When do you need asbestos removal?
Following an asbestos survey, you’ll receive recommendations on how to best to manage any asbestos found.
Each case is different but generally speaking these are the situations when you are more likely to be required to have the asbestos removed:
- You are planning a large renovation which will potentially disturb the asbestos.
- The asbestos is in poor condition and is visibly deteriorating (i.e. a crumbling ceiling or super six roof).
- The asbestos is friable (in powder form or able to be reduced to powder with hand pressure when dry).
Friable Asbestos
Friable asbestos (Class A asbestos) is asbestos which is in powder form or is able to be reduced to powder with hand pressure when dry (and therefore become airborne).
Examples of friable asbestos include:
- Thermal insulation (pictured)
- Sprayed coatings
- Pipe lagging (insulation).
Non-Friable asbestos
Non-Friable asbestos (Class B asbestos) is not in a powder form and cannot be reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry i.e. it is bonded. Some examples of non-friable asbestos include:
- Roof panels (super six)
- Soffits
- Gutters and downpipes
- Cement sheet cladding including baseboards and imitation brick cladding
- Fence panels (pictured).
Please note: it is possible for non-friable asbestos to become friable over time, i.e. a cement sheet could be crushed or deteriorate from weathering.
The specialist you engage for removal must be a licensed asbestos removalist and be qualified for either Class A or Class B removal (depending on your situation). Click here to find out more about Licenced Removalists.