We are leading in asbestos testing
Asbestos testing
Our asbestos testing service has been established for over 15 years, providing an asbestos analysis service to local Government, environmental consultants and landowners. We can safely transport your samples from your site to our laboratory and then we can accurately determine the amount and type of asbestos in soil, in bulk building materials, asbestos in aggregates – even asbestos in track ballast.
Asbestos testing lab
We offer asbestos testing, and we have a dedicated and specially trained team offering our asbestos testing service, accurately measuring for presence, type and respirable fibre counts. Our asbestos analysts are all qualified to BOHS P401 with designated staff qualified to BOHS P402 and BOHS P403. After 15 years of providing these specialist services to environmental consultants, geotechnical consultants, local authorities and the building industry, you can be confident of their expertise. We provide expert services to industry standard methods, including ‘Polarised Light Microscopy’ in our soil testing lab to determine the type of asbestos (and therefore the risk) in varying soils, aggregates and bulk materials.
Asbestos report
Our reports will include a confirmation of asbestos presence and quantities, types of asbestos present and the quantities of respirable asbestos fibres. There are three stages that will be reported on:
Stage 1: Identification Presence/absence of asbestos fibres using Polarised Light Microscopy as per HSG248
Stage 2: Quantification Detailed gravimetric, using Polarised Light Microscopy
Stage 3: Quantification Fibre dispersion, measurement and counting, using Polarised Light Microscopy and Phase Contrast Microscopy Respirable fibres – mass of asbestos fibres in range 1-5 microns.
We are fully certified and accredited; our asbestos reports are authoritative and comprehensive.
Polarised Light Microscopy
Polarised Light Microscopy is the main technique used in our asbestos lab to identify the type of asbestos. It is very important to get this right, as the type of asbestos determines how dangerous it is.
It works by the crystal lattice associated with silicate minerals such as asbestos interacting with the light rays of the microscope, allowing us to identify the presence and type of asbestos in the sample.
We also use PCM – Phase Contrast Microscopy – for fibre counting and phase 3 gravimetry.
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Normec DETS
Kent and County Durham United Kingdom
Accreditations and recognitions
Quality is central to everything we do
Our laboratories are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the British, European and International Standard for quality assurance in analytical laboratories – BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) provides recognition to international customers that we are accredited to this standard by a recognised accreditation body. All accredited methods are inspected and approved by UKAS and the full standard covers quality assurance and method-specific procedures. Normec DETS also belongs to proficiency testing schemes, including Aquacheck, Contest, AIMS, AISS, RICE and DCC.
UKAS schedule of accreditation, Consett
Normec DETS Limited, a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 2139
UKAS schedule of accreditation, Lenham
Normec DETS Limited, a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 4480