Asbestos Type 1 and Type 2 in Ottawa & Eastern Ontario: What O. Reg. 278/05 Means Before You Renovate or Repair Water Damage
Pre-1990 Ottawa homes almost always contain asbestos. Here is what Type 1 and Type 2 work means under Ontario Regulation 278/05, where ACM hides, and why testing must come before demolition.
If your Ottawa or Eastern Ontario home was built before 1990, you should assume asbestos-containing material (ACM) is present somewhere in it until testing says otherwise. That is not alarmism — it is how the Ontario Ministry of Labour expects contractors to approach the work, and it is the single most common reason renovation and water damage projects in the National Capital Region get shut down mid-job.
This guide explains what Type 1 and Type 2 asbestos work actually mean under Ontario Regulation 278/05, where asbestos hides in Ottawa-area housing stock, what a compliant abatement looks like, and how asbestos intersects with a flood or fire claim.
Why asbestos matters the moment water or fire damage happens
Asbestos is only dangerous when fibres become airborne. Undisturbed vinyl tile, cement board or drywall joint compound is stable. A flooded basement changes that: saturated drywall gets cut out, vinyl tile lifts, pipe insulation gets bumped, and a demolition crew with a reciprocating saw can turn a stable material into an airborne hazard in minutes.
That is why our crews treat every pre-1990 property as a designated substance risk before any water damage restoration demolition begins. Cutting first and testing later is how a straightforward claim becomes a contaminated house.
Where asbestos hides in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario homes
Typical locations in NCR housing stock built between roughly 1930 and 1990:
- Drywall joint compound (very common in 1960s–1980s Nepean, Alta Vista and Orleans builds)
- 9x9 and 12x12 vinyl floor tile and the black cutback adhesive underneath
- Vermiculite attic insulation (Zonolite) in century homes and post-war bungalows
- Pipe and boiler insulation in older Centretown, Glebe and Sandy Hill basements
- Cement board, transite flue pipe and siding
- Textured/stipple ceilings applied before the mid-1980s
- Furnace duct tape wrap, gaskets and heat shields
Type 1 vs Type 2 vs Type 3 under O. Reg. 278/05
Ontario classifies asbestos work by exposure risk, not by how big the room is. Classification determines containment, worker training, notification and clearance requirements.
| Classification | What it covers | Typical controls |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 (lowest risk) | Installing or removing non-friable ACM without damaging it; removing ACM ceiling tiles under 7.5 m² undamaged; cutting or drilling wetted non-friable ACM with non-powered hand tools; removing less than one square metre of drywall with ACM joint compound | Wetting, hand tools only, drop sheets, HEPA vacuum cleanup, respirators, restricted access |
| Type 2 (medium risk) | Enclosure of friable ACM; glove-bag removal of ACM pipe insulation; removing a false ceiling to reach a work area where ACM may be lying on it; installing or removing 7.5 m² or more of ACM ceiling tile; disturbing one square metre or less of friable ACM; and, by default, any asbestos work not defined as Type 1 or Type 3 | Full enclosure or glove bag, negative air with HEPA filtration, decontamination procedures, signage, worker training, waste bagging and manifesting |
| Type 3 (highest risk) | Removing more than one square metre of friable ACM, spray-applied sealant on friable ACM, power-tool disturbance without HEPA attachment, work on ACM refractory kilns/furnaces | Full negative-pressure enclosure, three-stage decon, Ministry notification, certified Type 3 workers |
24/7 Remedial Services performs Type 1 and Type 2 asbestos abatement in compliance with O. Reg. 278/05. When a scope crosses into Type 3, we say so, document it and coordinate the right specialist rather than quietly under-classifying the work. Under-classification is the most common — and most expensive — mistake in residential abatement.
An important detail most homeowners never hear: any asbestos work not specifically listed as Type 1 or Type 3 defaults to Type 2. If a contractor cannot tell you which classification your job falls under and why, that is your signal to stop.
What a compliant Type 2 abatement looks like
- Testing and survey. Bulk samples pulled by a qualified party and analyzed by an accredited lab. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, building owners must identify designated substances before tendering work.
- Classification and plan. Written scope, classification, containment design, waste route, and occupant protection plan.
- Isolation. Polyethylene enclosure, sealed HVAC penetrations, warning signage, restricted access, negative air machines with HEPA filtration exhausting appropriately.
- Controlled removal. Wetting agents, glove bags for insulated piping, no power tools without HEPA attachment, continuous fibre suppression.
- Decontamination and cleanup. HEPA vacuuming and wet wiping of all surfaces, double-bagged and labelled asbestos waste, decon of workers and equipment.
- Clearance and documentation. Visual inspection and, where warranted, air clearance testing before the containment comes down — plus a written record you can hand to a buyer, insurer or municipal inspector.
See our full asbestos abatement service page for the protocol we follow on every Type 1 and Type 2 project.
Asbestos plus water damage: the sequencing problem
When a pre-1990 basement floods, the correct order is not "dry it, then worry about asbestos." It is:
- Stop the source and extract standing water (no demolition yet).
- Identify suspect materials in the affected footprint.
- Test or presume ACM.
- Abate the affected ACM under the correct classification.
- Then proceed with structural drying, mould remediation and reconstruction.
