Asbestos Testing
Asbestos testing occurs nationwide and involves a variety of different techniques.
Asbestos fibers are extremely tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye. Since asbestos is a known carcinogen, products that are suspected to contain asbestos should be tested by professionals. Some people who may want to have asbestos testing of products performed include homeowners, business owners, Realtors, environmental consultants, etc.
Some common materials that one may want to take in for asbestos testing include vinyl asbestos floor tiles, acoustic ceiling spray (”popcorn”), linoleum backing, drywall, exterior stucco, asbestos plaster, linoleum backing, roofing felt, transite shingles and siding, asbestos cement logs and artificial ash for fireplaces, door gaskets, taping compounds, etc.
Asbestos is only dangerous if it is airborne so if you have materials that you suspect to contain asbestos, you should have asbestos testing conducted by a certified laboratory. You will NOT be able to tell if a product contains asbestos by looking at, so you’ll need to have the asbestos tested to know for sure.
In order to collect a sample for asbestos testing, try not to disturb the material more than necessary. When collecting your own sample for asbestos testing, it is recommended for friable samples (can be easily crushed into a fine powder) to have about 1 teaspoon of the material, and for non-friable samples have about 1 in.². Turn off any heat or air systems, wear protective clothing (i.e. gloves, proper mask), and wet down the material with a spray bottle containing a few drops of detergent. Cut a sample of the asbestos material with a small knife. You will want to place this sample into a small bag such as a Ziploc bag and tightly seal it. Make sure to properly clean up the area afterward by wiping down all surfaces. You’ll need to locate an asbestos testing facility to take or mail your sample to in to be analyzed.
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