All your questions, clear answers

Saphir works in all types of buildings:

Residential — single-family homes, condos, semi-detached houses, plexes

Commercial — offices, shops, restaurants, hotels

Institutional — schools, daycares, hospitals, long-term care facilities, libraries

Industrial — factories, warehouses, manufacturing workshops

Condominiums and condominium associations

Government and municipal organizations

Whether you are a tenant, owner, property manager or representative of an institution, Saphir adapts its service to your reality.

Our five mobile teams cover two major regions:

Greater Montreal: Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore (Blainville, Sainte-Thérèse, Boisbriand, Rosemère, Mascouche, Terrebonne, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel) and the South Shore (Brossard, Boucherville, Châteauguay, La Prairie)

The Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions: Quebec City, Lévis and surrounding municipalities within a 50 km radius

Don't see your city listed? Contact us — we evaluate each request individually.

Yes. Our technicians are trained by ASP Construction (a joint sector association for the construction industry) and hold IICRC FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician) and WRT (Water Damage Restoration Technician) certifications. Our projects involving hazardous materials (asbestos, silica) are registered with the CNESST in accordance with the law.

Laboratory analyses are carried out by independent laboratories accredited to ISO 17025 and recognized by the MELCCFP (Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks) and the IRSST (Robert-Sauvé Research Institute in Occupational Health and Safety).

The most common signs of fungal contamination are:

Black, greenish or whitish stains on walls, ceilings or floors

Persistent musty odor, especially in the basement, closets, or attic.

Recurring allergy symptoms in occupants (cough, stuffy nose, irritated eyes)

Signs of dampness, condensation or water infiltration

Paint blistering, wallpaper peeling, or plaster swelling

If you suspect the presence of mold but see nothing visible, an air analysis may reveal hidden contamination in the walls, insulation, or crawl space.

Bleach can discolor visible surface mold, but it doesn't penetrate porous materials like drywall or wood, and therefore doesn't treat the underlying contamination. Furthermore, without proper containment, simply cleaning disperses the spores into the air and other rooms, worsening the infestation.

For small areas of less than 1 square meter, DIY cleaning may suffice on non-porous surfaces (tiles, metal). For larger areas, or if the contamination affects gypsum, wood, insulation, or the attic, professional decontamination is strongly recommended to protect the health of the occupants and preserve the building's structure.

It depends on the scope of the work. For limited and well-contained interventions, occupants can remain in the unaffected parts of the building. For larger projects—basements, attics, or several areas simultaneously—it is strongly advised to vacate the premises for the duration of the work to avoid exposure to spores and decontamination products.

Our technicians assess the situation during the inspection and advise you on the necessary precautions. Airtight enclosures and a negative pressure system minimize the spread of contaminants to inhabited areas.

Industry protocols (BNQ, IICRC) distinguish three levels of contamination based on the affected area:

Level I — small area (less than 1 m²): localized cleaning without complete containment, lightweight equipment

Level II — medium surface area (1 to 10 m²): containment of the area, negative pressure, removal of affected materials

Level III — large area (over 10 m²): complete protocol, airtight containment, decontamination chamber, negative pressure, mandatory air test, site registration if required

Saphir defines the applicable level during the inspection and adjusts the protocol and equipment accordingly.

Decontamination eliminates existing contamination, but if the source of moisture that caused mold growth isn't addressed, the mold can indeed reappear. That's why Saphir systematically identifies the source during the inspection—water infiltration, plumbing leaks, inadequate ventilation, missing vapor barrier—and advises you on the necessary repairs before or after the work is completed.

A follow-up with a hygrometry reading after the work confirms that the humidity level has returned to normal levels (ideally between 30% and 50% relative humidity).

If your building was constructed or renovated before 1999, it may contain asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Asbestos was used in a wide variety of building products:

Vermiculite insulation (attics, basements)

Vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive

Acoustic ceiling tiles

Exterior asbestos-cement cladding (shingles)

Caulking around windows and doors

Insulation of heating pipes (magnesite)

Textured paint (textured ceiling paint)

The only way to confirm the presence of asbestos is to have a sample of the material analyzed by an accredited laboratory. Saphir collects the sample and sends it to the laboratory as part of the initial inspection.

Asbestos-containing material (ACM) in good condition and undisturbed presents a limited risk to occupants. Asbestos fibers are only dangerous when released into the air and inhaled. The risk becomes critical during renovation, demolition, drilling, or sanding work.

