LCS Laboratory Inc. offers the most advanced live, online training course on Bulk Asbestos Surveys for Building Demolition and Renovation. Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to plan, collect samples of construction materials for asbestos assessment.
Course Format
- Live Online Instruction via Zoom
- Total Duration: 8 academic hours (TBD)
- Certificate of Completion issued by LCS Laboratory Inc.
- Price: $TBD CAD for unlimited number of attendees (2025–2026 rates)
- Discounted rates available for Ontario consulting companies open to collaboration
This program is ideal for:
- Environmental consultants
- Industrial hygienists
- Asbestos building inspectors
- Health & safety professionals
- Facility managers
- Restoration and demolition contractors
- Engineers and architects involved in building assessments
1. Introduction
This advanced training program provides consultants, industrial hygienists, and building inspectors with a comprehensive, defensible approach to bulk asbestos surveys. Built on the same structured methodology used in the LCS Laboratory SOP, the course teaches participants how to identify, sample, and document asbestos‑containing materials (ACM) in accordance with major regulatory frameworks. The training emphasizes practical field skills, regulatory compliance, and the ability to produce high‑quality survey reports suitable for renovation, demolition, and O&M programs.
We will start with a history of asbestos use in North America. What types of asbestos are used. and why the asbestos is so dangerous?
2. Definition of ACM
Participants learn how ACM is defined differently across jurisdictions and why this matters for survey planning and reporting. The course explains:
- U.S. ACM threshold: typically ≥1%
- Ontario ACM threshold: ≥0.5%
- Quebec ACM threshold: ≥0.1%
- International variations and how to apply a neutral ACM definition
This ensures consultants can work confidently across regions and avoid misclassification errors.
3. Purpose and Scope of the Training
The training is suitable for pre‑renovation, pre‑demolition, O&M, and due‑diligence assessments. The program equips professionals to:
- Conduct complete asbestos surveys
- Identify suspect materials from the 1910–1991 construction era
- Apply structured sampling strategies
- Manage multi‑layered systems
- Document findings to regulatory standards
- Communicate survey limitations to clients
4. Regulatory Framework
A core strength of this program is its deep integration with regulatory requirements. Participants receive clear guidance on:
- AHERA (40 CFR 763) sampling rules
- NESHAP (40 CFR 61 Subpart M) requirements for layer‑specific analysis
- EPA Improved Bulk Method (EPA/600/R‑93/116) for thin fibers and low‑percentage ACM
- Ontario O. Reg. 278/05 sampling minimums
- How to apply these frameworks internationally
5. Responsibilities
The training clarifies the roles of:
- Survey Leads — planning, compliance, QA/QC
- Inspectors — field sampling, hazard control, documentation
- Laboratories — PLM/TEM analysis, layer‑specific reporting
6. Pre‑Survey Planning
The course teaches a structured planning process, including:
- Reviewing drawings, renovation history, and previous reports
- Identifying homogeneous materials (HOMs)
- Recognizing multi‑layered systems
- Selecting sampling locations that minimize disruption
7. Safety Requirements
Participants learn proper PPE selection, exposure control, and contamination‑prevention techniques, including:
- When to use HEPA respirators
- How to wet materials safely
- How to avoid cross‑contamination
- When ventilation shutdowns are required
8. Identifying Suspect Materials
A major highlight of the training is the detailed guidance on where asbestos hides. Using LCS Laboratory’s extensive analytical history, participants learn the likelihood of asbestos in dozens of materials, including:
- Pipe insulation, gaskets, and wraps
- Plaster, skim coats, and joint compounds
- Vinyl tiles, vinyl sheets, and flooring adhesives
- Cement boards, cement pipes, and corrugated shingles
- Acoustic ceiling tiles and textured coatings
- Vermiculite and loose‑fill insulations
This probability‑based approach helps consultants prioritize sampling and avoid costly oversights.
9. Sampling Limitations
The training emphasizes a critical professional safeguard: only exposed, accessible materials can be sampled. Concealed materials behind walls, under flooring, or above fixed ceilings may contain asbestos but cannot be assessed without destructive investigation. Participants learn how to:
- Document inaccessible areas
- Communicate limitations clearly to clients
- Protect themselves from liability through proper reporting language
10. Sampling Methodology
Participants are trained in a precise, repeatable sampling process:
- How to collect representative samples
- How to penetrate all layers to the substrate
- How to sample multi‑layered systems correctly
- When to request TEM instead of PLM
- How to clean tools and prevent cross‑contamination
11. Documentation Requirements
The program teaches professional‑grade documentation practices, including:
- Field notes and HOM classification
- Photographic evidence
- Floor plan marking
- Chain‑of‑custody completion
- Layer‑specific descriptions
12. Data Interpretation
Participants learn how to:
- Apply ACM thresholds correctly
- Interpret layered materials
- Classify homogeneous materials
- Understand when a single positive sample classifies an entire HOM
13. Reporting Requirements
The training provides a complete reporting framework, including:
- Executive summaries
- Methodology descriptions
- Sample tables
- Floor plans
- Laboratory certificates
- Limitation statements
14. Quality Assurance / Quality Control
The program concludes with QA/QC best practices, ensuring that surveys are:
- Consistent
- Accurate
- Defensible
- Fully documented
Program Outcomes
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Conduct asbestos surveys that meet regulatory requirements
- Identify suspect materials with confidence
- Apply a structured, defensible sampling methodology
- Recognize hidden asbestos hazards
- Produce high‑quality, regulator‑ready survey reports
- Reduce liability through proper documentation and limitation statements
- Will receive a certificate of completion.
Registration and Contact
To register or request more information, contact us at your convenience. We look forward to helping you build safer workplaces through advanced sampling expertise ©.
