Asbestos is a general term used for a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. Mined since the mid-1800s, asbestos was valued for its tensile strength and its fire and chemical resistive properties.
Once called the “miracle mineral”, asbestos was used in a wide variety of everyday products, including floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roofing, and insulation for attics, walls and pipes.
Asbestos is commonly found in commercial, industrial and residential structures constructed before the 1990s. Once the health risks due to asbestos exposure were recognized, its use declined.
Testing
Inspection by the naked eye is insufficient to determine if a material contains asbestos. Samples suspected of containing asbestos should be sent to a laboratory that is accredited for testing asbestos.
Bureau Veritas’ accredited Asbestos Testing Laboratories have the instrumentation, expertise and experience to test for asbestos in bulk, soil, dust, water and air samples. Our laboratories are accredited by NVLAP and AIHA. Bureau Veritas laboratories routinely perform asbestos analyses using ASTM, EPA, AHERA, ISO, and NIOSH methods.
Please see the attached Asbestos Technical Bulletin for further details on test methods and regulations and for more information on methods and pricing, please see our Building Science Fee Schedule.