ASBESTOS

How to take a Sample for Lab Testing

The Public Health Service does not undertake asbestos testing for building reports related to property sale/purchase agreements, for commercial/rental property, for builders, or other commercial enterprises. We only undertake free testing for householders wanting to remove their own (DIY) flooring or cladding material that potentially contains asbestos. Contractors may send a sample directly to a laboratory at their cost. Two companies offer this asbestos testing service: Capital Environmental Services - www.fibres.co.nz Hill Laboratories - www.hill-laboratories.com

If you decide to take a sample yourself, it is important that you do it safely to make sure that you do not expose yourself or others to asbestos fibres. Make sure that no other persons are present during sampling unless they are wearing personal protective equipment e.g., overalls and a respirator. Please read the information below if you are considering taking an asbestos sample.

What you will need:

* Re-sealable plastic bags	* Plastic drop sheets

* Disposable overalls & gloves	* Water spray bottle

* Thick plastic waste bag	* Sticky tape

* Detergent	* Cloth

* Wet wipes (moist towelette)

* At least a P2 disposable respirator or half mask respirator fitted with a P2 filter

The above equipment required to take a sample should be available at any hardware store.

Steps

Wear a P2 respirator and disposable overalls before attempting to remove the sample.

Place a plastic drop sheet directly beneath the sampling point to catch any loose material that may fall off while taking the sample.

Fill the water spray bottle and add a few drops of detergent.

Use the spray bottle so the mist wets the material that you are sampling.

Do not disturb the material any more than is needed to take the sample.

Textured Plaster Ceilings/Walls – gently scrape 2-3 cm2 of textured material off the ceiling with a flat edge scraper. Do this in 3-5 different ceiling/wall areas.

Vinyl Floor Coverings or Linoleum Tiles – cut off a piece about 2-3 cm2. Ensure the papery backing material which usually remains stuck to the floor is included in the sample.

Cement sheet – cut off a piece about 2-3 cm2

Place the sample into a re-sealable plastic bag. Each sample must be placed in a separate bag. Double bag the sample.

Label the bag with the date, location of sample (ceiling/floor/wall etc.), owner name, property address, phone number and email.

If taking another sample clean the sampling tools between each sample to avoid cross-contamination. Wiping with a wet wipe or cleaning under running water is sufficient.

Cleaning up after taking a sample – use a damp cloth to wet wipe any sampling equipment and any material around the area that the sample was taken from.

Seal the sampling point after collecting the sample. Cover with sticky tape or similar.

Carefully wrap the plastic drop sheet to seal it.

Place overalls, damp rags, sealed drop sheet and any other materials (P2 respirator, wet wipes, gloves etc) used in collecting the sample into a plastic rubbish bag.

Only remove your respirator once the entire clean-up process has been completed.

Wash your hands including under finger-nails.

Contact your local Council for advice on the disposal of the waste bag.

Complete the attached Asbestos Sample Detail sheet.

Take sample(s) to either the Nelson office at

281 Queen Street, Richmond

or the Marlborough office at

22 Queen Street, Blenheim

The Public Health Service is unable to accept samples from commercial operators, including property managers and real estate agents, builders etc. The funding of sample analysis is for homeowner’s DIY work only. By submitting this sample, you are acknowledging that you are not a commercial operator.

ASBESTOS SAMPLE DETAIL
Date:	Client Name & Address:
Phone:	Mobile:	Email:
ADDRESS: (Where sample taken if different from above):
Sample Location (e.g. flooring from kitchen, ceiling material from lounge, cladding from west side of house etc.)	Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4