Is vermiculite removal a Type 3 job in Ontario?

The Type depends on what the contractor finds on site, not on the material itself. Vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos, but whether a removal falls under Type 1, Type 2 or Type 3 is decided by two things: whether the material is friable, and how much of it is disturbed.

Under O. Reg. 278/05, the thresholds work like this. If the friable asbestos-containing material disturbed is one square metre or less, the work is Type 2. If it is more than one square metre of friable material, the work is Type 3. The contractor assesses friability on site. Section 12(5) of the regulation also says the total area worked consecutively in a room or enclosed area counts as one job, even if the work is split into smaller sessions, so the Type cannot be lowered by dividing the attic into smaller visits.

If more than one square metre of friable asbestos-containing material is disturbed, the job is Type 3. Type 3 carries specific legal requirements. Before work starts, the constructor or employer must notify, orally and in writing, an inspector at the nearest Ministry of Labour office. Every worker must have completed the Asbestos Abatement Worker Training Program approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and every supervisor the Asbestos Abatement Supervisor Training Program, before work begins. After the work, clearance air testing under section 18 of the regulation must be conducted by a competent worker once the enclosure is dry. The area passes using the PCM method only if every air sample does not exceed 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre, with at least 2,400 litres drawn per filter. Results must be posted within 24 hours, and the owner keeps a copy for at least one year.

Health Canada advises that you should not attempt to remove vermiculite yourself, and that you should hire professionals trained to handle asbestos if you plan to renovate. Waste leaving the site must comply with Ontario Regulation 347: it goes only to a disposal site whose operator has agreed to accept it and has been advised of its arrival time, packed in a sealed rigid impermeable container with the required labelling. Ask the contractor which disposal site has agreed to take the load before work starts.

Published Ontario contractor prices for vermiculite attic removal run from $5,000 to $25,000 per attic, based on published prices read in September 2026. A clearance air test after the work runs roughly $300 to $800. You can check whether a contractor has a current WSIB clearance through the WSIB online search.

Before you commit to a contract, ask the contractor to confirm the Type in writing, show that workers and the supervisor have completed the required training programs, and tell you when the Ministry of Labour inspector notice will be filed and what the clearance air test results will look like once the enclosure is dry.