Useful Information & Tips About Hazardous Waste in Surrey & Greater Vancouver

If you suspect your home might need an asbestos inspection, keep reading to discover the steps to stay safe.

When purchasing a house or building it is important to consider the era the structure was built as materials used may affect the health of your new home. 

Did you know that most homes built in 1990 contain hazardous materials? Even newer homes have at least one of the different types of hazardous materials like asbestos or mercury. That is why it is crucial to find a survey crew to inspect before you begin construction, renovation, or demolition on a building.

Did you know Canada didn't ban asbestos until 2018?

As we're all well aware at this point, there are a lot of little particles floating around that can be bad for our health. Whether it's a virus or a product of the materials in our homes, it's good to know what's out there and how it can affect us. 

Asbestos is a commonly occurring fibrous silicate mineral that poses serious health risks. It becomes a hazard when its fibres become loose and airborne. These fibres can be easily inhaled, ingested and absorbed through the skin. People who are exposed to asbestos are in danger of diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. All this makes asbestos testing very crucial.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used as an insulator before the 1990s in the manufacturing of consumer, industrial, automotive and construction products. Asbestos materials can get disturbed during renovation or demolition, causing the fibres to be released into the air. Breathing in these asbestos fibres can lead to serious health issues including lung diseases and cancer. Renovating or demolishing a home, built before 1990, requires asbestos testing and analysis. Count on BC Hazmat Inspections for asbestos testing and analysis in Surrey and the Vancouver area. With NIOSH and AHERA certified team, we provide mould and asbestos testing services for our residential and industrial clients.

In the past, asbestos was a popular material due to its strength and fire-resistant properties. However, it’s since been linked to serious health problems in humans, including cancer. This can sound scary, especially if you suspect you might have it in your home. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to have it removed safely and minimize the risk to you and your family’s health. Here are some do’s and don’ts if you suspect there’s asbestos in your house.

Are you planning to start a construction or renovation project in British Columbia? Do you know there may be extremely hazardous materials in old buildings that are classified according to their toxicity? A specialized inspection can determine their presence (especially asbestos and lead) in a building structure.

Asbestos testing and inspection involves the examination of a building or a location for the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). This is an essential procedure to be completed before demolishing or renovating your old house mandated by WorkSafeBC. It is possible that among other things, the insulation or the texture coat contains this element. If being removed or disturbed, it may be extremely hazardous to ones health and must be removed and disposed of appropriately to ensure the safety of you and your family.

When starting any type of construction project here in B.C., you’re required by law to conduct a Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Survey. More buildings than you might think contain hazardous materials like asbestos and lead, which can pose significant health risks to the people that live and work in them. Here are three situations where it’s essential to schedule a hazmat inspection.

Planning a major commercial renovation or construction project at your place of business? Whether you’re in Surrey, Langley or elsewhere in the Greater Vancouver area, local laws state that you won’t be able to get started until you’ve had a thorough hazardous materials survey (hazmat survey) performed by an industry professional to ensure that there is no asbestos on site.

At BC Hazmat Inspections, we specialize in mould testing in the Surrey and Vancouver area. With thousands of different varieties of mould, it can be hard to tell if one has invaded your home. Let our experts give you a little information about how to identify mould and what to do if you have it.