Asbestos Inspection and Testing

Canada has been limited asbestos since the '80s and banned it in 2018. However, it remains a serious concern in older buildings that poses significant health risks. In this post, we’re going to explore the asbestos inspection and assessment, discovering why it is so important and what you should expect from it.

What is asbestos? Common uses

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral widely used for its heat resistance and insulation properties throughout the 20th century especially before and mid-1980s. In Canada, it was commonly used in insulation (spray-on fireproofing, pipe lagging, vermiculite), asbestos ceiling tiles, cement shingles and siding, flooring tiles, and automotive brake linings.

If your home is at least 40 years old, asbestos inspection is crucial to identifying its presence in the building; As inhaling its fine fibers can cause serious respiratory diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

What are the common issues of asbestos?

If asbestos is found during your ceiling inspection or attic inspection, the inspector probably will tell you that they are “inactive” as long as they’re not disturbed (damaged or broken). However, asbestos-containing materials (ACM) don’t last forever like this. Here are the issues and situations that can activate them:

Renovations or Demolition

This is the most common source of exposure. Demolition, renovations, or even minor repairs in older buildings can release asbestos fibers into the air (without proper precautions).

Deterioration

Asbestos can degrade and release its fibers over time. This is particularly true for friable or easily crumbled materials like spray-on asbestos insulation.

Improper Removal or Abatement

Attempting to remove or abate asbestos without proper training and safety protocols (and as a DIY project) can lead to widespread fiber release, significantly increasing exposure risks for workers and your family.

Inadequate Air Monitoring

After an asbestos inspection, failing to properly monitor air quality during abatement exposes everyone to harmful levels of asbestos dust. Make sure to work with expert teams to prevent such risks.

If you don’t know any reputable professionals, you may want to ask about it. So, add it to the checklist of questions to ask during home inspection.

Health risks associated with asbestos exposure

Asbestos was once ubiquitous in construction, but today, finding it during inspections equals significant risks. As mentioned above, these hazards mainly stem from the release of fibers, leading to serious health problems including:

• Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease characterized by scarring and thickening of the lung tissue. Unfortunately, there's no cure for this.
• Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, particularly when combined with smoking.
• Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It's almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and has a poor prognosis.
• Other Cancers: Studies have linked asbestos exposure to an increased risk of other cancers, including laryngeal (voice box), pharyngeal (throat), and colorectal cancer.

The risks arise from inhaling the asbestos dust. Once inhaled, they can lodge deep within the lungs, causing inflammation, scarring, and potentially cancer. And since the latency period can be long, the damage is often done before symptoms even appear.

The insidious nature of these diseases underscores the importance of asbestos inspection. Many older buildings in Canada contain ACMs, hidden in walls, ceilings, flooring, and other components. Routine assessments are essential to identify and manage asbestos presence.

How do they test for asbestos?

Asbestos testing in Canada typically involves visual inspection to identify potential ACMs based on their appearance, location, and age of the building. If visual inspection suggests asbestos presence, samples are carefully collected following strict safety protocols to avoid dust release.

These samples are then sent to a certified third-party laboratory (to ensure impartial results) for analysis. The lab report will show the presence/absence of asbestos, and the types of fibers found, if any. Kind of like a lead paint home inspection.

The process of asbestos inspection

The asbestos inspection and assessment process typically involves these 5 stages:

1. Pre-Inspection: Before the inspection, the inspector may review building plans, historical records (if available), and discuss the project scope with you. This allows them to target specific materials that might contain asbestos and focus on high-risk areas.
2. Visual Inspection: They visually inspect building components known to have historically contained asbestos. This includes but is not limited to insulation, pipe coverings, flooring, ceiling tiles, and wall cladding. They assess the material condition and note any signs of damage that could lead to fiber release.
3. Sample Collection (if necessary): If the visual inspection reveals materials suspected to be ACMs, they will carefully take a sample using specialized techniques and equipment to minimize the release of asbestos dust.
4. Lab Analysis: The sample is sent to a laboratory for asbestos testing. The most common method is polarized light microscopy (PLM) to identify the existence of fibers and determine the type(s) of asbestos present. Results are usually detailed in a comprehensive lab report.
5. Asbestos Inspection Report and Recommendation: After receiving the lab results, the inspector compiles a detailed report highlighting the inspected areas, identification of found ACMs, their location, condition, and type(s). They also provide recommendations on how to manage them, which might include monitoring, encapsulation, enclosure, or abatement. (Read more about management programs here)

How to find an asbestos inspection professional?

The easiest way to find qualified asbestos inspection experts in Canada would be to search online. But make sure to check their license and testing methods. Houmse provides a comprehensive list of professionals with their expertise, experience, added values, client reviews, regions they provide their services, and more.

The bottom line

Among all the inspections out there, ignoring asbestos inspection is a true gamble for your health and safety. Schedule an inspection today to make sure your building is asbestos-free.