If you are planning work in a building constructed before 1999, a preliminary inspection is mandatory in Quebec under the Construction Safety Code. The rule is simple: never drill, cut, sand, or move any suspect material without knowing whether it contains asbestos.

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring expanded mineral used as thermal insulation in millions of homes between the 1920s and 1990s. Vermiculite itself is not asbestos, but the vast majority of vermiculite sold in Canada came from the Libby mine in Montana, which was naturally contaminated with tremolite, an extremely dangerous asbestos fiber.

Health Canada considers any vermiculite of unknown origin to be potentially contaminated with asbestos. If you have vermiculite in your attic or walls, do not disturb it and contact Saphir for an assessment.

Yes. In Quebec, the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) is governed by Regulation S-2.1, r.13 on occupational health and safety and by the Construction Safety Code. Asbestos removal sites must be registered with the CNESST. Workers must have received ASP Construction asbestos-specific training and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

Asbestos waste must be transported and disposed of at an authorized landfill site, with a signed transport manifest. Saphir handles all of these legal obligations for you.

Crystalline silica (quartz) is a mineral that occurs naturally in many common building materials: concrete, brick, mortar, tiles, ceramics, slate, granite, marble, asphalt, and sand. In its solid, undisturbed state, it is harmless. The danger arises during work that generates fine dust: sawing, grinding, sanding, cutting, demolition, and crushing.

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) particles are extremely fine (less than 4 microns) and can remain suspended in the air for several hours. Once inhaled, they accumulate in the lungs and cause irreversible damage.

Since June 8, 2023, Article 3.25 of the Construction Safety Code imposes mandatory measures for any work generating crystalline silica dust on construction sites. These obligations include:

The use of tools equipped with dust collection systems at the source

The installation of a suction ventilation system with HEPA filtration

Humidifying the dust at the source if capture is not possible

Wearing level 100 respiratory protective equipment (RPE)

The work area was sealed off to protect other workers and occupants.

Failure to comply with these obligations exposes the employer and the contractor to fines from the CNESST.

No. Work that does not generate dust—such as painting on concrete, cleaning with water, or applying a coating without cutting—is not covered. The requirement applies to work that disturbs or cuts the material: demolition with a hammer, sawing concrete, grinding tiles, sanding mortar, core drilling, or milling.

If you have any doubt about your situation, call Saphir — we will assess free of charge whether your site is affected and which protocol applies.

Yes. Saphir performs partial and complete demolitions, with or without contaminants present. Our teams are equipped for demolishing walls, partitions, floors, and ceilings, as well as for the complete demolition of residential and commercial buildings. We also manage debris and demolition materials in accordance with municipal and provincial regulations.

When a contaminant is discovered during demolition, work must be stopped immediately in the affected area. Saphir then intervenes to contain the area, assess the extent of the contamination, and implement the appropriate decontamination protocol before resuming demolition.

Because Saphir combines decontamination and demolition within a single team, the transition is quick and without wasted time or coordination between multiple contractors. You only have one point of contact.

Yes. Our technicians are IICRC FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician) and WRT (Water Damage Restoration Technician) certified, which allows us to work directly with insurers on claims. We produce the required documented reports (photographic record, damage description, intervention protocol) to facilitate claims processing.

If you are the victim of a fire, water damage, or flooding, contact Saphir quickly — a rapid response limits the extent of the damage and the restoration costs.

It depends on your insurance policy and the cause of the contamination. In general:

Sudden and accidental water damage (burst pipes, sewer backup if covered) is often compensated, including subsequent decontamination work.

Chronic humidity problems resulting from a lack of maintenance are generally ruled out.

The presence of asbestos in a building constructed before 1999 is generally not covered if it is known at the time of purchase.

Saphir can produce the reports and documentation necessary to support your claim with your insurer. We recommend contacting your insurer before the work begins to confirm your coverage.

After receiving your request, we typically contact you within 24 hours to schedule the inspection. A written quote will be provided within 24 hours of the visit. The work schedule is then established based on our team's availability and the urgency of the situation. For urgent cases, we do everything possible to respond quickly.

The decontamination certificate is an official document issued by Saphir at the end of each project. It certifies that the work has been carried out in accordance with applicable standards and protocols, that the final inspection has been performed and, where applicable, that laboratory analyses confirm the conformity of the air and materials.

This document is useful in several situations:

To reassure future buyers or tenants of a building

As evidence for your insurer in the event of a claim

For real estate transactions where contamination has been reported

For condominium managers or syndicates who must report to the co-owners