What cannot be determined at the time of an asbestos inspection?

During an asbestos inspection, the presence of asbestos-containing material can be identified. Inspectors typically use visual assessments, historical data, and sample collection to determine whether materials are likely to contain asbestos. However, what cannot be conclusively determined at the time of inspection is the exact concentration of asbestos in the material.

This limitation stems from the fact that while an inspector can identify materials that are suspect, precise quantification of asbestos fibers requires laboratory analysis of collected samples. The results from such analyses may reveal not just whether asbestos is present, but also how much is present, which cannot be definitively known during the inspection itself.

Moreover, the location of potential exposure can often be established during the inspection by evaluating areas where asbestos might be improperly managed or disturbed, and identifying the type of asbestos mineral may also be possible through analysis of samples taken during the inspection. Thus, while presence, potential exposure sites, and types can be addressed to varying degrees at the inspection stage, quantifying the concentration specifically is not feasible without subsequent laboratory testing.