Step By Step Guide

Sample Collection

(Source: US Environmental Protection Agency)

Note: You cannot be sure that a material contains asbestos by just looking at it with a naked eye. Therefore, treat all suspect material as if they contain asbestos.

• Shut down any heating or cooling systems to minimize the spread of any released fibers.
• Do not disturb the material any more than is needed to take a small sample.
• Wet the material using a fine mist of water containing a few drops of detergent before taking the sample. The water/detergent mist will reduce the possibility of releasing asbestos fibers.
• Carefully cut/scrape a piece from the entire depth of the material using, for example, a small knife, corer, or other sharp objects.
• Cut/scrape only a small piece of the material. All materials can be grouped into two categories: friable, i.e. the material can be crushed into powder by hand (e.g Acoustic ceiling spray), and nonfriable (e.g. Floor tile, Siding). These amounts are adequate for testing:

For friable samples – 1 teaspoon

For nonfriable samples – 1 square inch piece

• Place the small piece into a clean container (for example, a ZipLock bag). Tightly seal the container after the sample is in it.
• Use a damp paper towel to clean up any material on the outside of the container or around the area sampled.
• Label the container with an ID number (for example, Sample #1)
• Use a damp paper towel to clean up any material on the outside of the container or around the area sampled.