Asbestos a Short History

Asbestos General

Asbestos SignsAsbestos - Super 6 Roofing

Confused about Asbestos

and looking for more Information?

Are you searching for more information on recognising asbestos? Are you uncertain when to be vigilant when renovating? Unsure about other places it may occur?

Many property owners don’t realise how common asbestos was in the construction of houses. Since 1985 asbestos was no longer used in products it may still be present in many areas of your home or workplace.

Generally, Asbestos Products are

  • Non-friable material is when fibres mixed and bonded with other materials. It cannot be easily crumbled to a powder by hand pressure when dry. Common examples of non-friable material are cement sheets and Super 6 roofing.
  • Friable means any material that contains fibres in the form of powder. It can crumble and reduced to dust by hand pressure. Examples of friable material lose sprayed roofing insulation.

Damage and deterioration will increase the friability of asbestos materials. Aging, continual movement, water, the physical impact can release fibres. Cutting, grinding, sawing, or drilling breaks the materials down releasing fibre. This can result in harmful airborne fibres.

A Short History Lesson

With over 26 years, and I best explain the occurrence in the use of these products in houses as,

Since 1985 asbestos was no longer used in products To my knowledge, there was no recall of products. I assume large stockpiles of product still remained for years afterwards.

Building trades often place materials into our bins. They categorically said it was not asbestos. We had no option but to test the product before transporting and disposing of the waste.  Once we lifted a bin, it became our problem and not the builders. In all this time I only ever got it wrong ONCE.
 
What we experienced was houses up to 1990 contained products with asbestos. From 1990 -1995 we saw fewer houses with these products in them.  We also found asbestos in our bins from houses built between 1995 – 2000. If a house was built in the period up to the year 2000 it pays to be vigilant.
 
 
From 1990 -1995 we saw fewer houses with these products in them.  We also found asbestos being placed in our bins from houses built between 1995 – 2000. So if a house was built in the period up to the year 2000 it pays to be vigilant.
 
I have experienced a lot of ignorance by trades towards asbestos and my advice is the ONLY way to know is to TEST. We use Envirohealth at Murarrie for testing. They offer a verbal result within 24 hours and a written report nearly as quick.
 
Have a look at our page on asbestos to find out some other places asbestos may be present when renovating a house. Read More

Have a look at our page on asbestos to find out some other places these materials can be found when renovating a house. Read More

External House Cladding

For more information on handling asbestos?

Australian Government – Safety

Queensland Government – Safety

QBCC