LCS Laboratory Inc., offers sampling pumps, PCM cassettes and laboratory analysis to asbestos abatement companies. Over the years we accumulated statistical data on over 250 cases and would like to share this information with you.
In Ontario, Canada, the clearance test for asbestos fibers in the air should be performed by a contractor or an independent consultant to demonstrate that air quality is satisfactory and an enclosure can be safely removed. The sampling requirements are regulated by the Ontario Asbestos Regulation # 278/05 (still active in December 2018), and laboratory tests must be performed using Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) in accordance to NIOSH 7400 protocol.
The samples that are discussed here, have been collected by professional consultants or by abatement companies and submitted for the clearance test. On the average our clients collected 2500 L of air to achieve a method sensitivity of 0.001-0.002 ff/cc (fibres per cubic centimeter)
Rooms, basements, warehouses, and lofts were tested after abatement and consecutive cleaning to ensure that fiber concentration is within the acceptable limit of 0.010ff/cc. All data was organized in order of increased concentrations of fibers in air, and presented below
<0.002 ff/cc. Concentration of fibers in the cleanest abatement sites
75% of all tested properties had a non-detectable concentration of fibers which were less than 0.002 ff/cc (fibers per centimetre cube). This is a very low concentration of fibers and it is as low as it can be detected by the method.
<0.002 – 0.005 ff/cc. Acceptable level
90% of all abatement projects had shown the residual concentration of fibers below 0.005 ff/cc. The results are at least 2 times below the acceptable clearance limit of 0.010 ff/cc.
0.005-0.009 ff/cc. Warning level
6.4% of the projects had shown a concentration of fibers just below the “pass” concentration of 0.010 ff/cc. Legally, they still passed the clearance test, but we would recommend those clients to improve their abatement technique to avoid possible “non-compliance” in the future.
>0.010 ff/cc. “non-compliance”
3.6% of the most contaminated work sites had a residual concentration of fibers that were 0.010 ff/cc or higher and had to do additional steps to comply with the Asbestos Regulation.
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