An asbestos analysis is a laboratory test that shows whether a material sample contains asbestos. In practice, you take a small sample of the suspect building material and send it for analysis. Based on the result, you can decide how renovation, removal or other work can be carried out safely.
Many people use the terms asbestos test, asbestos investigation and asbestos analysis more or less interchangeably. That is understandable in everyday language; the main thing is this: if a material may contain asbestos, the suspicion should be cleared up in a laboratory before you remove or renovate anything.
Where is asbestos found?
Asbestos was used in many building materials across Europe until it was banned – in many countries already in the 1980s or 1990s, and throughout the EU from 2005. It is common in buildings that were built or renovated before the ban. Asbestos can be found, for example, in tile adhesive, joint compound, wall filler, vinyl floor coverings, vinyl floor tiles, pipe insulation and various boards such as asbestos cement sheets. Asbestos cannot be reliably identified with the naked eye, and it has no smell.
Why is an asbestos analysis worthwhile?
The benefits of an asbestos analysis are clear. It reduces uncertainty, gives you a reliable basis for decisions and helps you avoid removing materials without knowing the health risks. A single sample can save a lot of time, money and risk, especially at the start of a renovation.
A good asbestos analysis is not just a yes-or-no answer. A reliable laboratory also explains how to send the sample, how the result is reported and what you should do next. For you as a customer, both the technical quality of the analysis and a simple process are therefore important.
When should the analysis be done?
If you suspect asbestos in the bathroom, kitchen, floor or surfaces of an older building, for example, the next step is usually to take a sample and send it to a laboratory. That gives you a real basis for your decisions instead of guesswork.