Professional Asbestos Inspections
All inspections are performed by Level S certified surveyors and analyzed by Guardian Laboratories. We offer three inspection types to match the scope of any project.
Which Inspection Do I Need?
The right inspection depends on the scope of your project and how much disruption to materials is planned. As a rule of thumb: Type 1 for no disturbance, Type 2 for partial renovation, Type 3 for major renovation or demolition. Not sure? Contact us and we'll guide you.
Location & Risk Assessment
A Type 1 inspection is primarily a visual assessment intended to identify, as far as reasonably possible, any suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACM) within a building and evaluate potential risk — without collecting physical samples.
All accessible areas of the building are inspected, including spaces above suspended ceilings, roof cavities, service ducts, risers, lift shafts, and other concealed areas. Any areas that cannot be accessed will be presumed to contain asbestos.
What's Included
- Complete visual inspection of all accessible areas
- Above suspended ceilings, roof voids & cavities
- Service ducts, risers & lift shafts
- Suspected ACM identification and location mapping
- Risk classification for each identified material
- Presumptive classification for inaccessible areas
- Written inspection report with findings
- Recommendations for management or further action
Best suited for:
Low-disturbance work, property assessments, building management plans, or situations where no physical sampling is required or practical.
What's Included
- Everything in a Type 1 visual inspection
- Physical sampling of suspected ACM
- Sealed & chain-of-custody sample handling
- Certified laboratory analysis
- Positive identification of asbestos types
- Material condition assessment
- Priority & risk-rated findings report
- Management recommendations
Best suited for:
Pre-renovation testing for 1 to 3 rooms, partial disturbances, flooring replacement, ceiling or drywall work, or when confirmation of ACM is legally required.
Standard Sampling, Identification & Assessment
A Type 2 inspection includes everything in a Type 1 visual assessment, but also involves material sampling and certified laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or absence of asbestos.
Samples from suspected ACM are carefully collected under controlled conditions, sealed, and submitted for analysis by a certified laboratory. This positively identifies asbestos-containing materials and the type of asbestos fibre present.
Certified sample collection under controlled conditions
Full Access Sampling, Identification & Assessment
A Type 3 inspection is the most detailed and comprehensive survey available. It involves accessing all areas of the building and may require limited removal or disturbance of building materials to uncover hidden asbestos-containing materials.
During this inspection, we aim to locate all ACMs — including those concealed within walls, ceilings, or structural components. We also estimate the volume and surface area of all identified materials to support planning for removal.
This type of inspection is typically conducted prior to demolition, major renovations, or refurbishment, and provides the necessary information for planning and tendering asbestos removal.
Regulatory Requirement
A Type 3 inspection (or equivalent) is required by WorkSafe BC regulations before any building demolition and for major renovations of pre-1990 structures.
Asbestos insulation discovered during full-access survey
What's Included
- Full building access survey
- All accessible and concealed areas
- Limited material disturbance where required
- Comprehensive ACM identification
- Certified laboratory analysis of all samples
- Volume & surface area quantification
- Condition and priority assessment of all ACM
- Pre-demolition report for regulatory compliance
- Asbestos removal tender documentation
Best suited for:
Full demolitions, major gut renovations, refurbishment projects, and any work requiring a pre-demolition survey for regulatory compliance.
Inspection Comparison
| Feature | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Inspection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Material Sampling | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lab Analysis | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concealed Areas | — | — | ✓ |
| Volume Quantification | — | — | ✓ |
| Pre-Demolition Compliance | — | — | ✓ |
| Typical Use | Low disturbance, assessments |
Partial reno, 1–3 rooms |
Major reno, demolition |
Not Sure Which Inspection You Need?
Give us a call or send a message — we'll help you figure out exactly what's required for your project.