Asbestos Testing Hamilton
Asbestos testing Hamilton owners arrange before a renovation, repair or demolition is the way to find out whether a material contains asbestos, because appearance cannot tell you.
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Why Hamilton's older buildings are tested before work
Hamilton has a large stock of buildings from the first half of the twentieth century and the decades after the war: brick houses in Westdale, Durand and Corktown, apartment buildings in the lower city, commercial blocks downtown and postwar bungalows on the Mountain. Many have been altered several times. Plaster, floor tile, pipe wrap, ceiling texture and cement products from those decades are the materials people ask us about before they open a wall or lift a floor.
Plaster that looks like any other plaster, or a tile that looks like any other tile, may or may not contain asbestos. Only laboratory analysis can say, which is why sampling comes before demolition, a kitchen renovation or a flooring change.
What the regulation says about method
Ontario's regulation on asbestos for construction projects and in buildings, O. Reg. 278/05, defines asbestos-containing material as material that contains 0.5 per cent or more asbestos by dry weight. Section 3 says the method for establishing whether a material is asbestos-containing, its content and the type of asbestos must follow U.S. EPA Test Method EPA/600/R-93/116 for bulk building materials. The procedures are to be carried out on bulk samples collected at random by a competent worker, representative of each area of homogeneous material, and Table 1 sets the minimum number of samples for an area. This is general information about the regulation, not legal advice.
How a Hamilton sampling visit works
- Scope the workWe identify which materials your planned renovation or repair would disturb.
- Collect samplesRepresentative bulk samples are taken with care to limit dust, and the spot is repaired.
- Laboratory analysisSamples go to an accredited laboratory for analysis by the required method.
- ReportWe explain what the results mean for the project and what controls apply if asbestos is found.
Typical Hamilton materials we are asked to sample
- Plaster and plaster base coats in older houses
- Vinyl and asphalt floor tile and the adhesive beneath it
- Textured or stippled ceilings
- Wrap on old heating pipes and boilers
- Cement board, siding and roofing products
- Joint compound in drywall seams
A note for owners of Hamilton rental properties
Section 2(4) of the regulation says it does not apply to the owner of a private residence occupied by the owner or the owner's family, or to the owner of a residential building with not more than four dwelling units, one of which is occupied by the registered owner or family. Landlords of larger buildings, and owners who do not live in their buildings, are in a different position. Whatever your situation, contractors and trades working in the building need to know what is in it, and a test before the work is easier than stopping a job half done.
Hamilton asbestos testing questions
Can I take a sample myself?
We advise against it. Disturbing a suspect material can release fibres, and the regulation expects samples to be collected by a competent worker.
When will I have my Hamilton results?
Laboratories set their own turnaround, and faster service may be available. When we submit your samples we tell you the date to expect and call you when results arrive.
Does the first visit cost anything?
No. We look at the materials and explain the plan without a fee. Any further work is described in a written scope and price first.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you. In a hurry? Calling is fastest.