QUESTION: Hello, I have been told by my electrician that the vermiculite in my attic may contain asbestos and should be tested before he can resume his work. How many samples should I collect? Cheers.
ANSWER: LCS Laboratory receives hundreds of vermiculite samples annually, and this question if probably one of the most common that we receive. If you hire a contractor/electrician, you now become an employer and must comply with the Ontario Asbestos Regulation 278/05. According to the law, you must collect and analyze at least 3 separate samples in order to prove that there is no asbestos. If all 3 are below 0.5% you can say that the vermiculite is not an asbestos material. If any of them show asbestos at or above 0.5%, the entire vermiculite insulation must be treated as asbestos containing material. An example of our report can be seen here.For sample submission information, cost and shipping instructions please check our FAQ section or email us.
Thank you for your interest
Sincerely, LCS Laboratory
Sincerely, LCS Laboratory
