The price of an asbestos analysis is one of the questions people planning a renovation ask most often. It varies from one provider to another, but analysing a single sample typically costs anything from a few tens of euros to around a hundred. This article explains what makes up the price and how to compare services sensibly.
What makes up the price of an asbestos analysis?
The price of an asbestos analysis has several components. The main ones are the laboratory work, the reporting and any postage. The laboratory work means preparing the sample and examining it under a microscope or by another method. Reporting covers documenting the results and delivering them to the customer in a clear form.
Some services include a shipping pack or a return envelope in the price, while others charge for them separately. To make comparison easier, always check what the total price covers.
Why do prices vary?
Prices differ between laboratories for several reasons: the analysis method used, the way results are reported, how quickly the service works and how much customer support comes with it. Cheaper services often give a bare result with no further interpretation, while at the more expensive end you may get an expert assessment and recommendations for what to do next.
When comparing prices, look at the instrument the laboratory uses as well. A reliable asbestos analysis calls for a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope and for the working steps set out in ISO 22262-1, so comparing on price alone can be misleading.
When is one sample enough?
In many cases a single sample is perfectly sufficient. If you want to check the tile adhesive in the bathroom before renovating, one sample of that material tells you whether it contains asbestos. One sample is also enough when the material is uniform throughout and the structure has no separate layers.
Several samples are usually needed when more than one room is being renovated, or when the structure has several different layers of material. In a bathroom, for instance, the tile adhesive, the wall filler and the floor adhesive may all need testing. Each material is a sample in its own right.
How do you compare services?
A good asbestos analysis service quotes a clear price with no hidden extras. Compare the following: what the price covers, how quickly you get the results, how the report is delivered and what kind of customer support is available. A low price is a good start, but the overall quality of the service is what decides it.
Look at how easy it is to send the sample, too. A postal service saves time and trouble and spares you a trip to the laboratory. At best the process is simple enough that the sample is on its way the same day.
The price set against the risk
The price of an asbestos analysis is small set against the risk of stripping out asbestos-containing material without knowing what it is. Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious illness, and cleaning up after the fact costs far more than testing in advance.
A single analysis is, in practice, the most affordable insurance a renovation can buy. It tells you how the material has to be handled and helps you avoid both costly mistakes and health risks. What you spend on it pays for itself many times over.
Ordering an analysis is easy
Ordering an asbestos analysis is straightforward. Take a sample of the material, pack it and post it to the laboratory. You get the results quickly by email. Take a look at our price list and choose the package that suits you - whether that is a single sample or several analyses at once.