Designated Substance Surveys for Roofing Renovations

Client Type: School Board 
Location: Multiple schools across a large urban portfolio 
Services Provided: Designated Substance Surveys (DSS) 

Project Overview 

A school board client retained T. Harris Environmental Management Inc. (THEM) to complete Designated Substance Surveys (DSS) at more than 20 schools in support of planned roofing and interior renovation projects. The surveys were required to identify designated substances that could be disturbed during construction activities and to support compliance with Ontario health and safety regulations. 

The work was delivered over a multi-year period and involved a combination of standard roofing assessments and more complex surveys that included interior building components. 

Client Context and Challenge 

The school board manages a large portfolio of aging facilities, many of which were constructed or renovated during periods when hazardous building materials, including asbestos, were commonly used. Prior to proceeding with capital renewal work, the client required accurate and defensible information on the presence of designated substances, including asbestos, lead, silica, mercury, and PCBs. 

Key challenges included: 

• Active, occupied buildings: Surveys had to be coordinated around instructional schedules, with limited access windows during the school year and condensed timelines during summer breaks. 

• Building age and undocumented materials: Historical renovations and incomplete records required careful investigation and professional judgment. 

• Mixed scopes of work: Some projects involved roofing-only surveys, while others required expanded interior assessments to address renovation impacts. 

• Compliance and budgeting pressures: The client needed clear documentation to support regulatory compliance and, in some cases, to inform abatement planning and cost forecasting. 

Scope of Services 

THEM provided comprehensive Designated Substance Surveys in accordance with applicable legislation and best practices, including: 

• Visual inspections of accessible building materials with the potential to contain designated substances 

• Targeted bulk sampling of materials such as roofing felts, pipe insulation, duct mastic, concrete block fill, and other suspect materials 

• Laboratory analysis completed by accredited facilities 

• Documentation in accordance with Ontario Regulation 278/05, the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, and other applicable standards 

• Site documentation, including photographs, sample logs, and annotated drawings identifying sampling locations 

All work was completed using appropriate personal protective equipment and established field sampling protocols to ensure safety and data integrity. 

Approach and Execution 

To manage the scale and complexity of the program, THEM worked closely with the school board’s project and facilities representatives to coordinate site access and prioritize critical locations. Experienced field teams were deployed to efficiently complete surveys within tight access windows while minimizing disruption to school operations. 

Where projects required additional support, THEM incorporated abatement considerations directly into the survey process, ensuring that findings could be readily used by the client’s design and construction teams. 

Clear, consistent reporting across all sites allowed the client to compare results, plan next steps, and move forward with confidence. 

Outcomes and Value Delivered 

The surveys provided the school board with reliable, site-specific information on the presence and extent of designated substances across its portfolio. Key outcomes included: 

• Regulatory compliance: DSS reports supported compliance with Ontario health and safety requirements prior to construction activities. 

• Risk reduction: Identification of asbestos-containing and other hazardous materials allowed risks to be addressed proactively before renovation work began. 

• Actionable documentation: Reports included concise summaries, laboratory results, annotated plans, and clear recommendations. 

• Informed decision-making: Where required, abatement considerations and cost inputs helped the client plan remediation activities and manage project budgets. 

By delivering consistent, defensible survey data across multiple sites, THEM enabled the client to proceed with capital projects efficiently and with reduced regulatory and safety risk. 

Why This Matters for Other School Boards 

School boards managing aging infrastructure face increasing pressure to maintain compliance while advancing capital renewal projects. Thorough, well-planned Designated Substance Surveys are a critical first step in protecting workers, students, and the public. 

THEM’s experience supporting large, multi-site public-sector portfolios demonstrates how careful planning, technical expertise, and clear communication can simplify complex compliance requirements and keep projects moving forward.