Does Health Canada advise hiring a pro for asbestos testing in Ottawa?

Health Canada advises hiring a professional to test before renovating if you suspect asbestos-containing materials are present, and hiring a qualified asbestos removal specialist if asbestos is found. That advice applies whether you are in Ottawa, Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans or anywhere else in the service area.

The reason testing matters before any renovation work starts is straightforward. Health Canada notes there are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos are left undisturbed, isolated or tightly bound in good condition. The risk comes from renovation activities such as drilling, sawing, sanding, scraping or breaking materials apart, which can release fibres. Knowing what you have before work begins lets the contractor plan the right approach under O. Reg. 278/05.

What testing tells the contractor

Under O. Reg. 278/05, a bulk sample is treated as asbestos-containing material if it contains 0.5 per cent or more asbestos by dry weight, using the EPA/600/R-93/116 lab method. Once a material tests positive, the contractor classifies the work as Type 1, Type 2 or Type 3 depending on whether the material is friable and how much of it will be disturbed. That classification is made on site, not from a description or a photo, and it determines what controls, training and notices apply. For Type 3 work, the employer must notify a Ministry of Labour inspector before starting, and clearance air testing is required once the enclosure is dry. None of that planning is possible without a test result first.

Published prices for a pre-renovation inspection with asbestos testing, or a designated substance survey, run roughly $250 to $1,300 depending on the size of the building and the number of samples taken. Those are published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026. The size of the building and the number of samples move the price.

If you have already disturbed a suspect material, stop the work, do not disturb it further, and have it tested by a professional before anything resumes.

For a straightforward testing question, the contractor is the right first call, because they can assess which materials to sample and give you a written scope before any work begins. If you want to understand what the regulation requires of whoever you hire, the Ministry of Labour is the place to ask.