Asbestos In The Home, What You Need To Know
Asbestos was used in many Canadian building materials because of its durability, heat resistance and insulating properties. Although its use has been significantly restricted, asbestos-containing materials may still be present in older homes.
Health Canada notes that asbestos was commonly used in Canadian homes before 1990, particularly in insulation, cement and plaster products, floor and ceiling tiles, siding, roofing materials and some heating-system components.
Where Can Asbestos Be Found in a Home?
Potential asbestos-containing materials in older homes may include:
- Pipe, boiler and duct insulation
- Vermiculite attic insulation
- Vinyl floor tiles and some flooring adhesives
- Ceiling tiles and textured ceiling finishes
- Drywall joint compound and plaster
- Cement board and exterior siding
- Roofing felt, shingles and other roofing products
- Some older caulking, sealants and fire-resistant materials
The presence of one of these materials does not automatically mean that it contains asbestos. Many visually similar products were manufactured without asbestos.
Can Asbestos Be Identified During a Home Inspection?
A visual home inspection cannot confirm whether a building material contains asbestos. Suspect materials may be identified based on their appearance, location and approximate age, but confirmation requires appropriate sampling and laboratory analysis.
Standard home inspections do not include destructive sampling or laboratory testing of suspected asbestos-containing materials unless this has been specifically arranged as a separate service with an appropriately qualified professional.
When Does Asbestos Become a Concern?
Asbestos-containing materials generally present the greatest concern when fibres can become airborne. This may occur when materials are damaged, deteriorated, drilled, sanded, cut, scraped, removed or otherwise disturbed during renovation or demolition work.
Materials that are in good condition, tightly bound and left undisturbed generally present substantially less risk than damaged or disturbed materials.
Planning a Renovation in an Older Home
If renovation or demolition work may disturb materials that could contain asbestos, professional testing should be considered before work begins.
Do not cut, sand, scrape or remove suspected asbestos-containing material simply to determine what it is. If asbestos is confirmed, appropriate handling, containment or removal should be completed by qualified professionals in accordance with applicable requirements.
Vermiculite Insulation
Some older vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos. Where vermiculite insulation is present, it should not be disturbed during a standard home inspection. Access to an attic may also be limited where disturbing the insulation could create an unnecessary exposure risk.
What a Home Inspector Can Do
During a visual inspection, the inspector may document accessible materials or conditions that appear consistent with products historically associated with asbestos and recommend further investigation where appropriate.
The inspection should not be interpreted as confirmation that asbestos is present or absent. Laboratory analysis is required to determine whether a suspect material actually contains asbestos.
Additional Asbestos Information
Homeowners planning renovations can review current guidance from Health Canada and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
If you are buying or evaluating an older home, get an inspection quote from Inspec-Pro Home Inspections.
Call 819-962-5880 or email info@inspec-pro.ca.