Vermiculite and Glass Wool attic insulation
LCS Laboratory Inc. is a leading asbestos testing laboratory in Canada, dedicated to keeping homeowners, real estate professionals, and contractors safe. Our expertise ensures reliable asbestos detection, especially for properties insulated with vermiculite, a material that may contain Tremolite asbestos fibres.
Vermiculite Insulation and Asbestos: What You Need to Know
Over 200,000 Canadian homes use vermiculite insulation, particularly in older properties. Vermiculite itself was a popular choice due to its non-flammable, lightweight properties that remain stable over time. However, certain vermiculite products—especially those sourced from specific mines—are known to contain asbestos, posing potential health risks.
If you’re buying or selling an older home, checking for vermiculite insulation is essential. If vermiculite is found, it’s wise to arrange for an asbestos test. This is the only way to determine if your home contains Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM), which requires special handling and, in many cases, professional remediation.
Why Vermiculite May Contain Asbestos
Vermiculite insulation is made by heating mica at high temperatures to expand it into lightweight, insulative flakes. While it’s ideal in many ways, certain deposits of vermiculite were contaminated with asbestos. Even the worst samples typically contain only 5-6% asbestos by weight—a small percentage, but still high enough for the material to be classified as ACM.
The important thing to know: not all vermiculite contains asbestos. However, the only reliable way to know for sure is with a specialized laboratory analysis.
Why Choose LCS Laboratory for Asbestos Testing?
At LCS Laboratory, we bring years of expertise and the most advanced testing methods available in Canada. Every year we test 100’s of properties with vermiculite insulation for asbestos presence. As the most experienced Canadian asbestos testing laboratory, we offer:
- Accurate Asbestos Testing for Vermiculite: Our tests confirm if your vermiculite insulation contains asbestos, giving you peace of mind. We offer the best sensitivity in the industry and can detect as low as o.1% of Tremolite Asbestos in the sample.
- Detailed Reporting: We provide clear, comprehensive results that can support safe decision-making for property transactions or renovations. If Asbestos is not detected, we clearly indicate that the sample is clean. If we detect asbestos we identify the type of asbestos and its accurate concentration and report the finding to you.
- Trusted Expertise: Our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience to handle asbestos detection with the highest standards of safety and accuracy. We have multiple asbestos testing stations and 3 analysts on staff and can test projects of any size and complexity.
- Our Rates are the best in Canada. We believe that safety should be affordable
- Best Rating: we are the most trusted laboratory in Canada with 5-star Google rating.
Contact Us for Reliable Asbestos Testing
Whether you’re a homeowner, a real estate agent, or a contractor, our team at LCS Laboratory Inc. is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your project and learn more about how our asbestos testing services can support a safe environment in your home or workplace.
