Asbestos testing

We provide asbestos testing in Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Nakusp, New Denver, Golden, and everything in between. If your home or building was built before 1990 there is a chance that some of the building materials contain asbestos and you should have them tested before you renovate. Asbestos was used in a variety of building materials due to its durability, strength, resistance to high temperatures, and its low price. We now know that when asbestos fibers are inhaled they become extremely hazardous to our heath and can cause serious respiratory disease. Any amount of exposure can be very dangerous and it should be tested and removed by a professional.

For more information see https://www.worksafebc.com/ or https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/

Contact us today for information about the asbestos testing service that we offer.

Common materials that contain asbestos are:

Drywall mudding compounds, filler and plasters
Stucco finishes
Vermiculite insulation in attic and wall spaces
Textured ceilings
Mastics and sealants used around openings
Window putty
Vinyl roll flooring and vinyl floor tiles
Glue used with vinyl flooring
Duct tape and insulation around heating system components
Gaskets on old plumbing materials
Ceiling tiles
Leveling compounds and mortars
Asbestos ropes, gaskets, and old wiring insulation
Roofing materials, shingles, and felting
Asbestos cement siding and other products
Some sprayed in insulation

Asbestos testing services:
Testing for asbestos and lead is an invasive process involving the safe removal of small samples of suspect materials which are then sent into a lab for analysis. Each material has its own requirements on how much material and how many samples are needed. It is not usually done during a pre-sale home inspection as this causes damage to finishes and is not generally allowed by the owner of the home. Suspect materials will be pointed out during a home inspection but a full inventory of hazardous materials along with bulk sampling takes place once you own the home.

What to expect
Your inspection will start with a phone consultation to determine what the scale of testing required will be. After that an appointment will be made to do bulk sampling on potential asbestos, lead or other hazardous materials. When we do arrive to do the testing we ask that the occupants of the building give us space so that we can maintain a clean area as to not contaminate the area of the home outside of the area being tested. Once the bulk samples have been taken they are sent to a lab for analysis. After we receive the results we will prepare a detailed report and send it to you via email. The report will contain a layout map of the home with notations of where samples were taken along with a detailed analysis of all of the results of each sample. A risk level for abatement during renovation will be attached so that the remediation company that you hire to do the work can take all of the proper precautions.

When do I need to test for asbestos?

Pre-renovation

If the building was constructed before 1990 and you are planning on disturbing any of the building materials you should have asbestos testing done to protect the contractors doing the work and the occupants of the building. Even a small amount of airborne asbestos is dangerous. The most common time we test for asbestos or lead is pre-renovation. For a pre-renovation inspection only the area that is going to be renovated needs to be tested. Other areas can be tested for piece of mind but as long as you are not disturbing these areas it may not be necessary unless there are materials that can be easily disturbed during the normal occupancy of the building.

Demolition

When a building built before 1990 is going to be demolished an inventory of hazardous materials needs to be done to ensure that the contractors doing the work can protect themselves properly when dealing with dangerous materials. This will also dictate the manner in which the building is taken down which can add to the cost if extra care needs to be taken.

To maintain an inventory of hazardous materials

Commercial buildings and residential complexes should maintain an up to date inventory of hazardous materials that are contained in the building. This allows them to update this inventory every time dangerous materials are remediated or encapsulated. It also allows for the monitoring of dangerous materials that may become degraded and more friable (airborn) over time and allow for the timely remediation of these materials.

Contact us today for information about the asbestos testing and lead testing services that we offer.

Asbestos testing in Revelstoke, Sicamous, Nakusp, Golden BC, Salmon Arm, New Denver, Burton, Armstrong, Galena Bay, Trout Lake, and the Shuswap and Kootenay regions.