Who can carry out an asbestos diagnosis in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, carrying out an asbestos diagnosis in buildings is an activity that requires specific professional qualification. The term “asbestos diagnostician” does not correspond to a profession regulated by a federal law in the strict sense, but there is a professional recognition that has established itself as the standard throughout the country: the recognition issued by the FACH Commission.
Any person can theoretically present themselves as an “asbestos specialist” without justifying any recognised training. This is why it is indispensable for the commissioning party to verify the provider’s qualifications before entrusting them with a mission. A report produced by a practitioner without FACH recognition may be refused by cantonal authorities, does not satisfy legal requirements, and does not offer the same guarantees in terms of professional liability.
The FACH Commission: Switzerland’s reference body
The FACH Commission — in German Fachkommission Asbest und andere Schadstoffe im Hochbau, meaning “Expert Commission on Asbestos and Other Pollutants in Building Construction” — is the national reference body for the qualification of asbestos professionals (and other building pollutants) in Switzerland.
This interprofessional commission brings together representatives from construction industry associations, training bodies, federal and cantonal authorities and professional specialist associations. It defines competency frameworks, training programmes, criteria for access to the various levels of recognition, and maintains the register of recognised professionals.
The FACH Commission also publishes technical recommendations on methods for inspecting, sampling and assessing asbestos-containing materials in buildings. These recommendations are essential references for diagnosticians and decontamination companies.
The three levels of FACH recognition
FACH recognition is structured in three progressive competency levels, corresponding to distinct roles in the asbestos management chain in buildings:
Level 1 — Specialist in diagnosis and assessment
The FACH level 1 specialist is the field diagnostician. They are qualified to:
- Carry out systematic visual and tactile inspections of buildings
- Identify suspect materials likely to contain asbestos
- Carry out sample collection according to standardised protocols
- Assess the state of conservation of observed materials
- Draft the diagnostic report with the materials inventory, analysis results and basic recommendations
This is the level required to carry out a standard asbestos diagnosis before works or before demolition.
Level 2 — Expert in remediation planning
The FACH level 2 specialist has the competencies of level 1, to which are added advanced qualifications to:
- Carry out complex diagnoses on industrial buildings or particular structures
- Draft detailed remediation plans defining removal methods, protection measures and controls to be carried out
- Pilot and supervise complex decontamination operations
- Participate in authorisation application procedures for major decontamination sites
- Assess particular situations (rare materials, combinations of pollutants, industrial contexts)
Level 3 — Expert in directing remediation sites
The FACH level 3 specialist is the highest-level expert. They intervene on the most complex sites, are qualified to train other professionals, can supervise decontamination teams and assume technical direction of large-scale remediation projects.
Training required for FACH recognition
Access to FACH recognition is not open to all. It assumes a combination of academic or professional training in the building field, specific asbestos training, and documented practical experience.
Basic training
Candidates for FACH recognition are generally building professionals from training backgrounds in architecture, civil engineering, building technology, construction or the environment. Practical experience in the building sector is generally required.
Specific asbestos training
The specific asbestos training covers:
- Knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of asbestos fibres and their health effects
- The history of asbestos use in Swiss construction and typical materials by period and building type
- Inspection methods and standardised sampling protocols
- Analytical methods (PLOM, TEM) and their interpretation
- The Swiss legal and regulatory framework (OTConst, LPE, OMoD, CFST 6503, Suva)
- Drafting reports compliant with legal requirements
- Individual protection measures and safety procedures
Maintaining competencies
FACH recognition is not permanently acquired. Recognised professionals must follow regular update training to maintain their valid recognition, in particular to integrate regulatory changes, new analytical methods, and sector feedback.
The essential role of the SAS-accredited laboratory
The diagnostician and the laboratory form an indissociable pair in the diagnostic chain. A perfectly taken field sample can give an unreliable result if the laboratory that analyses it is not accredited.
The Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) — the Swiss equivalent of the international EA/ILAC accreditation system — issues accreditations to laboratories that demonstrate their technical competence to carry out specific analyses according to standardised methods. For the analysis of asbestos-containing materials, SAS accreditation guarantees that the laboratory:
- Uses validated and proven analytical methods (PLOM according to the VDI 3866 standard, TEM)
- Has adequate and correctly calibrated equipment
- Regularly participates in interlaboratory tests to verify the consistency of its results
- Ensures traceability for each analysis (reference numbers, sample custody chain)
- Trains and updates its technicians
- Documents its processes in an audited quality management system
The results of a SAS-accredited laboratory benefit from a presumption of reliability recognised by Swiss authorities and sector stakeholders.
How to verify that a diagnostician is recognised?
Before commissioning a diagnostician, several verifications are necessary:
- Ask for the FACH recognition number: every recognised professional has an identification number in the FACH Commission register. This number must appear on the report.
- Verify the validity of the recognition: recognitions are issued for a limited period and require renewal. A number valid three years ago may no longer be so today.
- Verify the level of recognition: for a complete diagnosis with a report, level 1 is the minimum required. For complex projects, a level 2 or 3 may be preferable.
- Confirm the mandated laboratory: ask for the name of the SAS-accredited laboratory with which the diagnostician works. You can verify its accreditation directly on the SAS website.
- Verify professional civil liability coverage: a serious diagnostician holds professional civil liability insurance covering their liability for diagnostic missions.
Cantonal lists of recognised specialists
The cantons of Geneva and Vaud maintain or relay lists of active recognised FACH specialists on their territory. For the canton of Vaud, the list is published on the official vd.ch portal. For the canton of Geneva, information is accessible from the competent cantonal services (ge.ch). These lists constitute the reference point for finding qualified providers in these cantons.
The FACH Commission also has a national register of recognised professionals.
Asbestos diagnostician vs unrecognised “asbestos expert”: what are the practical differences?
This distinction deserves clarification, as the market includes providers who offer “asbestos diagnoses” without justifying FACH recognition. The practical differences are significant:
- Legal value of the report: a report signed by a recognised FACH diagnostician is legally enforceable against authorities and third parties. A report produced by a provider without recognition may be refused by cantonal services when applying for a building permit.
- Professional liability: the FACH diagnostician engages their professional liability by signing the report. Their recognition can be suspended or withdrawn in the event of serious misconduct. An unrecognised provider does not bear this professional constraint.
- Quality of the inspection: FACH training guarantees in-depth knowledge of asbestos-containing materials typical of the Swiss building stock, standardised inspection methods, and sampling protocols. A self-taught practitioner may not be aware of certain less obvious materials.
- Reliability of analyses: the FACH diagnostician works with SAS-accredited laboratories. An unrecognised provider may be tempted to use less costly but non-accredited laboratories, whose results do not carry the same value.
Our approach and commitments
Our diagnosticians operate in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud, applying principles of rigour and transparency to each mission.
- Systematic preparation: before each intervention, we collect and analyse the available information on the property (estimated year of construction, works history, plans if available, nature of the project) to efficiently direct the inspection and anticipate materials likely to be present according to the type and period of construction.
- Methodical inspection: the inspection follows a structured protocol, zone by zone, with particular attention to materials most frequently containing asbestos in buildings of that period and type. We do not neglect less visible zones: roof spaces, crawl spaces, technical rooms, ventilation shafts.
- Justified samples: each sample is justified by the presence of a suspect material identified. We do not take samples to multiply analyses, but nor do we reduce the number of samples at the expense of diagnostic reliability.
- Clear and complete report: the report is written to be understandable by a non-specialist property owner while being technically rigorous to satisfy the requirements of authorities and companies. It contains all information necessary for the subsequent stages of your project.
- Availability and support: we respond to any questions you may have after the report is delivered and explain recommendations if necessary.
For any asbestos diagnosis request in Geneva or the canton of Vaud, visit the asbestos diagnosis quote page or read our guide on asbestos diagnosis in Geneva and Vaud to understand the entire process.