When Is Asbestos Testing Required Before Renovating in Saskatchewan?

Vaz Digital Team
Jul 9
6 min read

Asbestos testing is required before renovating any building in Saskatchewan where the planned work will disturb materials that may contain asbestos. Since March 1, 2015, the City of Saskatoon has required an Asbestos Removal Notification form before issuing building permits for demolition, alteration, or renovation of any building constructed before 1990, and provincial occupational health and safety regulations require that all suspect materials be identified before any work that would disturb them.

What does Saskatchewan law require for asbestos testing before renovating?

Saskatchewan's occupational health and safety regulations place a clear obligation on building owners and employers: all asbestos-containing materials must be identified before any work that could disturb them. The Saskatchewan Employment Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, Part XXIII set out the requirements for asbestos management, including identification, inventory, and worker protection.

The provincial government's position is that any material likely to contain asbestos is treated as asbestos-containing material until proven otherwise through laboratory testing. Building owners and employers are responsible for identifying and maintaining an inventory of all ACM in their properties, and for ensuring that workers who may come into contact with these materials receive appropriate training.

For high-risk asbestos work, Saskatchewan regulations require 14 days' written notification to the Occupational Health and Safety Division before work begins. This gives the regulator time to review the scope and ensure proper controls are in place.

When is testing mandatory versus recommended?

Testing is mandatory whenever permitted renovation or demolition work will disturb suspect materials in a pre-1990 building in Saskatoon. The City of Saskatoon's Asbestos Removal Notification requirement means you cannot get a building permit without first addressing the asbestos question, which in practice means testing.

Outside of Saskatoon's municipal requirement, provincial OHS regulations still require that suspect materials be identified before disturbance. This applies to all workplaces in Saskatchewan, which includes any site where workers are performing renovation or demolition activities, even residential properties where contractors are hired.

Testing is strongly recommended, even when not strictly required by permit, in several situations: renovations in any pre-1990 building regardless of municipality, purchasing a home built before 1990, any DIY renovation that will disturb insulation, ceiling texture, flooring, or pipe wrap in older buildings, and after flood or fire damage in older structures where materials may have been disturbed.

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association states clearly that "testing of suspect asbestos containing materials through a building survey should be completed by a competent person prior to renovations and demolition."

Which materials need to be tested?

Asbestos was used in hundreds of building products from the 1950s through the late 1990s. The most common materials that need testing before renovation include textured ceilings (popcorn or stipple coatings), vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring, pipe and duct insulation, vermiculite attic insulation, drywall joint compound, exterior stucco, roofing materials and shingles, boiler and furnace insulation, and cement board siding.

The University of Saskatchewan's Asbestos Management Program defines asbestos-containing material as any material with more than 1% asbestos by weight for non-friable materials, more than 0.5% for friable materials, or any amount if the material is vermiculite. This aligns with federal guidelines and reflects that vermiculite requires a lower threshold because of its historical association with asbestos contamination from the Liberia mine.

You cannot identify asbestos by looking at a material. The only way to confirm whether a material contains asbestos is through laboratory analysis, where a qualified lab examines samples using methods like Polarized Light Microscopy or Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Who is qualified to do asbestos testing?

Saskatchewan regulations use the term "competent person" to describe someone qualified to identify and sample suspected asbestos-containing materials. A competent person has the training, knowledge, and experience to recognize ACM, collect samples without releasing fibres, and interpret laboratory results.

The SCSA maintains a list of occupational hygiene consultants and laboratories serving Saskatchewan and Western Canada. When selecting a testing company, look for inspectors with documented asbestos assessment training and experience using accredited laboratories for sample analysis.

Independence matters. A company that both tests for asbestos and performs abatement has a financial incentive to find problems. An independent testing company gives you an unbiased result that you can take to any abatement contractor for competitive quotes.

What happens if you renovate without testing?

Disturbing asbestos without knowing it is there creates two categories of problems: legal and health.

On the legal side, contractors who disturb ACM without proper identification and controls can face fines under Saskatchewan's occupational health and safety legislation. The building owner may also be liable. Insurance coverage for resulting contamination cleanup is often excluded or limited when proper procedures were not followed.

On the health side, asbestos fibres released during renovation become airborne and can be inhaled by anyone in the building. Asbestos exposure causes lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, with disease typically appearing 20 years or more after exposure. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure once fibres are airborne.

The financial impact of uncontrolled disturbance is also severe. What might have been a manageable $2,000 to $5,000 abatement project can become a $15,000 to $30,000 decontamination job when asbestos is spread throughout a home by renovation work done without testing.

What is the testing process?

The testing process follows a predictable sequence. First, a competent person conducts a pre-renovation survey of the building, identifying all materials that will be disturbed by the planned work. They assess each material's condition and likelihood of containing asbestos based on the building's age and construction type.

Next, the inspector collects bulk samples from each suspect material. Samples are taken carefully to avoid releasing fibres, using wet methods and proper containment. Each sample is sealed, labelled, and sent to an accredited laboratory.

The lab analyzes each sample and reports whether asbestos is present, the type of asbestos, and the concentration. Results typically come back in 3 to 5 business days, with rush service available in 24 to 48 hours.

If asbestos is found, a risk assessment determines whether the planned renovation work is classified as low, moderate, or high risk. This classification dictates what control measures, protective equipment, and notifications are required before work can proceed.

How much does pre-renovation asbestos testing cost?

A pre-renovation asbestos assessment in Saskatchewan typically costs $200 to $600 for a standard residential property, with the final price depending on the number of materials that need sampling. Each bulk sample adds $25 to $50 in lab costs on top of the inspection fee. A simple renovation affecting one or two materials might need only two samples, while a full-house renovation in an older home could require six to ten.

The cost of testing is minimal compared to the cost of remediation if asbestos is disturbed without proper controls. A $300 to $500 inspection is a fraction of what cleanup costs when contamination spreads through a building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is asbestos testing required before renovating in Saskatchewan? Yes. Saskatchewan OHS regulations require that all suspect materials be identified before any work that would disturb them. In Saskatoon specifically, the City requires an Asbestos Removal Notification form before issuing building permits for renovation or demolition of pre-1990 buildings.

What year homes need asbestos testing before renovation? Any building constructed before 1990 should be tested before renovation work that will disturb suspect materials. Buildings from the 1950s through the late 1980s are most likely to contain asbestos in common building materials like insulation, ceiling texture, floor tiles, and joint compound.

Can I do my own asbestos testing before renovating? DIY test kits exist, but Saskatchewan regulations require identification by a competent person, someone with proper training and experience. Collecting samples without proper technique risks releasing asbestos fibres into your home. Professional testing is strongly recommended, especially for pre-renovation assessments where missing a material could have serious consequences.

How long does asbestos testing take before I can start renovating? The on-site inspection and sampling takes 1 to 2 hours for a typical residential property. Standard lab results come back in 3 to 5 business days. Rush turnaround (24 to 48 hours) is available at additional cost. Plan to have testing completed at least one to two weeks before your renovation start date.

What happens if asbestos is found during renovation? All work must stop immediately. The area must be isolated to prevent further fibre release, and a competent person must assess the extent of disturbance. Depending on the situation, professional abatement may be required before renovation work can continue. Continuing work after discovering asbestos without proper controls violates Saskatchewan OHS regulations.

Do I need asbestos testing for minor renovations? If the work will disturb materials that could contain asbestos, testing is required regardless of the project size. Even small projects like removing a section of ceiling texture, replacing floor tiles, or cutting into drywall joint compound in a pre-1990 building can release asbestos fibres if the material is contaminated. The scope of the renovation does not change the testing requirement.