What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in residential properties, commercial buildings and industrial facilities. Its strength, durability, heat resistance and insulating qualities made it a popular ingredient in thousands of building products throughout much of the twentieth century.
Although asbestos use has been banned in Australia, it can still be found in many properties built before the early 1990s. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) generally present a lower risk when they remain intact and undisturbed. However, they can become hazardous when damaged, worn or disturbed during building work, renovations, demolition or maintenance.
The main danger arises when microscopic asbestos fibres are released into the air. These fibres can be inhaled and remain in the lungs for many years, potentially leading to serious asbestos-related diseases following exposure.
Knowing what asbestos is, which building materials may contain it and the circumstances in which it becomes hazardous is important for protecting property owners, occupants, tradespeople and workers in older buildings.
Understanding Asbestos
Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that form into extremely fine, strong and durable fibres. These fibres have several useful properties, including resistance to heat, fire, electricity, chemicals and general wear. This made asbestos particularly attractive to manufacturers and the construction industry for many decades.
In Australia, asbestos was used extensively from the 1940s through to the late 1980s in homes, commercial properties and industrial buildings. It was incorporated into a wide range of products, including cement sheeting, insulation, roofing, wall linings, flooring, pipes and other construction materials.
Australia introduced a complete ban on asbestos in 2003. Despite this, asbestos-containing products remain in millions of properties built before the ban came into effect.
Types of Asbestos
There are six naturally occurring minerals classified as asbestos. However, three main types account for most of the asbestos historically used in Australian buildings.
Chrysotile (White Asbestos)
Chrysotile was the most widely used type of asbestos in Australia. Its flexibility and durability made it suitable for a variety of building products, including fibre cement sheeting, roofing, vinyl flooring, insulation materials and gaskets.
Amosite (Brown Asbestos)
Amosite was commonly incorporated into insulation boards, ceiling tiles, cement sheeting, thermal insulation and pipe lagging. Its fibre characteristics are generally associated with a higher health risk than chrysotile.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)
Crocidolite is generally regarded as the most hazardous of the three main asbestos types because its extremely fine fibres can be readily inhaled. Historically, it was used in products such as insulation, spray coatings, cement materials and pipe insulation before its use was discontinued.
Where Is Asbestos Commonly Found?
Asbestos may be present in many older residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout Australia. Whether it is found in a building often depends on when the property was constructed and the materials selected during its original construction or later renovations.
Common locations and materials that may contain asbestos include:
- Fibre cement wall and ceiling sheets
- Roofing sheets and roof shingles
- Eaves and soffits
- Fencing materials
- Vinyl floor tiles and their backing
- Pipe lagging and insulation
- Electrical switchboards
- Textured ceilings
- Flues and fireplaces
- Cement pipes
- Backing boards behind wet-area surfaces
- Garages, sheds and other outbuildings
Asbestos-containing products can look very similar to newer building materials. For this reason, it is generally not possible to confirm whether a material contains asbestos based on its appearance alone.
Why Was Asbestos Used?
Asbestos was widely regarded as a valuable construction material for many years because it combined several properties that were difficult to achieve using other materials at the time.
Its popularity was largely due to its ability to:
- Withstand high temperatures and resist fire
- Provide thermal and acoustic insulation
- Add strength to cement-based products
- Resist chemical exposure and corrosion
- Keep manufacturing costs relatively low
- Improve the durability of construction materials
These characteristics contributed to the widespread use of asbestos in Australian homes, commercial properties and industrial buildings throughout much of the twentieth century.
When Does Asbestos Become Dangerous?
Asbestos-containing materials do not automatically present an immediate health hazard. Bonded asbestos products that are in good condition and remain undisturbed generally have a lower likelihood of releasing fibres into the air.
The risk increases when these materials become damaged, deteriorate over time or are disturbed during activities such as:
- Renovations and building alterations
- Demolition work
- Cutting or drilling
- Sanding or grinding
- Pressure cleaning
- Damage caused by storms or fire
- General deterioration due to age
When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres may become airborne. These fibres can remain suspended in the surrounding air and may be inhaled by people working in or occupying the affected building.
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Inhaling airborne asbestos fibres can lead to several serious diseases affecting the lungs and respiratory system. The likelihood of developing an asbestos-related illness depends on various factors, including the amount of exposure, how frequently exposure occurs and the duration of exposure.
Health conditions associated with asbestos exposure include:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pleural thickening and pleural plaques
A significant characteristic of asbestos-related diseases is their long latency period. Health effects may not become apparent until many years, or even decades, after the initial exposure. This makes preventing exposure particularly important.
Although occupational exposure has historically been a major source of risk, asbestos exposure can also occur during household renovations, property maintenance or the accidental disturbance of asbestos-containing materials.
How Can You Identify Asbestos?
