Air quality analyses in residences and buildings

Is the air you breathe in your home healthy? Many chronic diseases and other illnesses are caused by poor air quality.

Our analytical laboratories are the only laboratories accredited for all areas of microbiological air quality testing by the Centre d’expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec (CEAEQ) for the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP).

Headaches, fatigue, concentration problems, colds and flu, asthma, otitis, pneumonia, respiratory tract irritations and many skin problems can be linked, one way or another, to the air quality in your home. Children, people suffering from asthma, pregnant women, the elderly and those with an immune system deficiency are particularly vulnerable to poor air quality. Likewise, our homes contain irritants and several chemical substances from materials that are harmful and even hazardous for your health, such as moulds and vermiculite, to name a few.

This is why it is important to pay special attention to the quality of the air that circulates in our homes, by conducting analyses to identify these irritants and find solutions to make sure that the air in your home is healthy and not harmful for you and your family. All the samples collected are analyzed in our laboratories and approved by microbiologists specializing in air microbiology; our technicians comply with guidelines issued by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Air Quality Analyses In Residences & Buildings

The overall air quality analysis procedure is conducted as follows:

General Information:
  • Adresse visée par l’inspection
  • Date et heure de l’inspection
  • Température extérieure et intérieure
  • Humidité relative extérieure et intérieure
  • Type et année de construction
  • Type de fondation
  • Présence d’animaux domestiques
Assessment Procedure:
  • Use of assessment checklists
  • Overall appearance of the house/building
  • Odours detected upon arrival
  • Assessment of general- and specific-purpose rooms
  • Geographical location and drainage
  • Assessment of the characteristics of contaminants and sampling (air or surface)
  • Type of ventilation (air exchanger, VRC, etc.)
  • Assessment of biological (bacteria, mould, yeast), chemical (hydrocarbon, etc.) and physical (structure, humidity, etc.) contaminants
  • Photographs
Report and Recommendations of Improvement Measures :
  • A list of improvement measures where applicable
  • A summary of all the details noted
  • Tables of detailed results
  • Interpretation of results for the samples and analyses conducted
  • Assessment of the characteristics of contaminants and sampling (air or surface)
  • Assessment of health risks
Matrices and Equipment Used to Collect Mould and Bacteria Samples:
  • RCS Biotest portable air sampler
  • Andersen Impactor
  • Contact agar
  • Wipe samples
  • Direct analyses of materials (gypsum, wood, insulation, furniture, walls, floors, etc.)
  • Where needed, analysis of surface dust

Microbiological Quality of Air

Our Specialists can Help you to:

  • Detect a mould problem;

  • Conduct an analysis for health risks to occupants;

  • Manage decontamination efforts.