Asbestos Bulk Sampling, Part Two

In the last blog post, I talked about the widespread use of asbestos in multiple areas of both residential and industrial construction and how bulk sampling helps us to determine what to do about it in individual situations. Let’s look at why testing is so important.

Why Bulk Sampling?
Raw asbestos can be detected with the naked eye for those with experience and training. However much of the asbestos you’ll find in used for construction purposes shows up in a mixture. These are called ACM or asbestos containing materials.

These mixtures combines the desirable qualities of asbestos – fire resistant, nearly indestructible but also malleable – with other materials for a variety of uses. As a binding material, it seemed perfect and until the deleterious effects of asbestos were known and understood, it seemed like the ideal solution. Some of the more common mixtures include:

• Concrete – often used in piping, underground plumbing
• Vinyl – used in floor tiles
• Other fibres – used in ceiling tiles, often called acoustic ceilings
• Mixed in paints to produce textured and glitter paints
• Plaster to create so-called popcorn ceilings – the texture is made up of asbestos clumps
• Cement – commonly used for roofing shingles
• Caulking – before the late 1970’s, asbestos commonly made up 25% of caulking materials used around windows, doors, panels and more
• Drywall – at one time ACM panels were very popular for home renovations and were used in many room additions

You may suspect the presence of asbestos and in some cases, such as the small ACM ceiling tiles that were very popular with their characteristic patterning of holes over the surface, it may seem quite obvious but no matter what the situation you can’t be sure until you test.

It’s a Professional Job
It’s vital that the bulk sampling procedure be done by a profession with the right equipment and training. The material needs to be properly prepared and the entire area contained before, during and after the procedure. That’s where we come in.

At ESG, our trained and certified asbestos technicians can help you determine the locations of asbestos or ACM in your home as well as the best way to deal with it.

Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.

In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!