Identifying asbestos in a building can be challenging because many older asbestos-containing products look similar to modern construction materials. The age of a property can help indicate the possibility of asbestos being present, but it cannot establish whether a particular material contains asbestos.
A visual inspection alone cannot reliably confirm the presence or absence of asbestos. Laboratory testing of a suitable material sample remains the most reliable way to identify asbestos.
Professional asbestos inspections and testing by an appropriately qualified asbestos assessor can help establish whether suspect materials contain asbestos. These investigations also help minimise unnecessary disturbance of materials that may be hazardous.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Asbestos?
If you believe a building material may contain asbestos, avoid disturbing it until its presence and condition have been properly assessed.
Do not drill, cut, sand, break or attempt to remove the suspected material. These activities can release asbestos fibres into the air and increase the risk of exposure to people nearby.
Instead, arrange professional asbestos testing to establish whether asbestos is present and determine the condition of the material. If removal is necessary, the work should be completed by appropriately licensed asbestos removal professionals in accordance with applicable Australian requirements.
Taking these precautions can help prevent accidental fibre release and reduce unnecessary exposure.
Why Might Professional Asbestos Testing Be Required?
A professional asbestos assessment helps determine whether asbestos is present in a building, identify its location and evaluate whether it may pose a risk to occupants or workers.
Depending on the property and the purpose of the investigation, assessment and testing may involve:
- Visual inspections of building materials
- Collection of bulk material samples
- Laboratory analysis to identify asbestos
- Preparation or review of an asbestos register
- Assessment of potential exposure risks
- Clearance inspections following asbestos removal
Asbestos testing is particularly important before renovation or demolition work, during property purchases and insurance assessments, or whenever the presence of asbestos is uncertain.
Following asbestos removal, a professional clearance inspection may also be required. Where applicable, an asbestos clearance certificate can be issued to confirm that the inspected area meets the relevant clearance requirements for reoccupation.
Preventing Asbestos Exposure
Reducing the risk of asbestos exposure starts with identifying asbestos-containing materials before any work that could disturb them takes place.
Effective asbestos management involves keeping existing materials in good condition, avoiding unnecessary disturbance, arranging inspections before renovations and implementing an asbestos management plan where required.
During asbestos removal and related work, asbestos air monitoring may be necessary to measure airborne fibre concentrations and assess conditions for workers and building occupants.
If asbestos removal is required, engaging appropriately qualified professionals helps ensure the work is undertaken with suitable safety controls and that asbestos materials are handled, transported and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Conclusion
Asbestos was once widely used throughout Australia because of its strength, durability, insulating qualities and resistance to fire. Although its use has been banned, asbestos-containing materials can still be present in many older residential properties, commercial buildings and industrial facilities.
Understanding where asbestos may be found and the circumstances that can cause it to release harmful fibres is essential for protecting people who live, work or carry out maintenance in older buildings.
As asbestos cannot generally be identified by appearance alone, professional inspections and laboratory testing remain important for confirming its presence and determining the appropriate approach to managing it safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Asbestos-containing materials that remain in good condition and are not disturbed generally present a lower risk than materials that have been damaged or disturbed. The main concern is the release of airborne fibres, which can occur when asbestos-containing products deteriorate or are affected by building work.
Australia introduced a complete ban on the manufacture, import, sale and use of all forms of asbestos on 31 December 2003. However, buildings constructed before the ban may still contain asbestos products, particularly those built during the decades when asbestos was commonly used in construction.
It is difficult to confirm whether a building material contains asbestos by looking at it. Properties constructed before the early 1990s may contain asbestos-containing products, but the age of a home alone cannot confirm their presence. Professional inspection and laboratory testing can help identify suspect materials.
DIY asbestos removal is generally not recommended. Whether a person can legally remove certain asbestos materials depends on the type of material, the amount involved and the regulations in their state or territory. Licensed asbestos removal professionals should be engaged where required to ensure the work is carried out with appropriate safety controls.
Yes. Asbestos testing is strongly recommended before renovating or demolishing older properties where asbestos may be present. Identifying asbestos before work begins helps reduce the risk of accidentally releasing fibres and allows appropriate safety measures to be put in place.
About the Author
This article was reviewed and contributed to by Ibrahim Ech, Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH®) and occupational hygiene consultant.
With more than 20 years of experience in occupational hygiene, environmental health, asbestos assessment and indoor air quality, Ibrahim has assessed over 1,000 residential, commercial, government and industrial properties across Australia.
His professional expertise includes asbestos inspections and assessments, hazardous materials investigations, occupational exposure assessments, indoor air quality testing, mould contamination assessments, post-remediation verification (PRV) and environmental laboratory analysis.
Ibrahim is a Full Member of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and has held Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH®) status since 2012. He is also associated with SESALAB, a NATA-accredited laboratory providing airborne and surface fungal analysis using direct microscopy.