How To Test Siding For Asbestos

A highly effective and inexpensive fire retardant material and thermal and acoustic insulator asbestos was used extensively in home construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s.

How to test siding for asbestos.

Pre paid postage envelope was included in the kit. This prevents any stray fibers from becoming airborne. The name has its origin in the greek word for inextinguishable. Many manufacturers made their products to look like asbestos free products so it is not really possible to determine if your siding contains asbestos just by looks.

They then send the samples to a qualified laboratory to test and determine whether they contain asbestos. The only way to be sure whether your siding contains asbestos is to have it tested. Generally asbestos testing kits work in a two step process. Simply place a one inch by one inch piece of the building material you wish to test for example ceiling tile floor tile roofing etc.

A small sample of the material which might be or contain asbestos is placed in a sealable container to be sent to a lab for testing. The asbestos network recommends bringing in a professional to collect samples. The date of the building or material can also tell you a lot about asbestos risk. Use a utility knife or similar tool to cut a sample of the material.

Look online for a lab near you to have a test performed on your siding and ensure the safety of your home and family. Second you mail the findings to a laboratory and after a few days the results are sent back to you. The area where the sample was taken is patched with plastic sheet drywall or tape to prevent suspected fibers from spreading. Shut off any heating or cooling units and close all doors and windows that might create a draft.

First after purchasing a low cost kit at a home improvement center or online you obtain suspected asbestos from an area of your home. You can easily send a sample to a lab is you suspect that it may contain asbestos. Check the national voluntary laboratory accreditation program for a list of epa certified asbestos testing lab that will take your sample and follow their instructions for submission. Check the manufacturer and product name on the insulation label and do a web search to find out if it contains asbestos.