Residential Asbestos Testing in Winnipeg
At Breathe Easy Eco Solutions, we help you protect yourself and your family from the risks of asbestos by providing residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg and across Manitoba. We will conduct your inspection per the Province's regulations to ensure you're compliant. If the building you're residing in or working in was built before the 1990s, you must get it tested for asbestos before any disturbance.
Once disturbed, asbestos fibres can stay in the air for hours, days and even months. Breathing them can have severe, irreversible consequences for your health. Please contact us with questions about our residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg. We can also offer air quality testing.
The Importance of Residential Asbestos Testing in Winnipeg
You need to know whether or not you're exposing yourself, your family, or your employees to the dangers of asbestos before you get your property tested for asbestos. Testing becomes especially important when you occupy older buildings that have never been tested for the materials. Those considering renovations or changes to their property should think that they may disturb asbestos-containing material and involuntarily release asbestos fibres in the air. Lastly, the province strictly regulates the testing, removal and disposal of asbestos. Failure to comply with the mandates relating to employee safety can also cause legal issues.
Residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg is a risky procedure that must only be carried out by experienced professionals like us at Breathe Easy Eco Solutions. We have years of experience performing asbestos testing for commercial and residential properties in Winnipeg and adhere to all the required guidelines while providing you with our services. If you'd like to learn more about the importance of testing for asbestos in your commercial or residential property, please contact our team.
Attic Insulation and Asbestos Concerns
Attics in homes built before the 1990s often contained asbestos insulation. Over time, wear, aging, or disturbances during renovations can loosen fibres, which may become airborne and pose serious health risks.
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During our asbestos testing in Winnipeg, Breathe Easy Eco Solutions inspects attics for asbestos-containing materials and evaluates their condition. Our team follows strict safety protocols when collecting samples and ensures accurate laboratory analysis. Assessing attic insulation also highlights areas affecting energy efficiency, as damaged insulation can reduce heating performance during Winnipeg’s cold winters. This combined approach helps homeowners understand both asbestos risks and home efficiency.
Winnipeg Weather and Its Impact on Asbestos Risks
Winnipeg’s extreme climate, with cold winters and hot, humid summers, affects building materials, including those containing asbestos. Seasonal temperature changes and moisture can degrade insulation, siding, and ceiling tiles, increasing the risk of fibres becoming airborne if disturbed. By considering environmental factors in asbestos testing in Winnipeg, Breathe Easy Eco Solutions identifies areas vulnerable to weather-related wear. Attics, roofs, and exterior walls often need careful inspection due to prolonged exposure. We provide commercial asbestos abatement and testing, helping ensure safe environments across Winnipeg.
Process
Our process for residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg includes the following steps:
Consultation: We will examine your needs, the reasons for testing, your property, the history of renovations, the age of the building and more to delineate the areas that require testing. For instance, if you're planning to undertake a renovation, we will collect samples from the area that will be disturbed during it.
Sample collection: We will collect samples from the areas that we suspect could have asbestos. Our team adheres to the strictest safety standards to restrict asbestos exposure. We will conduct laboratory testing, and the report will be available within five days.
Next course of action: We will help you decide on your next action. If asbestos is found, we can offer dependable asbestos removal services.
What Not to Do During the Testing Process
The following precautions will help minimize the risk of asbestos exposure and ensure a safe testing process:
Don't disturb suspected areas: Never attempt to collect samples independently. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials can release hazardous fibres into the air, putting everyone at risk.
Avoid DIY solutions: Asbestos testing should be handled by professionals. DIY kits or methods might not adhere to the required safety standards and can lead to inaccurate results or exposure.
Don't delay action: If asbestos is suspected, it’s crucial to act immediately. Procrastination can increase the risk of exposure, especially if renovations or disturbances are planned.
Do not ignore safety precautions: Always ensure proper protective gear is worn and safety measures are followed to avoid contamination.
Risk Levels
Asbestos is a hazardous material, and exposure to it can lead to numerous health problems. Different kinds of exposure can cause varying degrees of issues. The different levels of risk when dealing with asbestos in your commercial space or home are:
Low risk: The risk level is low when the non-crumbling ACMs are tested and handled as per the recommended health and safety requirements.
High risk: Handling friable ACMs where the release of asbestos fibres is expected causes high risk.
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Legal Requirements
Property owners, employers, and contractors have crucial responsibilities regarding properties suspected of containing asbestos. Before undertaking any action for the elimination of asbestos from the property, these individuals are mandated to make sure that:
An inspection of the workplace is carried out.
A detailed inventory is prepared.
Competent professionals are selected to collect and test representative bulk samples in a laboratory.
Workplace safety and health is notified at least five days prior to abatement work.
Workers have the required training regarding safe work procedures.
