Yes, you can take an asbestos sample yourself and send it to a laboratory for analysis. It is a common and safe way to find out whether a building material contains asbestos. Taking the sample yourself is particularly suitable when only a few materials need to be analysed and the renovation concerns a specific room or building element.
When does taking your own sample work?
It works well when you know which material you want analysed and can remove a small piece of it. Typical examples are analysing the tile adhesive in a bathroom, checking a vinyl floor covering or its adhesive, analysing wall filler or checking a single material before a smaller renovation.
Taking your own sample is particularly practical when you want to find out quickly and inexpensively whether one or a few materials contain asbestos. You do not need to book an appointment with a professional and can do it whenever suits you.
When is it better to hire a professional?
An asbestos survey by a professional is preferable when the renovation is extensive and many materials will be removed. A complete refurbishment, renewal of the plumbing or demolition of an entire building usually requires a more comprehensive survey, in which the professional identifies all possible asbestos materials and takes samples systematically.
A professional is also a good choice if you do not know which material the sample should be taken from, or if the structure has several layers that take experience to recognise. An experienced surveyor knows materials from different periods and knows where to take the samples.
Safety when taking your own sample
Sampling is safe if you follow the basic instructions. Wear an FFP3 respirator and protective gloves. Switch off the ventilation in the room while sampling and wipe the area with a damp cloth afterwards.
A single sample produces very little dust, and brief exposure does not pose an immediate health risk. The protective measures are still important, because they are easy to follow and reduce the risk further.
Sampling in practice
This is how to take the sample: identify the material to be analysed, remove a piece of about 2–5 cm with a knife or chisel, put the sample in a resealable bag and label it clearly. Make sure you take the sample from the right layer, for example from the tile adhesive and not just from the tile.
Pack the sample tightly, put the bag inside a second bag and send it to the Semlab laboratory in Finland as a letter or small parcel with your national postal service. Some postal services do not accept goods in international letters; if yours does not, send it as a small parcel. Only firmly bound materials may be sent by post, for example tiles, tile adhesive, filler, asbestos cement sheet and floor covering, never crumbly materials such as pipe insulation. State your contact details and which material the sample comes from. You receive the result in English by email on the same day the sample arrives at the laboratory.
The advantages of taking your own sample
Taking the sample yourself is a quick, inexpensive and practical way to settle the asbestos question. You do not need to book a visit and can take the sample whenever suits you. The process is simple: take the sample, post it and receive the result by email.
This works especially well when the renovation is still being planned and you first want to find out whether asbestos affects it. A sample can save time, money and unnecessary worry.
Summary
You can take an asbestos sample yourself, safely and easily. Taking your own sample is suitable for limited renovations and for analysing individual materials. For larger projects, a survey by a professional is the better choice. In both cases, the most important thing is to find out whether the materials contain asbestos before anything is removed.