Asbestos Testing and Surveys in Salem, Oregon

An asbestos survey tells you which materials in a building contain asbestos before you disturb them. In Oregon it's often legally required, and landfills generally want to see the report. Here's how surveys and testing work in the Salem area.

When Oregon requires an asbestos survey

Under OAR 340-248-0270(1), the owner or operator must have an accredited inspector complete a survey before a demolition or renovation, unless an exemption applies. According to DEQ's survey fact sheet and housing page, this covers:

• All commercial buildings, and
• Residential buildings built before January 1, 2004, including houses, modular and manufactured homes, condos, duplexes and buildings with up to four units.

Residential buildings with four or fewer units built after Jan. 1, 2004 are exempt from these work-practice rules (OAR 340-248-0250).

The owner-occupant exemption, and its limit

If you own and live in a single-unit home and you do the renovation work inside it yourself, you don't need a survey. DEQ still recommends a survey or lab testing of suspect materials first, and you must still follow packaging and disposal rules. The exemption doesn't apply to demolition, or when you hire someone else to do the work.

Renovation vs demolition

DEQ defines demolition as wrecking or removing a load-supporting structural feature (or intentionally burning a building). Renovation is altering components without removing load-supporting structure, such as ventilation, pipes, ceilings, walls, flooring and insulation.

What a survey includes

• Samples of every suspect material, with at least one bulk sample per homogeneous material, and at least three random samples for sprayed or troweled-on surfacing such as ceiling texture (OAR 340-248-0270(3)). Material can also be presumed to contain asbestos instead of being sampled.
• Analysis by an accredited laboratory (required since Jan. 1, 2021). DEQ lists asbestos laboratories.
• For a partial renovation, only the area affected by the project needs surveying.
• A written report. A copy must stay on site during the work and go to DEQ on request.

DEQ's survey training materials note that samples a homeowner collected can't stand in for a required survey when a contractor does the work, and that survey reports don't expire.

Testing one material

Wondering about a single popcorn ceiling or an old floor? DEQ allows owner-occupants to send samples to a lab, but EPA recommends that a trained, accredited professional take samples, because sampling done wrong can release fibers. If in doubt, EPA says, treat the material as if it contains asbestos and leave it alone. DEQ publishes a list of materials that may contain asbestos.

Finding an accredited inspector

DEQ keeps a list of accredited asbestos inspectors; confirm the inspector's current AHERA accreditation. If you'd rather not search, use the form below and we'll pass your request to one independent inspector or licensed firm that serves your ZIP code.

Survey cost ranges: see asbestos removal and testing cost.