HSG264 report structure guide
HSG264 doesn't mandate a report template, but it does set clear expectations about what a report must contain. This guide walks through a report structure that maps cleanly onto those expectations — section by section, in the order they typically appear.
Cover page and identification
Every report needs unambiguous identification: client, property, survey reference, survey type, surveyor name, inspection date and report version. Defensibility depends on knowing exactly which report is being discussed.
Executive summary
A short summary of survey type, scope, headline findings (number of ACMs, highest risk score, urgent recommendations) and limitations. The executive summary is what duty-holders read first and act on.
Methodology and scope
State which HSG264 survey type was carried out, the areas inspected, the inspection method, the limitations of access and any presumptions made. This is the section that determines what the report covers — and what it deliberately does not.
ACM register
The structured register of every ACM found or presumed. Each entry should carry the fields a competent reviewer needs to understand and act on the finding.
- Item reference and room/location
- Material type
- Extent and condition
- Surface treatment and accessibility
- Material assessment score components and total
- Sample reference and analytical result (R&D)
- Recommended action
Photographic evidence
Photo plates attached to the report, captioned and cross-referenced to the ACM register. A reviewer should be able to move between the register entry and the corresponding photo without searching.
Recommended actions and priority
A consolidated action schedule sorted by priority. Duty-holders use this to plan management, remediation and works — it has to be readable on its own.
Surveyor declaration and competence
Signed declaration of the competent surveyor, with evidence of competence (qualifications, accreditation) and the date of the inspection. HSG264 is explicit on this point — the report must be traceable to a competent person.
Appendices
Floor plans, analytical certificates (R&D), reference photographs and any sampling logs. Appendices are where the underlying evidence lives — they should be referenced from the main report, not free-standing.
Takeaway
Structure the report so each HSG264 expectation has a clear home — identification, methodology, register, evidence, recommendations, declaration, appendices. A consistent structure makes the report easier to write, easier to review and easier to defend.