If you're renovating, repairing or demolishing an older building in Kamloops, asbestos testing is usually the first step. Here's what the process looks like, how to prepare, and what to do with the report once you have it.
When testing is needed
- Before renovation or demolition. Section 20.112 of B.C.'s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires a qualified person to inspect the building for hazardous materials, including asbestos, and prepare a written report before work begins.
- Before maintenance and repairs. WorkSafeBC advises homeowners, strata councils and property managers to have a qualified person create an inventory of any asbestos before maintenance work, so you can warn electricians, plumbers and HVAC workers about what they might encounter.
- When disposing of older materials. In Kamloops, the City treats material installed before 1990 as asbestos-containing unless a hazard assessment with lab results is provided ahead of time.
Before the visit
- Know roughly when the building was built and whether it's had earlier renovations.
- Be clear about the scope: which rooms, which surfaces and what will be removed or cut into.
- Make sure the surveyor can get to the attic, crawl space, basement and utility areas if those are part of the job.
- Don't start any demolition before the survey. The surveyor needs to see the materials as they are.
On the day
- Walk-through. The surveyor looks at the areas you plan to disturb and identifies suspect materials.
- Sampling. They take small samples of each suspect material in a controlled way, seal them and label where each came from. Expect several samples, because different materials, and the same material in different areas, may need separate samples.
- Lab analysis. Samples are sent to a lab to find out whether they contain asbestos.
Reading your report
Under section 20.112, the written report has to include:
- Where each sample was taken and whether it was found to be hazardous
- The methods used to identify the materials
- The location of each hazardous material, which can be shown on drawings or plans
- The approximate quantity of each hazardous material
The report must be available at the worksite. The survey can also cover lead and other hazardous materials, not just asbestos.
After the results
- No asbestos found in the areas being worked on: share the report with your contractor and keep a copy for disposal paperwork.
- Asbestos found: give the report to a licensed abatement contractor so their quote covers everything identified. Materials that the work could disturb have to be safely contained or removed, with written confirmation, before the work goes ahead. See asbestos abatement.
- Something new turns up mid-job: stop and have it assessed before continuing.
Questions to ask a surveyor
- Will the survey cover every area and material my project will disturb?
- Which lab do you use, and how long do results usually take?
- Will the report meet the requirements of OHS Regulation section 20.112 and what my contractor and the landfill will need?
- Does the survey include lead or other hazardous materials?
Sources: OHS Regulation Part 20, section 20.112; WorkSafeBC: asbestos information for homeowners; City of Kamloops: Asbestos Abatement and Safe Disposal; HealthLink BC: Asbestos.
This guide is general information, not legal or safety advice. For decisions about your property, rely on a qualified professional and WorkSafeBC. Last reviewed November 2, 2026.
Questions
How long do results take?
It depends on the surveyor and the lab they use. Ask when you book, especially if your renovation or demolition permit is waiting on the report.
How much does testing cost?
Prices vary with the size of the building, how many materials need sampling and how many samples the lab has to analyse, so there's no reliable flat price. A qualified surveyor can quote once they know about the property and the work you're planning.
Do I need the whole house tested?
Not always. For a renovation, the survey needs to cover the areas and materials that the work will disturb. For a demolition, the survey covers the building or structure being demolished. Tell the surveyor exactly what you're planning so the survey fits the job.