Once your asbestos sample has been analysed in the laboratory, you receive a result that shows whether the material examined contains asbestos or not. But what does the result mean in practice, and how should it be interpreted? In this article we explain what the analysis report contains and help you understand what to do next.
Positive result – asbestos found
If the analysis result is positive, the material sample examined contains asbestos. The report also states which type of asbestos was detected in the sample. The most common types of asbestos in building materials are chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos).
In practice, a positive result means that the material must not be removed as ordinary demolition work. Have the removal carried out by a specialist asbestos removal contractor that works in line with occupational safety rules. This applies to all types of asbestos – every type of asbestos is harmful to health.
Negative result – no asbestos found
A negative result means that no asbestos was detected in the sample examined. This is often reassuring news, because the material can then be removed as usual without special asbestos removal measures.
Remember, however, that a negative result only applies to the material examined. If the structure contains other materials that could contain asbestos, these must be examined separately. A negative result for the tile adhesive, for example, does not automatically mean that the filler underneath is asbestos-free.
What does the report contain?
A good analysis report contains at least the following information: the sample identification, the analysis method, the result (asbestos detected / not detected) and, where applicable, the type of asbestos. It also states who carried out the analysis and the date of analysis. The Semlab report is in English.
A good report is clearly worded and easy to understand without specialist knowledge. If you find the report hard to understand, you can contact us at info@semlab.eu – we are happy to explain the result and what you can do next.
What do I do after a positive result?
After a positive result, the next step is to contact a specialist asbestos removal contractor. The contractor assesses the scope of the work, plans the removal and carries it out safely in line with occupational safety rules.
In practice, a positive result does not mean the renovation is cancelled – it means that one stage of the work is carried out as specialist work. Asbestos removal is routine for professionals and can be planned as part of the renovation.
What do I do after a negative result?
After a negative result, you can continue planning and removing that particular material as usual. But also check the other materials to be removed, in case they could contain asbestos. A negative result for one material does not mean you can skip examining the others.
How reliable is the result?
How reliable a laboratory analysis is depends both on the quality of the sample and on the competence of the laboratory. A correctly taken, sufficiently large and clearly labelled sample gives a reliable result. If the sample is too small, contaminated or taken from the wrong layer, reliability can suffer.
That is why it is important to follow the instructions for sampling and packing closely. A good sample and a competent laboratory give a result you can rely on when making your decisions.
The result applies to a specific material
Remember that the analysis result always applies precisely to the material the sample was taken from. If you took the sample from the tile adhesive, the result shows whether the tile adhesive contains asbestos. It says nothing about the wall filler next to it or the adhesive on the floor. Each material is a separate subject of investigation, and the result always applies to a specific material.