Asbestos is a hidden danger present in thousands of buildings around Aotearoa. Prior to the 1980s, when asbestos was being processed into asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and used to build homes and businesses, the construction workers and processors didn’t know how hazardous these materials would turn out to be.
As a result, it can be difficult to find asbestos on properties, which is why we need to test materials instead of visually identifying them. If you’re concerned that you might have asbestos on your property, it’s important to partner with an asbestos laboratory that you trust to give you accurate results.
These results will inform what you do next, whether that’s isolating the asbestos to keep it from being disturbed or contract removalists to take it out of the building entirely. In other words, if you’re seeking asbestos services in NZ, it’s vital that you know how to spot the professionals.
In this blog post, we’ll unpack a few key factors to look for in an asbestos testing laboratory. We’ll explore what it means to be a professional asbestos tester and what certifications you should look for, all in the name of ensuring you get accurate results so you can deal with any potential asbestos safely.
1. Accreditation and Certification
The first and most important thing to look for in any laboratory offering asbestos services in NZ is a valid certification. In New Zealand, an IANZ (International Accreditation New Zealand) accreditation for asbestos testing is the gold standard for these laboratories.
It’s not just about the piece of paper. An IANZ-accredited asbestos testing laboratory follows strict quality controls and testing protocols every step of the way, ensuring the results you get back are absolutely reliable and meet international standards.
On top of that, a reputable laboratory should follow the guidelines set out by WorkSafe New Zealand, which has a specific set of regulations around asbestos safety (the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016). This is more about making sure that any asbestos given to a lab is handled, tested, and reported in a way that keeps both the lab workers and you safe.
What to look for: Seek laboratories with an IANZ-accredited team.
2. Experience and Reputation
Any facility offering asbestos services in NZ should have a strong reputation in the industry. A lab with years of experience and plenty of positive customer feedback is much more likely to provide accurate, timely results.
When you’re assessing asbestos services in NZ is reputation, consider:
- Their online reviews, especially the ones from people who have the same problem as you (i.e. if you’re a homeowner, look for reviews from other homeowners).
- How long they’ve been in the industry, and whether they have partnerships with asbestos removal professionals.
What to look for: When in doubt, browsing their website or the associated Google reviews is a good place to start.
3. Testing Methods and Accuracy
Here’s the thing: asbestos can be present in a number of different materials, and the remnants of those materials can end up in the natural landscape around the property. That means asbestos could be in your soil, your roof, your walls, anywhere.
That’s why accredited stationary and mobile asbestos laboratory setups use a variety of testing methods to figure out whether asbestos is present. On top of that, they use other testing methods to determine how much asbestos is in a sample.
To make sure you’re partnering with someone who knows what they are doing, look for asbestos services in NZ that offer Polarised Light Microscopy (PLM) with the option to upgrade to more advanced techniques when the situation calls for it.
4. Comprehensive Reporting and Interpretation
The most important part of partnering with a laboratory that offers asbestos services in NZ is to know what to do with your results once you receive them. A good testing lab should not only provide the raw ‘present/absent’ asbestos testing results, but they should also offer a clear, easy-to-understand report with recommendations of what to do next.
Seek out someone – either an in-place or mobile asbestos laboratory – that provides:
- Detailed reports that specify where asbestos was found, in what quantity, and in which type.
- Recommendations for your next steps based on the results.
- Expert interpretation of the findings so you understand what action needs to be taken.
5. Mobile On-Site Sampling & Drop-Off Services
It’s important to seek out a laboratory that works with you to sample asbestos as safely as possible. If you don’t feel confident sampling asbestos for yourself, any reputable lab will offer on-site sampling. Some, like ours, even come equipped with a mobile asbestos laboratory that can be on-site to sample and monitor properties during renovations and demolitions.
If you do choose to collect a sample yourself, make sure to follow the lab guidelines and pay attention to the WorkSafe regulations to keep yourself safe. Asbestos can be very dangerous when mishandled, so it’s important to take things slowly and approach sampling with caution.
Ultimately, whether you’re partnering with a mobile asbestos laboratory, a chain, or an individual tester, you should always seek out someone accredited and with a rich history of satisfied clients.
Make sure they are equipped with the knowledge to guide you through the next steps, and ideally have connections in the industry in case you require asbestos removalists or some other form of remediation.
Trust New Zealand’s top team offering asbestos services in NZ.
At Consultex Labs, we’re proud to provide reputable, fast, and accurate asbestos services for NZ businesses and homeowners trying to manage potential asbestos on their properties.
Get in touch to hire our mobile asbestos laboratory to come to your property, or send a sample to our laboratory for a quick and easy asbestos identification.