An asbestos control plan is in place if asbestos fibres are released.
As seasoned residential asbestos testing professionals in Winnipeg, we can help your workplace comply with the province's regulations to make it safer. If you have any questions, please send them to us, and we will get back to you shortly.
Commercial Environmental Services in Winnipeg
In addition to residential support, Breathe Easy Eco Solutions provides specialized commercial services across Winnipeg. Our team is trained to assess, test, and address environmental hazards in a wide range of commercial and industrial settings.
Our commercial services include:
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Commercial mould removal: We address mould issues in office buildings, retail spaces, and industrial facilities using safe containment and removal practices to meet workplace health standards.
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Commercial asbestos abatement: Our team provides compliant asbestos testing and abatement services to help businesses meet regulatory requirements and maintain safe environments for workers and occupants.
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Demolition services: We offer selective and full-scale demolition with safety-focused planning, including hazardous material handling and site clearance.
Call us now to discuss your service requirements for your commercial space.
Sample Collection
Collecting possible ACMs as samples is one of the most critical aspects of asbestos inspection. As a part of the asbestos sample collection process, we adhere to specific guidelines, such as:
Not collecting samples in the presence of the building's occupants.
Wearing the required protective gear.
Spraying the suspected area with water to prevent the release of fibres while collecting samples.
Collecting a sample from each layer of the suspected area.
And more.
How to Prepare Your Home for Asbestos Testing
Before the testing begins, there are a few steps you can take to ensure a smooth and efficient process. Here’s how you can prepare:
Clear the testing area: Make sure the areas where samples will be taken are clutter-free and easily accessible to the testing team.
Limit access: To prevent accidental exposure, keep family members, pets, and non-essential individuals away from the tested areas.
Inform the occupants: If other occupants live in the home, notify them before the testing to avoid surprises and ensure everyone's safety.
Provide property information: Share relevant details with the testing team, such as previous renovations or known asbestos-containing materials.
Follow safety guidelines: Ensure that no one touches or disturbs any suspected asbestos-containing materials before the professionals arrive.
By following these steps, you can help the testing team perform their job safely and effectively, protecting everyone involved. Read our blogs to learn more.
Health Hazards of Long-term Exposure to Asbestos
Prolonged asbestos exposure can result in asbestosis (scarring of the lungs with breathing difficulties), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity), and other specific types of lung cancer. Unlike other particles, asbestos fibres cannot be quickly exhaled once inhaled.
They have little hooks that let them stay in your respiratory system. There are around 5 to 20 cases per year in Manitoba. Cases have drastically decreased since the safety measures have been implemented.
The most common method of detecting asbestos insulation is through residential asbestos testing. Companies have used asbestos for years in hot water pipe insulation, roofing, flooring, siding, shingles, walls, attics, etc. Proper technology and the correct equipment are essential to detect the presence of asbestos materials.
Here are the steps Breathe Easy Eco Solutions takes while detecting asbestos:
Analyzing the sample & reporting the results.
Breathe Easy Eco Solutions uses the latest technology and top-quality equipment for residential asbestos testing. Our trained and certified staff can safely collect materials for testing. Call our team today to detect and test for asbestos in your home.
How to Detect Asbestos Insulation?
Regulations in Winnipeg on Managing Asbestos
Prior to 1990, asbestos-containing materials were extensively used in buildings, homes, and other building materials. Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Regulation has requirements for asbestos management that must be followed diligently. If asbestos material is present in a property, it must be identified and inspected by a qualified professional. Workers must undertake all safety precautions before disturbing the material and ensure proper disposal or removal procedures.
Commonly Asked Questions
Most homeowners are unaware of the presence of asbestos on their property; once they realize it's there, they don’t know how to get rid of it. So, we have answered some asbestos-related questions to give you a better picture:
Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg.
Testimonials
Read what our satisfied clients say about our asbestos testing service in Winnipeg:
Keep in Mind
If you're still unsure whether to use our residential asbestos testing in Winnipeg, consider the following information:
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Asbestos is one of the leading causes of workplace deaths in Manitoba.
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Numerous materials can contain asbestos, such as mechanical insulation, linoleum backing, drywall taping compound, cement board and tiles, decorative textured coatings and more.
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Asbestos is present in many buildings constructed before 1990. It was used in more than 3,000 building materials because of its insulating qualities and fire resistance.
If you'd like to know more about our asbestos analysis in Winnipeg, please don't hesitate to reach out. We invite you to check out our FAQs section.
Concerned about Exposure to Asbestos Fibres?
We offer government-approved asbestos removal procedures and guidance.
*It's free for us to come to your house to assess the mould or asbestos, but if you want testing (mould testing or, more often, asbestos testing) where we take samples and send them to a lab, there is a fee. Customers can also drop off samples at our office.