The asbestos register: what it is, who needs one, and what it must contain
The asbestos register is the central document of any asbestos management system. It records the location, condition, and risk rating of every asbestos-containing material in a building. This guide explains what the register must contain, who is responsible for it, and how to keep it up to date.
What is the asbestos register?
The legal basis and practical purpose
The asbestos register is a legal requirement under Regulation 4 of CAR 2012. It must be maintained by the dutyholder for all non-domestic premises and must be made available to anyone who may disturb asbestos-containing materials.
The register is not just a compliance document — it is a practical safety tool. Before any maintenance, renovation, or construction work begins in a building, the contractor must be shown the register. This ensures they know where asbestos is, what condition it is in, and what precautions are required. Without a register, contractors may unknowingly disturb asbestos and expose themselves and others to fibres.
The register is produced as part of a management survey. The surveyor identifies and assesses all accessible asbestos-containing materials, records their location and condition, and provides a risk rating for each. The dutyholder then uses this information to produce a management plan — the document that sets out what will be done about each ACM.
The register must be kept up to date. If an ACM is removed, the register must be updated. If the condition of an ACM changes, the register must be updated. If a new ACM is discovered during maintenance work, it must be added to the register. The register is a living document, not a one-off exercise.
What the register must contain
The seven elements of a compliant asbestos register
Location of each ACM
Floor, room, building element (e.g. "Ground floor plant room — pipe lagging on hot water pipe"). Include a floor plan or photograph where possible.
Type of material
Asbestos cement, Artex, floor tiles, AIB, lagging, etc. Include the fibre type if known (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite).
Condition
Scored using the standard material assessment algorithm: score 0–3 for each of four factors (extent of damage, surface treatment, asbestos type, material type). Total score determines priority.
Risk rating
Based on the material assessment score and the priority assessment (likelihood of disturbance). Determines the management action required.
Management action
Monitor, encapsulate, repair, or remove. The action and its rationale should be recorded.
Review dates
The date of the last inspection and the date of the next scheduled inspection. High-risk ACMs should be inspected more frequently.
Removal records
When an ACM is removed, the register should be updated to record the date of removal, the contractor, and the waste consignment note reference.
Who is responsible?
The dutyholder's obligations
The dutyholder — the person responsible for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises — is responsible for maintaining the asbestos register. In practice, this is usually the building owner, the employer, or the facilities manager. See our duty to manage guide for a full explanation of who the dutyholder is.
The dutyholder does not have to produce the register themselves — they commission a management survey from a competent surveyor, who produces the register as part of the survey output. The dutyholder then has a legal obligation to maintain the register, keep it up to date, and make it available to contractors.
Sharing the register with contractors: Before any maintenance or construction work begins, the dutyholder must provide the contractor with access to the relevant parts of the register. This is a legal obligation, not a courtesy. Failure to do so can result in prosecution if a contractor is exposed to asbestos as a result.
Frequently asked questions
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