Independent Testing Guide | Alberta
Asbestos testing means a trained consultant takes a small sample and a lab checks it for fibres. Here is how it works in Alberta, who should do it, and what to do with the result.
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Asbestos testing is how you find out if a material contains asbestos. You cannot tell by looking. A trained person takes a small sample of the material, and a lab checks it under a microscope. You may also hear it called an asbestos inspection or a survey.
Asbestos is a group of mineral fibres once used in flooring, glue, ceiling texture, drywall compound and insulation. The fibres only hurt when they get into the air and are breathed in. That is why the test comes before any work that could disturb the material.
Enviro Surface Removers does the removal. We do not do the testing. An independent consultant does. This page explains how it works, so you know what to expect when you have to test for asbestos.
If the building is old enough, yes. Under Alberta’s OHS Code, flooring from before the early 1990s is presumed to contain asbestos unless testing proves otherwise. Testing for asbestos is how you prove it either way.
The rules around the job matter too. Alberta’s OHS Code says building materials that could release asbestos fibres must be removed before a demolition. The employer must tell Alberta OHS 72 hours before work that may release fibres. See the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual.
Cities also ask for proof. In Calgary, a renovation or demolition permit needs an asbestos abatement information form. In Edmonton, a renovation or alteration application needs written notice about asbestos, such as a consultant’s letter of clearance or completion. See the City of Edmonton asbestos and utilities form. Check with your city, and ask us if you are not sure.
This is the right choice. A consultant is trained to find suspect materials, take samples safely and read a lab report. The consultant works for you and has no removal job to sell after the result.
A home inspection is usually a visual check. Asbestos needs a lab result, so ask whether sampling and lab work are part of the service. If they are not, you still need a consultant.
A kit asks you to break off a piece of the material and mail it to a lab. Breaking it is the risky part, because it can release the fibres you are checking for. We do not recommend it. See the section on testing yourself below.
Good asbestos sample testing follows a set order. Here are the seven steps a consultant takes, from the first walk-through to the report.
The consultant walks the space and lists every suspect material, such as floor tile, glue, ceiling texture, drywall compound, insulation and pipe wrap.
The consultant decides how many samples each material needs. Each layer is sampled on its own, such as the tile and the glue under it.
The spot is wetted and the area is sealed off, so the cut does not throw fibres into the air.
A small piece is cut out and sealed in a labelled bag. The spot is then sealed or patched.
The samples go to a laboratory with a record of who handled them. This record is called chain of custody.
The lab reads each sample under a microscope and reports whether asbestos is present and what type it is.
The consultant sends a report that lists each material and its result. It also says what to do next.
These three checks sound alike, but each answers a different question.
| Type | What is checked | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk sample | A small piece of a material | Before the work, to learn if the material has asbestos |
| Air sample | Fibres floating in the air | Around the work, to check the air |
| Clearance | The air and surfaces after abatement | After abatement, before the area is reopened |
Most homeowners need a bulk sample first. Air testing and clearance come later, if the material has asbestos and has to come out. A consultant does all three. See how clearance fits into a job on our asbestos removal and abatement page.
The most common method is polarized light microscopy, or PLM. A technician looks at the sample under polarized light. Different asbestos fibres show different features, so the lab can name the type.
Transmission electron microscopy, or TEM, uses an electron beam and can find fibres too small for a regular microscope. Labs use it for some materials and for many air samples. Air samples are also counted with phase contrast microscopy, or PCM.
The method depends on the material and the job. The consultant picks it and explains the result. Alberta’s Asbestos Abatement Manual has a chapter on sampling and analysis that sets out how this work should be done. Ask which method was used and which lab did the work.
Each layer is its own sample. The tile can be clear while the glue under it is not. If you want to know where to get tile tested for asbestos, the answer is a consultant, not a flooring store.
The sample did not contain asbestos. The work can go ahead with normal dust control. Keep the report in case a contractor or the city asks for it.
The material contains asbestos. If it is in good shape and will not be disturbed, it can often be left alone. If the work will disturb it, it has to be removed under Alberta’s rules first. That is abatement. OHS is told, the area is sealed and the waste is handled as asbestos waste. See our asbestos removal and abatement page.
The consultant checks the area and issues a clearance. That is the kind of paper Edmonton asks for with a renovation application.
Testing is priced by the consultant, not by us. The cost of asbestos testing depends on a few things.
Ask for a written quote before the consultant starts. Lab time is often the slowest step, so book the testing before you book the trades.
You can buy a kit and mail in a sample. It is not a good idea. Cutting or breaking a material is what releases fibres. A rough sample can also miss asbestos that sits in another layer or another room.
If you are worried about a material, do not touch it. Keep people out of the area and call a consultant. Do not sweep it up or run a regular vacuum over debris, because that spreads the fibres.
If tile or plaster is already broken, read our asbestos floor tiles guide for what to do next.
Good asbestos testing services answer these questions without hesitation. Ask any asbestos testing company before you hire.
We remove asbestos. We do not test for it. A company that tests and removes has a reason to find more to remove. Keeping the two jobs apart protects you. The consultant works for you, and our crew works to the consultant’s report.
Our crew is certified for asbestos abatement, and the crew renews that certification with a course every couple of years. If your report is positive, we do the abatement. See how it works on our asbestos removal and abatement page.
If you are searching for an asbestos test near me, you need a consultant in your own area. Calgary, Edmonton and most Alberta towns have them. We do not name one, so the choice stays yours.
Our crews work in Calgary and Edmonton and the areas around them. Once your results are in, call the office closest to you. For city details, see our Calgary and Edmonton pages. Testing often comes before interior demolition and commercial demolition.
Calgary: 403-874-3000
Edmonton: 780-977-2444
Once you have your report, call us. We will read it with you and walk through the abatement scope.