Is a clearance test required after Type 2 asbestos work in Ontario?

No, Ontario's asbestos regulation does not require a clearance air test after Type 2 work. Section 18 of O. Reg. 278/05 is the only place clearance air testing appears, and it applies to Type 3 operations. The Type 1 and Type 2 sections of the regulation (sections 14 to 17) contain no clearance test requirement.

That said, nothing stops you from asking a contractor to include a clearance air test in their quote for Type 2 work. If you want that assurance, put it in writing before the job starts. Under section 18, the test is conducted by a competent worker once the enclosure is dry, and results must be posted within 24 hours, with the owner keeping a copy for at least one year. The PCM method passes if every air sample does not exceed 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre, drawn at a minimum of 2,400 litres of air per filter. The TEM method passes if the inside average is statistically less than the outside average, or there is no statistical difference between them. Published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026 put an air clearance test at about $300 to $800.

A few other things worth knowing about Type 2 work. The contractor must ensure every worker has received instruction and training by a competent person, as required by section 19(1) of O. Reg. 278/05. For Type 3 work, section 20 requires workers and supervisors to have completed the Ministry-approved Asbestos Abatement training programs before work begins; that formal program requirement does not appear in the Type 2 sections. The Type itself is determined on site by the contractor, based on whether the material is friable and how much of it will be disturbed. Ask the contractor to confirm the Type in writing before work begins.

For waste, Ontario Regulation 347 requires that asbestos waste leave the site only to a disposal facility whose operator has agreed to accept it and has been told when to expect it. Ask the contractor which site they have arranged, and confirm that the driver is trained in asbestos waste management as the regulation requires.

Before you sign, ask the contractor whether they will include a clearance air test in the scope, and if not, what post-work verification they offer instead.

The request form on this page sends your job details to local abatement contractors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory.