Ottawa Asbestos Testing Services

OTTAWA ASBESTOS TESTING SERVICES

Homeowners and landlords in Ontario, before your contractor starts your renos or repairs, you are legally required to test for asbestos in older buildings. Ontario Regulation 278/05: "Designated Substance - Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Building and Repair Operations", calls for older materials being tested for Asbestos before being disturbed or removed by contractors or their employees. Ensure your project is compliant with Work Place Health & Safety laws, and safe for you by making testing the first step of your plan. Call us for more information (613)366-5226.

DIYers, Health Canada also warns against accidentally disturbing suspected asbestos containing materials (ACMs). Since asbestos is invisible and common in pre-1990 homes, you should always have materials tested for asbestos before renovating; only a laboratory test can confirm its presence. Improper handling of ACMs can release dangerous fibres into the air that can cross-contaminate your home, and be harmful to you and your family.

Commercial and multi-unit (4 or more) building owners and property managers, under Ontario Regulation 278/05, an Asbestos Management Program (AMP) is also a mandatory proactive requirement designed to prevent employees, maintenance workers, and tenants from being exposed to airborne asbestos fibres that can be released by accidental disturbances of unkown asbestos containing materials. Property owners and managers are required to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) and maintain a regularly updated record that includes friability and present condition of ACMs, training requirements for maintenance staff, ACM damage emergency response procedures, and how to properly document changes. This is all part of what is know as an Asbestos Management Plan, which should be the final result after a full asbestos survey of your property has been completed by an Environmental Consultant.

Our company offers two types of asbestos testing services:

We can schedule a technician to come to your location and complete a full asbestos survey or test specific materials that will be removed or disturbed during renos or repairs, and provide you with the paperwork your need.
Or
You can collect your own samples and drop them off for analysis. Receive the lab results which clearly state if there is asbestos in the samples and in what percentage;

To book a technician, please call (613)366-5226 or email us at info@oies.ca

For sample drop-off, please call ahead at (613)366-5226 for collection, packaging, and drop-off instructions.

SAMPLE DROP-OFF LOCATION
2310 St. Laurent Blvd, Unit 216
Ottawa, ON K1G 5H9

What older materials should be tested for asbestos before they are removed or disturbed?
Some of the most common older materials that can contain asbestos include:

Ceiling tiles;
Duct work wrap;
Vinyl floor tiles;
Air register boots;
Vermiculite insulation;
Textured ceilings or walls;
Stippled (popcorn) ceilings;
Linoleum vinyl sheet flooring;
Plaster over lath walls and ceilings;
Cement/concrete (parging & mortar) materials;
Joint Compound (mudding) between drywall sheets;

ASBESTOS TESTING

If your property was built or renovated prior to1990, then it is likely that some of the building materials used during the construction may contain asbestos. For this reason, if you are considering renovating, then you need to test older materials for asbestos content if they are to be removed or disturbed.

You can book a technician with us to do a walkthrough of your property and determine what materials should be tested that will be removed or disturbed, to collect samples based on your renovation plans and budget, as well as provide you with a written report outlining the findings and recommendations.

ASBESTOS ANALYSIS

We are committed to providing services that meet your specific needs, so we offer this option if you have already collected your own samples and would like to have them analyzed. Just give us a call for instructions and then simply drop your samples off at:

2310 St. Laurent Blvd, Unit 216
Ottawa, ON K1G 5H9.

Please call ahead at (613) 366-5226 for collection, packaging, and drop-off instructions.

VERMICULITE INSULATION TESTING

Vermiculite insulation is friable material that can contain asbestos. It can also be easily disturbed and dispersed. As such, it is highly recommended that only individuals experienced in the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE) handle the sampling of vermiculite insulation found in attics.

Don't risk your health. We enter attics in full PPE to collect samples safely, so you don't have to risk being exposed to airborne asbestos fibers trying to collect samples yourself.

For more information, please give us a call (613)366-5226.

ASBESTOS AIR TESTING & TYPE 3 CLEARANCE

Once disturbed, an asbestos containing material can release microscopic fibers into the air. It is for this reason that older materials should be tested prior to their disturbance, however, this isn’t always the case. In such situations, asbestos air sampling can let you know if a space is being contaminated by airborne fibers, as well as determine exposure levels and necessary cleanup procedures.

Our team can also conduct Type 2 asbestos abatement clearance inspections, and Type 3 asbestos abetement clearance air testing to finish-off your project.

For more information, please give us a call (613) 366-5226.

"Setting higher professional standards because we believe that everyone deserves a healthy indoor environment, and that nothing is more important than your health, your family’s health, and your peace of mind."

OTTAWA ASBESTOS TESTING

Asbestos is considered to be a Designated Substance. This means that by law, materials that may contain asbestos must be tested for their presence prior to being removed or disturbed.

Ontario Regulation 278/05: Designated Substance - Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Building and Repair Operations tells us the minimum requirement for testing materials, safe removal/abatement practices, and post-abatement clearance testing procedures.

Please be aware that in Ontario a specific minimum number of samples must be taken and analyzed to be in compliance with O. Reg. 278/05. You can refer to Table 1 found in O.Reg 278/05 for the minimum number of samples required for specific material types.

Under O. Reg 278/05, a building material is considered to be non asbestos if the minimum number of samples that must be collected for that material are found to contain asbestos in quantities less than 0.5%. Materials with asbestos content greater than 0.5% are considered to be Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).

Any asbestos containing material that is going to be disturbed or removed, must be removed using proper asbestos abatement procedures. Friability is the most important factor for determining the proper abatement procedures to be used during asbestos removal.

Friability refers to a material that “when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized or powdered by hand pressure, or is crumbled, pulverized or powdered”.

Non-friable materials, such as joint compound containing asbestos found between drywall sheets, can be removed using Type 1 asbestos abatement if the amount of drywall containing asbestos joint compound to be removed is less than 10 Square Feet. On the other hand, if the amount of drywall with asbestos containing joint compound to be removed is more than 10 Square Feet, then Type 2 asbestos abatement procedures must be used.

Friable materials, such as non-painted stippled (popcorn) ceiling plaster, requires Type 2 asbestos abatement if the amount to be removed is less than 10 Square Feet. Or, Type 3 asbestos abatement if the amount to be removed is greater than 10 square feet.

Due to its friability and high volumes usually present in attics, asbestos containing vermiculite insulation must be removed using Type 3 asbestos abatement procedures.

For more information, please give us a call (613)366-5226 or email us at info@oies.ca

Our Ottawa ON Services Include:

Ottawa Mold Air Testing, IAQ Assessments, Asbestos Testing, Asbestos Surveys, Pre-Renovation Hazardous Materials Reports, Designated Substances Surveys (DSS), Designated Substances Reports (DSR), VOC Testing, Mold Inspections, Mold Assessments, Remedial Action Plan Drafting, Scope of Work Drafting, and Lead Testing.