Yes, you can take an asbestos sample yourself and send it to a laboratory for analysis. It is a common and safe way to find out whether a building material contains asbestos. Taking your own sample suits situations where only a few materials need testing and the renovation is confined to one room or structure.
When does taking your own sample work?
It works well when you know which material you want tested and can free a small piece of it. Typical cases are testing bathroom tile adhesive, checking vinyl flooring or its adhesive, having wall filler analysed, or confirming a single material before a small job.
Taking the sample yourself is especially handy when you want to settle the asbestos content of one or two materials quickly and cheaply. There is no need to call in a professional; you can deal with it on your own schedule.
When should you use a professional?
An asbestos survey by a professional is the better option when the renovation is extensive and a lot of material is coming out. A full refurbishment, a pipe replacement project or the demolition of a whole building normally calls for a wider survey, in which a professional identifies every possible asbestos material and samples them systematically.
A professional is also a good choice when you are not sure which material the sample should come from, or when the structure has several layers that take experience to tell apart. A skilled surveyor knows the materials of each period and knows where to take the sample.
Staying safe when sampling yourself
Taking your own sample is safe when you follow the basics. Wear an FFP3 respirator and protective gloves. Shut off the ventilation in the room while you work and wipe the area with a damp cloth afterwards.
Taking a single sample raises very little dust, and brief exposure poses no immediate health risk. The precautions still matter, because they are easy to take and reduce the risk further still.
Sampling in practice
Take the sample like this: identify the material, free a piece about 2-5 cm across with a knife or chisel, put it in a Minigrip bag and label it clearly. Make sure you take it from the right layer - the tile adhesive, for instance, rather than just the tile.
Pack the sample tightly and post it to the laboratory. Enclose your contact details and a note of the material the sample came from. You will have the results by email on the day the sample arrives at the laboratory.
The advantages of sampling yourself
Taking your own sample is a quick, inexpensive and practical way to settle the asbestos question. There is no appointment to arrange; you take the sample when it suits you. The process is simple: take the sample, put it in the post, get the result by email.
It suits the early stages of planning particularly well, when you first want to know whether asbestos is going to come into the job at all. One sample can save time, money and needless worry.
Summary
You can take an asbestos sample yourself, safely and easily. Doing it yourself suits limited renovations and the testing of individual materials. On larger projects, a survey by a professional is the better option. Either way, what matters most is establishing whether the materials contain asbestos before removal work begins.