Scope 1 Asbestos Testing: Detecting Intentionally Added Asbestos in Manufactured Materials
Scope 1 asbestos testing concerns the detection and identification of intentionally added asbestos in manufactured materials and products that may contain asbestos.
It applies in particular to building materials and industrial products in which asbestos was incorporated during manufacture.
What does Scope 1 cover?
Within the French regulatory framework described here, Scope 1 applies to manufactured materials and products tested for intentionally added asbestos, as defined by the French Order of 1 October 2019, as amended by the Order of 3 June 2025.
It should not be defined solely by whether a material is “simple” or “homogeneous”: the main criterion is the investigation of asbestos incorporated into a manufactured product.
Materials covered by Scope 1 asbestos testing
Examples of materials that may be covered include:
- Fibre-cement sheets
- Asbestos-cement roofing slates
- Asbestos-cement ducts and pipes
- Manufactured tiles, adhesives, gaskets, renders or coatings that may contain intentionally added asbestos
- Other manufactured building materials and products that may contain asbestos incorporated during manufacture
These fall within the category of manufactured materials and products that may contain intentionally added asbestos.
Intentionally added asbestos versus naturally occurring asbestos
It is important to distinguish between:
- Intentionally added asbestos: asbestos incorporated into a manufactured material or product during production.
- Naturally occurring asbestos: asbestos naturally present in raw materials such as rocks, soils, aggregates, ballast, sands, silts or clays.
Scope 1 concerns the detection of intentionally added asbestos in manufactured materials.
What is the difference between Scopes 1, 2 and 3?
Scope 1 asbestos testing
- Detection of intentionally added asbestos
- Manufactured materials and products that may contain asbestos
- Applicable to the relevant building materials and other manufactured products
Scope 2 asbestos testing
- Detection of naturally occurring asbestos
- Raw materials
- Examples: rocks, soils, aggregates and samples from rock outcrops
Scope 3 asbestos testing
- Detection of naturally occurring asbestos
- Manufactured materials and products
- Examples: certain asphalt mixtures, concretes, road materials or demolition debris, depending on their composition
See also: Scope 2 asbestos testing | Scope 3 asbestos testing.
When should Scope 1 asbestos testing be requested?
- When surveying manufactured building materials that may contain intentionally added asbestos
- During pre-refurbishment or pre-demolition asbestos surveys
- When testing manufactured products or components
- For regulatory checks on materials that may contain asbestos incorporated during manufacture
How does the testing process work?
- The sample is collected.
- It is sent to the laboratory.
- It is prepared and analysed using the appropriate method.
- An analytical report is issued.
Guidance: if the material contains a natural mineral fraction or is a raw material, another testing category may be more appropriate.
Why choose our laboratory?
- Methods suited to manufactured materials
- Reliable, usable analytical results
- Careful assessment of samples
- Technical support in selecting the appropriate analytical method