When Was Asbestos Used in Ontario Homes?

Safety note: Do not cut, drill, sand, scrape, remove, or otherwise disturb material you suspect may contain asbestos. This page is general safety information, not legal, health, or project-specific advice.

When was asbestos used in Ontario homes?

Health Canada says asbestos was used in buildings and homes before 1990 for purposes such as insulation, noise reduction, and fireproofing. Ontario's historical asbestos information (opens in a new tab) explains that use varied by product and period. A building's age cannot confirm whether a specific material contains asbestos; a material-specific assessment is needed before work that could disturb it.

Materials sometimes associated with older construction can include insulation, floor coverings and adhesives, textured finishes, roofing products, pipe or boiler insulation, and other building components. Material appearance alone is not a reliable identification method.

Do not disturb suspected material

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises homeowners not to disturb suspected asbestos-containing material. Do not collect a sample yourself, use a power tool, sweep dust, or vacuum debris with a household vacuum. If material has already been disturbed, avoid further disturbance, limit access to the affected area where practical, and seek suitable project-specific guidance.

Read CCOHS guidance for asbestos in the home (opens in a new tab) and Health Canada's asbestos homeowner information (opens in a new tab) before arranging renovation or demolition work.

Ontario work requirements

Ontario Regulation 278/05 (opens in a new tab) sets requirements for asbestos-related work in the situations it describes. It applies to owners, constructors, employers, and workers in specified projects and buildings. The regulation expressly identifies an exception for an owner-occupied private residence and certain owner-occupied residential buildings. Contractor work can still be subject to the regulation, and the facts of a project can affect the requirements that apply.

The regulation also addresses an owner's duties before arranging certain demolition, alteration, or repair work, including determining whether material likely to be disturbed is asbestos-containing or arranging work as though it is. Because the rules are project-specific, confirm the applicable requirements with a qualified professional or official source before work starts.

Planning a renovation

1. List the areas and materials that could be disturbed by the planned work.
2. Share the construction age, known past work, and any available records with the professional evaluating the project.
3. Ask how suspected materials will be assessed, what work assumptions are being made, and what written report or scope you will receive.
4. Ask how containment, worker protection, cleaning, and waste handling will be addressed if asbestos-containing material is confirmed or assumed.
5. Keep the findings and work records with the property file.

Questions to ask

• Which materials are suspected, confirmed, or not yet assessed?
• What activity could disturb each material?
• What regulatory or safety requirements apply to this property and scope?
• What containment, disposal, and records are included?
• What would cause the scope to change after investigation?

For a property-specific discussion, review asbestos services and confirm the safety, regulatory, and project requirements that apply to your property.