Have your home tested for asbestos before reno, demo, or maintenance work
Asbestos exposure is the number one killer of workers in B.C., with harmful asbestos fibres found in over 3,000 household materials. If you’re a homeowner, strata council, or property manager, you need to get your home tested for asbestos before a renovation or demolition project, or before maintenance work that could disturb asbestos. Taking this step will help ensure the health and safety of everyone working on the project — as well as your own and your family’s health and safety.
What is asbestos and why is it dangerous?
Asbestos is a mineral that was used for fire protection and insulation against heat and noise in more than 3,000 building materials from the 1950s to 1990s. Building materials that often contained asbestos include drywall, textured ceiling coat, insulation, vinyl flooring, and window putty.
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, asbestos fibres can be released into the air. Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause serious health issues for anyone working or living on your property.
Asbestos exposure is the number one killer of workers in B.C. and was a contributing factor in 61 work-related deaths in 2022, or about 33 percent of all work-related deaths in the year.
How do I know if I have asbestos in my home?
It’s hard to know if you have asbestos in your home because it’s often mixed with other materials. However, if your home was built before 1990, it’s likely that at least some parts of the home will contain asbestos that could be released with any renovation, demolition, or maintenance work.
Newer homes can also have asbestos if they were built with older materials, so it’s important to hire qualified contractors that know where to look for it and how to remove it safely.
What do I need to do to manage asbestos safely?
You have an important role to play in dealing safely with asbestos and protecting everyone’s health and safety. If you’re doing a renovation or demolition:
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1
Hire a licensed asbestos surveyor
The surveyor will take samples of possible asbestos-containing materials in your home, and will send them to a lab for testing. They will then provide you with a report of the locations of asbestos in your home.
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2
Hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to contain or remove the asbestos-containing materials
Provide the contractor with the report from the surveyor to ensure that all the identified asbestos-containing materials are removed. Once the work has been completed, the abatement contractor will provide you with a report confirming that all asbestos has been contained or removed, and your property is ready for demolition or renovation.
If you’re conducting building maintenance or repairs, you also need to hire a qualified person to create an inventory of any asbestos present. This step will let you advise anyone doing the work (e.g., electricians, plumbers, HVAC workers) about the hazards they might encounter.
Anyone you hire to deal with asbestos in your home must be licensed to do that work in B.C. If you hire unlicensed contractors, you are putting workers’ health at risk, as well as risking your own and your family’s health. You could also face consequences from WorkSafeBC such as a stop-work order, and you may have to pay additional costs for proper cleanup and abatement.
Visit our website for a list of licensed surveyors and abatement contractors: Find licensed contractors.
For more information
- Insurance coverage responsibilities for homeowners
- Potential sources of asbestos in the home: interactive tool and information sheet
- Asbestos: Frequently asked questions for homeowners
- Asbestos — What you need to know
- Risks to Homeowners (video)
- Responsibilities for Homeowners (video)
- Documentation for Homeowners (video)
You can also visit our webpages to find out more about Asbestos hazards and safe work practices, and about Asbestos training, certification & licensing.