Asbestos or Vermiculite During a Quebec Renovation: Stop Work
Avoid spreading fibres, have materials characterized and control the contractor, work area and waste.
Do not decide by appearance
Older insulation, sprayed coatings, pipe insulation, tile, panels, plaster, compounds and other materials can contain asbestos. Vermiculite is not automatically contaminated, but its origin and content require assessment. Have a competent person design sampling instead of breaking off a piece yourself.
Control the work
Ask in writing which materials will be disturbed, how the area will be contained, who will perform the work, which equipment will be used and how waste will be packaged and transported. Verify contractor licensing and responsibility as well as worker health-and-safety requirements.
If dust already spread
Keep occupants, especially children, away and do not dry-clean the area. Photograph it without disturbance and contact a specialist. For an exposure or health concern, use 811 or a clinician; at a workplace, also notify the health-and-safety lead.
Before reoccupying
Obtain results, the scope of work, disposal records and reoccupancy criteria. A negative result from one sample does not automatically cover every material or room.