Residential Asbestos
Homeowner collection of asbestos samples is not recommended. However, no law prohibits this practice. A qualified individual is best able to safely take samples. Contact your state or local government office, for applicable laws and regulations dealing with asbestos. See the bottom of the page for links to federal and state web sites.
- Recommended Equipment and Supplies
- Two (2); small plastic bags per sample
- Spray bottle; soap and water solution (one teaspoon of soap per quart of water)
- Razor knife or chisel
- Gloves, disposable
- Disposable clothing
- Respirator with HEPA/p100 cartridges
- Plastic drop cloth
- Wet wipes
- Chain-of-Custody
- Sampling Procedure
- Determine sampling areas and number of samples to take.
- Depending on the area, you may want to spread a plastic drop cloth under the area to be sampled so as not to spread possible contaminants over a larger area.
- For your protection, it is recommended you wear personal protective equipment (disposable gloves, disposable clothing and a respirator with HEPA/p100 cartridges) that can be discarded after sampling.
- Wearing gloves, lightly wet the area with a fine water mist where the sample is to be taken. A small amount of soap should be added to the water to help it penetrate the asbestos fibers better. This reduces the chance of releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
- Collect the sample using a clean razor knife, chisel or another sharp tool capable of securing a sample of the entire matrix (i.e., layers of the material which may include: the underlying scratch coat beneath popcorn ceiling, pipe insulation and mastic on seams, vinyl flooring including any additional layers of vinyl and/or mastic). A small sample of no more than one square inch of material is necessary.
- The sample should be placed in two (2) zip lock bags, one inside the other, or some other type of airtight container. Tightly seal the bag and/or container.
- Wipe the exterior of the bag and/or container with a wet wipe to remove any material which may have adhered to it during sampling.
- The container should then be labeled with a description of the material, where it was taken and the date the sample was taken.
- Clean the knife with a wet wipe, remove gloves and discard appropriately before collecting the next sample.
- Record the sample identification, description of the material, and the date the sample was taken on the chain-of-custody provided.
- Repeat steps 2 – 10, for each additional sample.
- If debris is generated from the sampling procedure, do not use a vacuum, wipe up with wet paper towels. Wash hands thoroughly following clean-up.
- Submit Sample to SLGL for Testing
- Complete SLGL’s Chain-of-Custody (COC); fill in the detailed information about the samples (sample identification, sample location, type of sample, time and date sample was collected, name of person collecting sample) as well as contact information.
- The cost for analysis is $26.25 per sample for a five (5) business day turnaround time (TAT). If you require analytical results quicker than 5 business days, the laboratory can certainly expedite the samples with a mark-up applied to the standard cost: 200% for same day TAT, 100% for 24 hour TAT, and 50% for 48 hour TAT.
- Return the completed COC, a check, payable to The Scott Lawson Group, Ltd., and the samples to SLGL for analysis. Please do not put check in the sample bags.
Send samples to:
The Scott Lawson Group, Ltd.
Attn: Laboratory
20 Chenell Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
- If returning samples by mail or courier, please pack the samples properly to avoid damage. Use sufficient packing material to prevent shifting of materials while in transit.
- Call SLGL’s in-house Laboratory, (800) 645-7674, for additional help, if needed.
Links:
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html#dosdonts
http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/cb/ceps/ams/index.htm
