SERVICE OVERVIEW
Whether you are a contractor requiring an asbestos assessment for a demo permit, a homeowner performing upgrades to your home, or a property manager looking to implement large-scale renovations, it is crucial to protect everyone’s safety throughout the process.
Empire Health & Safety will ensure you have the right information at hand. Our asbestos testing procedures meet or exceed provincial guidelines and legislative requirements. We understand the importance of properly identifying asbestos containing materials to ensure due diligence and minimize liability if asbestos is identified.
As a result of over 15 years’ experience identifying asbestos-containing materials, our team has access to quality asbestos removal companies that can provide a free quote to do the job properly for a fair price.
In addition to asbestos identification, we also offer full hazardous materials identification surveys which include assessments for lead paint, PCB’s in fluorescent light ballasts, radioactive materials in smoke detectors, mercury in thermostats, and ozone depleting substances (ODS) in air conditioning and refrigeration products.
Call today and see why the staff and Empire Health & Safety have performed hundreds of asbestos and hazardous material surveys across Alberta over the last 15 plus years.
OUR TESTING PROCESS
We collect representative samples of building materials potentially containing asbestos as outlined in the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual, section 7.1.1. Sample analysis occurs by an accredited laboratory, where the type of asbestos and the percentage of it within the material is identified.
In addition to asbestos, during a full hazardous materials identification survey, we collect samples of paint that may be containing lead, as well as visual assessments for PCB’s, ODS’s, etc. and provide a detailed inventory so you can properly manage any potential hazards prior to project commencement.
A full report is issued upon completion of projects, identifying all relevant particulars, including concise conclusions and recommendations, to eliminate the guesswork when dealing with potentially hazardous materials.
For more information on asbestos, including testing and removal procedures, refer to the Alberta asbestos abatement manual.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Asbestos: What is it?
Because of its beneficial qualities of strength, flexibility, and resistance to both heat and chemical corrosion, asbestos was extensively employed before the mid-1980s. Construction of homes, schools, hospitals, residential apartment complexes, libraries, office buildings, and other structures frequently employed asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs.
How can I tell if there is asbestos in my home?
Testing the material in a lab is the only reliable technique to determine whether your house or property contains asbestos. There are certain indicators that might alert you to the presence of asbestos in your home. Homes that are older and were constructed between the 1920s and the mid-1970s are more likely to have asbestos. Plaster, drywall joint compound, vinyl flooring, cement, shingles, and ceiling stipple all contain asbestos.
Do construction materials still contain asbestos today?
As more people learned about the harmful consequences of asbestos exposure on health, the usage of ACMs has drastically declined. Asbestos usage is legal in Canada, although it is highly regulated by the Asbestos Products Rules (SOR/2007-260), which are governed by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
The handling and installation of ACMs used in construction are only permitted under regulated conditions, posing no risk to the health of building occupants.
Asbestos is forbidden in all new Public Services and Procurement Canada construction and significant modifications as of April 1, 2016.