Hazpro is an industry leader
Compliant with all WorkSafeBC and Health Canada regulations. HAZPRO safeguards your family’s health and safety during the asbestos abatement process.
The HazPro Difference
Hazpro Environmental is an industry leader in testing, surveying and inspecting, and removing asbestos, vermiculite, mold, and other hazardous materials that may be present in your home. We ensure the highest quality of services and adhere to all applicable regulatory requirements.
We specialize in removing all types of asbestos containing materials from homes including:
Not found in the gypsum but may be incorporated in the finished drywall wallboard product. Commonly found in drywall patching and joint compound.
Asbestos was mixed in to plaster as a strengthening fiber as well as the top or finishing coat as a fire retardant. The presence of asbestos in plaster ceilings requires professional removal to deal with the significant health risks.
The highest concentration of asbestos in vinyl sheet flooring, is in the papery backing material, which is likely to release dust particles when removed from the subfloor.
Asbestos can be found in the backing of vinyl tile at relatively low levels (about 5%). Since the material isn’t friable there is a very low risk of abestos particles becoming airborne and doesn’t require containment when being removes.
Asbestos duct tape contains a percentage of Asbestos (80%) and is usually found on forced air heating joints and ducts. Do not try and contain, paint, or cover asbestos duct tape in any way. Consult the pros at Hazpro to better understand what you should do next.
Typically a quarter inch board found in flooring around the base of heating boots (although can be found elsewhere), fiberboard contains a high percentage of asbestos similar to asbestos duct tape and is easily friable. Frayed fiberboard should be treated seriously.
Commonly found in textured walls and ceilings (popcorn ceilings) texture coatings were mixed on site and can contain varying levels of asbestos. It’s important to note that at one time asbestos was considered a high quality (luxury) product so higher levels are often found in better quality homes.
Inherently vermiculite does not contain asbestos, however most of Canada’s vermiculite came from the Libby Mine in Montana, USA and was sold under the name Zolonite. This mine had a natural deposit of asbestos which resulted in the vermiculite being contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite is friable and asbestos particles can become airborne easily when disturbed.
Commonly found as an insulator around radiant heat systems and contains a high percentage of asbestos. Asbestos particles can easily become airborne when disturbed and should be treated with caution.
Used as an insulator asbestos boiler parging was mixed on site and slathered directly on the boiler, joints, etc.
Can be found in durroids, asphalt shingles, and torch-on roofing but most likely in the mastics and cocking.
Known as transite this material looks very similar to cedar siding/shakes. It can be identified by its white, fibrous composition. Transite can be deteriorated, soft, friable, crumbly and easily made into powder and debris when exposed to weather over time, releasing harmful asbestos fibres into the air.
Acoustical tiling ranging in size and use from residential to commercial. 2 x 4 ceiling tiles containing asbestos are commonly found in older office buildings.
Commonly used as an adhesive or sealant asbestos containing mastics can be found in window cocking, electrical panel cocking, in vinyl floor adhesive, and under kitchen sinks.
Our employees are certified in-house as Asbestos Hazard Abatement Specialists and are educated on cutting edge safe work practices for hazardous materials abatement. All of our staff are well versed in the construction and abatement industry and are compliant with all WorkSafeBC and Health Canada regulations. Only specially trained and certified crews like ours can safeguard your family’s health and safety during the asbestos abatement process.
Our unique HazVac system separates us from the competition, saves your home from unwanted contamination, and saves you money.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a blanket term for a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals (a combination of minerals, silica, and oxygen that form into rocks). These six types are separated into two groups: serpentines, which include chrysotile; and amphiboles which include crocidolite, tremolite, amosite, anthophylite and actinolite.
The types of asbestos are separated into these groups according to chemical composition and health hazard. These minerals are mined and exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties.
Asbestos can be very harmful to your health, but only if you breath it in. If you’re concerned about asbestos in your home, please contact us.
Identifying Asbestos
Asbestos was a popular building material in Victoria homes for many years. Asbestos was used in a wide range of manufactured products largely because of its heat resistant properties. Before 1990, asbestos was mainly used for insulating buildings and homes against cold weather and noise, and for fireproofing.
Asbestos is a friable material which means that when it is dry, it can be crumbled releasing small fibres into the air as a toxic dust. Inhaling asbestos is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all cost!
The human health effects from long-term asbestos exposure are well documented, including asbestosis and changes in the lining of the lungs (pleural abnormalities). All forms of asbestos have been shown to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Purchasing a home with Asbestos?
WorkSafeBC regulations state that if a home is older than 1990, it could contain asbestos. According to 2006 Census data, 80% of homes within the CRD were built prior to 1990, and as such could have asbestos containing materials present.
Buying a home is a big purchase and renovation budgets are limited. It can be quite a shock for new home owners to discover that they require a hazardous material survey prior to a renovation or demolition, and depending on the results, potentially also have asbestos removal work done. This can result in a substantial increase in costs and cause time delays.
From our experience, insurance and financial companies are getting stricter in their requirements when it comes to asbestos in the home. Many require that certain types of asbestos materials are removed prior to obtaining insurance or a mortgage. This is almost always an unexpected situation for the new home owner, and can be avoided by dealing with the hazardous materials prior to purchasing the home.
