number has been received. 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.