Asbestos Soil Analysis
Fast, accurate, and compliant testing for safe land management.
Why Test for Asbestos in Soil?
Asbestos can remain in the ground for decades, often hidden in fill from demolished buildings, old landfills, or industrial sites. Disturbing this soil without proper assessment can release harmful fibres, posing health risks and causing costly project delays.
- About The Service
Why Test for Asbestos in Soil?
Asbestos can remain hidden in soil long after buildings are demolished or land is redeveloped. If disturbed without proper assessment, asbestos fibres can become airborne — creating serious health risks and costly delays.
An asbestos soil assessment:
Protects Health – Prevents workers, the public, and the environment from exposure to hazardous fibres.
Ensures Compliance – Meets WorkSafe NZ and environmental regulatory requirements before excavation, construction, or landscaping begins.
Reduces Project Delays – Identifies and addresses contamination early, avoiding costly stoppages once works are underway.
Supports Safe Redevelopment – Provides the data needed to plan remediation, manage risks, and redevelop land safely.
Provides Legal Protection – Offers documented evidence of due diligence in the event of regulatory review or disputes.
Typical Triggers for a Soil Assessment:
Redevelopment of industrial or demolition sites
Earthworks or excavation in older residential areas
Land with known asbestos history (e.g., previous building fires, landfills, factory sites)
Storm or fire events that may have dispersed asbestos debris
Types of Asbestos Soil Assessments
- Preliminary (Desktop) Assessment Reviews the site’s history, previous reports, and aerial imagery. Identifies the likelihood of asbestos contamination before any soil disturbance.
- Screening Assessment Visual inspection and limited surface sampling. Ideal for early project planning and identifying obvious contamination.
- Detailed Site Assessment (DSA) Systematic soil sampling across the site (surface and subsurface). Laboratory analysis to confirm asbestos presence, type, and concentration. Mapping of contamination zones for targeted remediation.
- Validation / Clearance Assessment Conducted after remediation to confirm the site is free from asbestos hazards. Provides compliance documentation for regulators and stakeholders.
Navigating Asbestos Compliance with Expertise
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre once widely used in products like:
- Insulation and fireproofing materials
- Vehicle braking systems
- Construction materials such as wallboards
- Asbestos cement products such as roofing or cladding
Airborne asbestos fibres can embed in lung tissue, causing irreversible damage over time. Safe identification, management, and removal of asbestos is critical to protecting both workers and building occupants, particularly in environments where asbestos materials may be disturbed or degraded.
Asbestos can also be present in soil, often as a result of historic demolition, landfill activities, fire damage, or the improper disposal of asbestos-containing materials. When contaminated soil is disturbed, asbestos fibres can become airborne, posing the same serious health risks as building-based asbestos. Identifying and managing asbestos in soil before excavation, earthworks, or redevelopment is essential to ensure compliance, prevent exposure, and protect the environment.
Regulatory Requirements You Must Meet
In New Zealand, asbestos-contaminated soil must be assessed, managed, and remediated in accordance with national health, safety, and environmental regulations.
Key Requirements:
1. Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
- Duty holders (PCBU – Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) must identify asbestos risks before commencing work that may disturb soil.
- Asbestos must be identified, risk assessed, and controlled by a competent person (e.g., a licensed asbestos assessor for certain tasks).
2. WorkSafe NZ – Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for the Management and Removal of Asbestos
- Requires asbestos in soil to be assessed in line with recognised methods.
- Specifies that licensed assessors or trained personnel must conduct sampling and that all laboratory analysis must follow IANZ-accredited procedures.
3. Contaminated Land Management Guidelines (CLMG) & NESCS
- National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NESCS, 2011) requires consent for certain land uses where asbestos contamination is above permitted activity levels.
- Soil investigations must follow recognised sampling protocols (e.g., NEPM 2013, CLMG No. 5).
4. Laboratory Accreditation
- All asbestos analysis must be carried out by an IANZ-accredited laboratory using approved analytical techniques (e.g., PLM, PCM, SEM/TEM as required).
5. Reporting & Record-Keeping
- Findings must be documented in a formal report that details the extent of contamination, risk assessment, and recommended control or remediation measures.
- Records must be kept to demonstrate compliance with the HSW Act and NESCS requirements.
- Pricing
Transparent Pricing & Tailored Solutions
All assessments are customised based on your specific needs. We’ll provide a clear quote before beginning any work, ensuring you know exactly what to expect.
Laboratory bulk analysis
Self-sampling (Please take 500g of soil) (Double bag)
Price per sample
$225+ GST
We take your samples
Price per sample
$225 + GST
*For destinations over 20km
$550 + GST
*Includes 1 free sample
- How It Works
Our Process
FAQs
How does asbestos get into soil?
Asbestos fibres in soil can become airborne when the soil is disturbed by wind, excavation, construction, or landscaping. Once inhaled, these fibres can embed in lung tissue and cause serious, irreversible diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Why is asbestos in soil dangerous?
Asbestos fibres in soil can become airborne when the soil is disturbed by wind, excavation, construction, or landscaping. Once inhaled, these fibres can embed in lung tissue and cause serious, irreversible diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Do I need a soil assessment before earthworks?
Yes — if there is any possibility that asbestos may be present, a soil assessment is required under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016. This ensures risks are identified and controlled before work begins.
When is resource consent required?
Under the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NESCS), resource consent may be required if:
Asbestos contamination exceeds permitted activity levels; or
You are disturbing, removing, or redistributing contaminated soil.
Your local council will determine if consent is needed based on site conditions and intended works.
Who can carry out asbestos soil assessments?
Only competent persons — typically licensed asbestos assessors or environmental consultants — can undertake asbestos soil sampling. All analysis must be conducted by an IANZ-accredited laboratory using approved testing methods.
What happens if asbestos is found in the soil?
We will provide a detailed report with contamination maps, risk ratings, and recommendations. Outcomes may include on-site management, encapsulation, or removal of contaminated soil to an approved disposal facility.
Can I still develop my site if asbestos is found?
Yes — with the right management or remediation plan in place, development can proceed. You may need to obtain resource consent and follow specific control measures during works
How long does testing take?
Most on-site inspections and sampling are completed in a day. Laboratory analysis typically takes 2–5 working days, with faster turnaround available for urgent projects.
Will I get official documentation?
Yes — you will receive a formal report that meets regulatory requirements, which can be provided to councils, WorkSafe NZ, or other stakeholders as evidence of compliance.
How do I arrange a soil assessment?
Contact us with your site details, proposed works, and any known site history. We will advise on the best assessment approach and whether consent applications are likely to be required.
Get in touch with us
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