Asbestos Air Testing & Clearance in Little Rock, AR
An asbestos air test measures whether fibers are in the air of a room right now. It is used for two things in Little Rock houses and buildings: the clearance test at the end of a removal, which proves the room is clean before the plastic comes down and people move back in, and a test after something has been disturbed, a scraped ceiling, a torn-up floor, damaged pipe wrap, to find out whether the space is safe to use. It is not the test for whether a material contains asbestos; that is a sample of the material itself, see asbestos testing. Call (501) 817-7825.
Clearance testing after a removal
When a removal is finished and the area has been cleaned, air pumps run in the sealed space for several hours, drawing the air through filters. The filters go to the lab and are counted. If the fiber count is below the clearance level, the plastic comes down and the room is handed back. If it is not, the area is cleaned again and re-tested. Arkansas requires clearance on removals above its size limits; on smaller jobs it is optional and we recommend it whenever the room is going to be lived in.
The result is a one-page lab report with the count and the pass, and it is the document that ends the job: a buyer, a lender, a landlord or a tenant can read it and see that the space was tested clean on a given date. On our own removals the clearance test is part of the quote. On another contractor's removal, we come in as an independent tester.
Air testing after a disturbance
Someone scraped the popcorn ceiling before it was tested. A flooring crew ground the old tile. Pipe wrap fell off in the basement and was swept up. A storm or a fire broke up material. In each case the question is whether the rooms are safe to be in now, and an air test answers it. If the count is high, the space is closed and cleaned as a contamination before anyone goes back in; if it is low, life carries on and the damaged material is dealt with in the normal way. See found asbestos during a renovation.
The two lab methods, in plain words
The standard test counts all fibers of a certain size on the filter under a light microscope. It is quick and cheap, and it is what clearance on most house jobs uses. The high-resolution test uses an electron microscope and identifies asbestos fibers specifically; it costs more and takes longer, and it is what a lawyer, an insurer or a large commercial job asks for. We tell you which one the situation needs and quote both when it matters.
What asbestos air testing costs in Little Rock
Air samples run $150 to $400 each depending on the lab method, and a typical clearance on a house job, several samples across the work area, is $600 to $1,500. On our own removals it is in the quote. After a disturbance, the number of samples depends on how many rooms are affected. Every price on the site is on the asbestos removal cost page.
Prices on this page are estimates from previous work. We cannot quote an exact price. The actual cost can be lower or higher depending on the job. The person who knows is the professional who will do the work. You get a written quote after we see the house.
How to get started
Call (501) 817-7825 and tell us whether this is a clearance after a removal or a test after something was disturbed, how many rooms, and who needs to see the result. We book the visit and the lab report follows. If you would rather write, use the contact page.
Related services
- Asbestos Testing & Inspection in Little Rock, AR
- Residential Asbestos Abatement in Little Rock, AR
- Commercial Asbestos Removal & Abatement in Little Rock, AR
- Found Asbestos During a Renovation? What to Do Next in Little Rock
- Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos Testing & Removal in Little Rock, AR
- Asbestos Removal Cost in Little Rock, AR
Asbestos air testing questions
How much does an asbestos air test cost?
$150 to $400 per sample in Little Rock depending on the lab method. A clearance on a typical house removal, several samples, is $600 to $1,500, and it is included in our own removal quotes.
Is an air test the same as an asbestos test?
No. An air test says whether fibers are in the air now. An asbestos test is a sample of the material, the ceiling, the tile, the wrap, and says whether the material contains asbestos. If you want to know what is in the house, you need the material test.
Do I need a clearance test after a popcorn ceiling removal?
Arkansas requires it above the state size limits. Below that it is optional, and we do it anyway on rooms people live in, because the report is what proves the room was clean.
How long does an air test take?
The pumps run for several hours in the space. Standard results are back in one to two days; rush results within hours when a move-in or a closing is waiting.
Someone scraped the ceiling before testing it. What now?
Close the room, keep people and pets out, do not vacuum or sweep. Call. We sample the material and the air, and tell you whether it is a clean-up or a false alarm.
Do you do air testing in North Little Rock and Benton?
Yes. Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Cabot, Bryant, Benton and Conway. Call (501) 817-7825.
Need a clearance result?
Call (501) 817-7825. Independent air samples, lab result in writing you can hand to a buyer or a landlord.