Asbestos testing is the first step for almost any renovation, demolition or repair in an older building. It tells you whether there's asbestos, exactly where it is and how much, so you and your contractors can plan the job safely. We connect Kamloops property owners with qualified local specialists who can sample and test suspect materials and prepare the survey report you need.
Kamloops Asbestos Removal is an independent referral service. Testing and surveys are carried out by independent, qualified professionals.
Why test for asbestos?
You can't identify asbestos by sight. It's usually mixed into other materials, and many products that contained it look identical to ones that didn't. WorkSafeBC says that if your home was built before 1990, it's likely that at least some parts contain asbestos, and that newer homes can contain it too if they were built with older materials.
Testing protects:
- Your household, from fibres released into the air during demolition, sanding or drilling
- Workers, such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and renovators who'll be opening up walls, ceilings and floors
- Your project, by avoiding surprises, stop-work orders and costly clean-up partway through a renovation
The hazardous materials survey
In B.C., section 20.112 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation says that before work begins on the renovation or demolition of a building, the owner and the employers responsible for the work must make sure a qualified person inspects the building and worksite to identify hazardous materials, including asbestos. This inspection is commonly called a hazardous materials survey or "hazmat survey".
Under the regulation, the qualified person collects representative samples of materials that may be hazardous, identifies them, and prepares a written report that includes:
- Where each sample was taken and whether it was found to be hazardous
- The methods used to identify the materials
- The location of each hazardous material, which can be shown on drawings or plans
- The approximate quantity of each hazardous material
The report must be available at the worksite. Any hazardous materials that work could disturb have to be safely contained or removed, and the regulation requires written confirmation of that before the work goes ahead. If new suspect material is found partway through the job, it has to be assessed as well.
The survey can cover more than asbestos. Section 20.112 also applies to lead and other heavy metals and to toxic, flammable or explosive materials.
Testing before maintenance and repairs
It's not only full renovations. WorkSafeBC advises homeowners, strata councils and property managers to have asbestos testing done before maintenance work that could disturb asbestos, and to have a qualified person create an inventory of any asbestos present so they can warn trades about the hazards they might encounter. If you're replacing a section of flooring, cutting into a ceiling to run wiring, or opening a wall to fix a leak in an older Kamloops home, ask about testing first.
Materials that are commonly tested
- Popcorn, stippled and textured ceilings and walls
- Drywall joint compound and patching compound
- Vinyl floor tiles, linoleum sheet flooring and flooring adhesive
- Vermiculite insulation in attics and walls
- Insulation on hot water pipes, boilers, furnaces and ducts
- Stucco, roofing materials and asbestos cement siding
- Window putty and other caulking
Vermiculite in the attic? HealthLink BC advises not to disturb it, to keep children out of the attic and not to use the attic for storage until it has been assessed.
What to expect
- Book an assessment. Tell the surveyor about the building, its approximate age and what work you're planning.
- Sampling. The surveyor collects samples of suspect materials and sends them to a lab for analysis.
- Your report. You receive a written report showing where asbestos and other hazardous materials were found and approximately how much there is.
- Next steps. If asbestos is found where you're working, you give the report to a licensed abatement contractor to quote on removal or containment. See asbestos abatement.
Buying or selling an older home?
If you're buying a pre-1990 home in Kamloops and plan to renovate, knowing where asbestos is can help you budget for the work. Ask a qualified surveyor about the options available for your situation.
How we help
Send us a few details about the property and what you're planning, and we'll connect you with a qualified local specialist who can contact you about testing and a quote. There's no charge to request a quote.
Sources: OHS Regulation Part 20, section 20.112; WorkSafeBC: asbestos information for homeowners; HealthLink BC: Asbestos.