Our Expertise

Asbestos Testing and Vermiculite Analysis

Call upon our technicians for sampling materials potentially containing asbestos such as plaster, stucco, vermiculite, insulation, spray-on coatings, and acoustic tiles.

Asbestos testing is conducted to detect the potential presence of asbestos in construction materials. Widely used in construction until its harmful health effects were recognized, asbestos can be found in various construction materials:

Vermiculite used for insulation;
Plaster;
Attic insulation materials;
Cement mortars;
Exterior perimeter wall insulation materials;
Basement underfloor insulation materials;
Vinyl asbestos floor tiles;
eiling tiles;
Stucco;
Mechanical insulation;
Sealants;
Asphalt shingles;
Concrete;
Sprayed coatings;
Tiles.

Before carrying out renovation or demolition work, it is important to conduct asbestos testing to prevent asbestos fibers from entering the air you breathe. When asbestos fibers are not accessible, integrated, or sealed within a product, such as wall coverings, intact insulation sheaths, or floor coverings, there is no significant health risk according to Health Canada.

Why the Association between Vermiculite and Asbestos?

Due to its layered structure, vermiculite has the capacity to expand when exposed to high heat sources, making it an excellent insulator. The commercially available form is expanded or exfoliated vermiculite, which is the type of material that can be found as insulation in attics, floors, between partitions, etc.

Some deposits from which vermiculite was extracted may also contain asbestos. This was the case with the Libby mine in Montana, which marketed vermiculite under the trademark Zonolite. In nature, there can thus be an association between vermiculite and asbestos.

Why Conduct an Analysis on Vermiculite?

It is possible for asbestos fibers in vermiculite insulation to become suspended in the air inside the house. Asbestos can cause health problems when inhaled. Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers in very fine particles has been associated with diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. When vermiculite is present in a home, it is relevant to analyze the material to determine if it contains asbestos and in what proportion if it does. In Québec, the limit not to exceed is 0.1%.

If you are concerned that your insulation contains asbestos, one of our experienced professionals can conduct a regulatory and reliable sampling to send it to our partner asbestos analysis laboratory. Sampling is carried out by an experienced professional, ensuring the sample's quality and traceability, thereby avoiding the need to sample again.

Our Technicians Follow a Strict Procedure to Ensure Safety of Individuals and Premises:

Wearing a half-mask with a filter (HEPA filter).
Use of sampling gloves.
Wearing waterproof coveralls.
Rinsing the outside of the mask after work.
Repairing the material damaged by sampling and cleaning up the generated dust to avoid any asbestos exposure.

The Main Objectives of Asbestos Testing:

Determine if asbestos is present in vermiculite before acquiring a property.
Determine if asbestos is present in construction materials before starting demolition or renovation work.

Why Choose Spheratest for Your Asbestos Testing:

In-house laboratory
Sampling by an experienced technician
Reliable data
Quick execution
Sampling compliant with CNESST recommendations
Recommendations on asbestos removal procedure
Availability of professionals to answer your questions
Over 4500 samplings conducted throughout Québec
Rigorous quality control program

A word
of our customers

"When faced with a contamination issue, they guided us through resolving the numerous challenges that emerged. Dealing with this kind of unpleasant surprise exposes property owners to a plethora of proven or potential problems. From the outset, Spheratest provided us with the best advice for carrying out decontamination according to industry standards. The company has always demonstrated diligence regarding deadlines. The staff is always courteous, punctual, and available. Everyone I encountered was highly knowledgeable in their field. Furthermore, Spheratest has always been transparent about costs, a major factor in such a stressful ordeal. They are a group of people for whom quality seems to be a cardinal value. Moreover, they treat you as a human being. In such a trial, this is invaluable. It is a top-notch company that I highly recommend."

"I wanted to highlight the excellent work of your project manager. It's truly pleasant to work with her. She is reliable, follows up diligently, and summarizes the issues very well. Our calls last an average of 3 minutes; she doesn't waste my time, and I have all the information I need. It's perfect."

"Thank you very much, I have always felt that you are very professional people. I can tell you that we feel confident with you and see such a difference. Thank you for being on our path to help us navigate through a situation for which we would have otherwise passed, believe me."

"On my site, I expected phases 1 and 2 to be a necessary step, and that we wouldn't discover anything more than what I already knew. But that was not the case. The Spheratest team accompanied me throughout the soil decontamination and rehabilitation process, which was long and full of challenges. Fortunately, they were patient in answering my 1001 questions in the face of my total lack of understanding of what we were finding with every shovel of dirt. They were diligent, available, present, understanding, and flexible to adapt to everything my site required. I greatly appreciated working with the Spheratest team, particularly Isabelle and Benoit, with whom I had many exchanges."