Services Asbestos Testing/Bulk Analysis
Asbestos Testing/Bulk Analysis
Clyde Environmental Consultants ltd are UKAS accredited (No. 9102) to carry out bulk sample analysis in accordance with HSE guidance (Asbestos: The analysts’ guide for sampling, analysis and clearance procedures. HSG248) and are participants in the proficiency scheme AIMS and in house quality assurance system.
Sample analysis is carried out at our in-house laboratory in Bellshill, by our experienced team of P401 trained analysts. We can offer a testing service to client supplied samples or we can offer our Sampling Service where our surveyor can come to you to safely collect samples and return them for analysis.
There are 6 different types of asbestos fibres which are commonly found within building materials in the UK. The only way to know for sure whether a material contains asbestos is to test it.
Types of Asbestos
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Chrysotile
Chrysotile is one of the most common forms of asbestos. This type of asbestos accounts for approximately 90 percent of commercially-used asbestos in the world. Chrysotile asbestos fibres are long, white, and curly.
Amosite
Amosite asbestos is recognized by its straight fibers and yellow to dark brown colour. Amosite asbestos contains iron and magnesium, and was most used within different types of insulation products. Amosite is the second most commonly used asbestos type.
Crocidolite
Crocidolite takes the form of blue, straight fibers. It is a sodium-iron magnesium silicate and is considered to be the most dangerous type of asbestos due to its physical properties.
Tremolite
Tremolite was not mined or used commercially on its own, but could often be found contaminating other minerals, such as chrysotile, vermiculite, and talc.
Anthophyllite
Like tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite minerals were not sought out for their commercial use but instead found their way into products made with vermiculite and talc.
Actinolite
Actinolite fibre appears greenish in colour. Like tremolite and anthophyllite, actinolite asbestos is often found as a contaminant within different commercial asbestos products.
Bulk sample analysis involves the investigation and identification of asbestos fibres within building materials using stereo and polarised light microscopy. Once the samples have been analysed a certificate is produced clearly indicating what types of asbestos fibres have been identified (if any) and a copy of the certificate is supplied to the client.
Clyde Environmental operates a pre-arranged ‘same-day turnaround’ service whereby samples are received in the morning and the report is e-mailed to the client by the end of the day. Our turnaround time depends on clients’ needs and varies from 1 hour for an urgent sample up to 5 days for non-urgent samples. The cost of analysis varies as per the timeframe.
