The asbestos inspection is drawn up after an inspection of all materials and building parts that may contain asbestos. For each material or building part containing asbestos, the inventory gives advice to manage or remove the asbestos safely.
The asbestos certificate can only be drawn up by a certified asbestos expert. After the on-site inspection, the asbestos inspector will draw up a report of the asbestos-containing materials present in the home or building and submit it to OVAM to obtain a valid asbestos certificate.
Asbestos inventory mandatory
Drawing up an asbestos inventory has been mandatory since 2022 when selling a home built before 2001. During the site visit, a certified asbestos expert will draw up an asbestos inventory of the asbestos-containing materials present in the building and will then draw up an asbestos certificate.
To obtain an asbestos inventory certificate for the sale of a home, a non-destructive investigation is sufficient with a view to normal use of the building. Large-scale repair, renovation or demolition work, which may damage or expose enclosed materials, does not fall under normal use and requires a destructive asbestos inventory — this is usually the case with major renovations.
Drawing up an asbestos certificate when selling a home
Drawing up an asbestos certificate becomes mandatory during 2022 when selling a home older than 2001. The seller has the inspection carried out and provides the owner with a copy of the asbestos certificate.
The asbestos expert by default carries out a non-destructive investigation in accordance with the best-efforts obligations described in the inspection protocol. The owner can request the asbestos expert to also proceed destructively for all or parts of a property, for example with a view to future work.
- Inventory obligation for the home when sold in 2022
- Inventory obligation for every building owner by no later than 2032
- When renting out, the owner provides tenants with a copy of the asbestos inventory certificate
- Introducing a sectoral quality assurance system of certified asbestos experts
- Drawing up at transfer requires a non-destructive building inspection
- For the common parts within the co-ownership, a separate asbestos inventory certificate is provided
Drawing up an asbestos certificate when demolishing a home
When demolishing a home or building, a destructive asbestos inventory must be drawn up by an asbestos expert. As a demolition body, Tracimat oversees the origin, separated material and correct disposal of waste during the demolition of buildings.
- Demolition, renovation or dismantling work on buildings for which an environmental permit is required
- For all non-residential buildings whose total building volume is greater than 1,000 m³
- For all mainly residential buildings (except single-family homes) whose total building volume is greater than 5,000 m³
- Demolition, renovation or dismantling work as part of infrastructure work with an environmental permit whose volume is greater than 250 m³
- Maintenance work on infrastructure with an environmental permit whose volume is greater than 250 m³
Cost of the asbestos certificate
The cost of an asbestos certificate is not yet known.
Who draws up the asbestos inventory?
- Only a recognised asbestos expert in asbestos inventory
- Best-efforts obligation based on the standard inspection protocol
- Non-destructive: visual, with sampling
Register for the asbestos expert training
Why draw up an asbestos inventory:
- Informing and protecting building owners and users (tenants)
- Identification of risk situations
- Enabling selective removal of asbestos-containing material
- Better insight into the present asbestos legacy
- Useful info for fire services and environmental services
- Avoiding hidden defects at transfer (sale, usufruct, …)
Asbestos inspection data centre
To register the mandatory asbestos inspection when selling a home, OVAM provides for the development of a central, digital database for the registration and issuance of asbestos inventories and monitoring of the asbestos legacy.
The audit sector will maximally combine drawing up an asbestos inventory at transfer with existing transaction-related inspections of the EPC and electrical inspection to complete the data of the Housing Pass (Woningpas).