Skipping step 3 is what turns a $9,000 water loss into a whole-house fibre contamination event. If you are dealing with a wet pre-1990 basement right now, read our Nepean basement mould and wet carpet guide and call before anything gets cut.
Does insurance cover asbestos abatement?
Sometimes — usually when abatement is required because of a covered peril such as a burst pipe or fire, and often subject to a sub-limit. It is rarely covered when it is discovered during a voluntary renovation. We give you full support with your insurance claim: photo documentation, classification rationale, air-quality records, scope of work and an itemized breakdown (Xactimate-format available on request). We do not bill your insurer directly.
Red flags when hiring an abatement contractor in Ottawa
- No written classification of the work under O. Reg. 278/05
- Power tools without HEPA attachment on suspect material
- No negative air or enclosure on a Type 2 job
- Asbestos waste in regular construction bins
- "We'll just be careful" instead of a documented plan
- No clearance documentation at handover
Talk to a coordinator before anything gets cut
We are IICRC WRT and FSRT certified, PMII Certified Mold Remediators, NAMRI members, and Type 1 & Type 2 asbestos abatement capable, with 20+ years and CAD $5B+ in completed remediation, construction and structural work across Ottawa, the NCR and Eastern Ontario.
The inspection is free and commits you to nothing. Call (855) 324-7356 24/7, or book a free inspection. If water is involved, our free flood estimator gives you a realistic cost range in about a minute.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 asbestos work in Ontario?
- Under O. Reg. 278/05, Type 1 is low-risk work on non-friable material — undamaged removal, wetted cutting with non-powered hand tools, or removing less than one square metre of drywall with asbestos joint compound. Type 2 covers glove-bag pipe insulation removal, enclosure of friable material, removing a false ceiling to reach a work area, ceiling tile areas of 7.5 m² or more, and disturbing one square metre or less of friable material. Anything not listed as Type 1 or Type 3 defaults to Type 2.
- Does 24/7 Remedial Services do asbestos abatement?
- Yes — we perform Type 1 and Type 2 abatement in compliance with Ontario Regulation 278/05. When a scope crosses into Type 3, we classify it honestly, document it, and coordinate the right specialist rather than under-classifying the work.
- Where is asbestos usually found in Ottawa homes?
- In pre-1990 housing: drywall joint compound, 9x9 and 12x12 vinyl floor tile and its black cutback adhesive, vermiculite attic insulation, pipe and boiler insulation, cement board and transite flue pipe, stipple ceilings, and furnace duct wrap and gaskets.
- Do I need an asbestos test before flood or fire demolition?
- Yes, if the building predates 1990. Cutting wet drywall or lifting tile before testing is the most common way a contained water loss becomes a whole-house fibre contamination event. Extract water first, identify suspect materials, abate, then dry and rebuild.
- Does insurance cover asbestos abatement in Ontario?
- Sometimes — usually when abatement is required because of a covered peril such as a burst pipe or fire, and often subject to a sub-limit. We give you full support with the claim including documentation and an itemized breakdown (Xactimate-format on request).
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About this guide & the team behind it
This article was written and reviewed by the PMII-certified restoration technicians at 24/7 Remedial Services, a Kingston, Ontario property-restoration company with more than two decades of combined field and construction experience across Eastern Ontario. We respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to water, fire, smoke, mould, storm, and impact losses across Kingston, Napanee, Brockville, Gananoque, Picton, Belleville, Smiths Falls, Perth, Prescott, Carleton Place, and the surrounding Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Leeds & Grenville, Lanark, Hastings, and Prince Edward county townships.
Every guide on this blog is grounded in the same industry standards Canadian insurance carriers expect on a properly documented claim file: industry-standard water damage practices for water damage restoration, industry-standard mould remediation practices for professional mould remediation, and industry-standard fire & smoke restoration practices for fire and smoke restoration. Where the article references a Category 1/2/3 water classification, a Class 1–4 drying environment, a Condition 1/2/3 indoor mould assessment, or a specific itemized line item, that terminology is used deliberately — it's the same vocabulary your adjuster uses and the same vocabulary that holds up in subrogation.
If you are dealing with an active loss as you read this, please do not wait. Most Kingston addresses see one of our restoration crews on-site within 60 minutes of dispatch — including overnight, on weekends, and during severe-weather events. Surrounding Eastern Ontario communities follow as quickly as travel allows. The cost of waiting on mitigation is almost always higher than the cost of acting immediately.
How our crews work
- › 24/7/365 dispatch from a Kingston base
- › Free written itemized insurance scope before any work begins
- › Daily timestamped moisture logs & photo documentation
- › Full insurance claim support with every major Canadian insurer
- › Mitigation through reconstruction under one project lead
What we restore
- › Water damage — burst pipes, floods, sewage backups
- › Fire & smoke — soot removal, deodourization, rebuild
- › Mould — industry-standard mould remediation practices containment & clearance
- › Storm & impact — emergency board-up and tarping
- › Commercial, multi-unit, institutional & residential
Need restoration help right now?
24/7 Remedial Services dispatches PMII-certified crews around the clock across Kingston and Eastern Ontario. Whether the damage is water, fire, smoke, mould, or storm-related, calling early in the first 24 hours dramatically reduces the eventual scope of work, the disruption to your property, and the size of your insurance claim. Our team handles the documentation, the insurer coordination, and the rebuild — so you only deal with one accountable contact from the first call to the final paint touch-up.