Asbestos building-material testing generally begins with a visual inspection to identify suspect materials and determine which materials appear to be homogeneous. Small representative bulk samples are then carefully collected from the materials and submitted to an accredited laboratory.
The laboratory commonly analyzes bulk samples using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM). PLM allows the analyst to identify asbestos fibers and estimate the percentage of asbestos within the material.
Sampling locations are selected to obtain representative samples while minimizing visible damage whenever possible. Depending on the material and project, multiple samples may be required from the same homogeneous area.
After laboratory analysis, MEC evaluates the results and explains what they mean for the property and proposed work.