CAIRNS ASBESTOS AUDITS

ASBESTOS BUILDING MATERIALS ASSESSMENT

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What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that can lead to serious health hazards if inhaled and is linked to asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos containing materials (ACM) fall into two broad categories, friable and non-friable (also known as bonded). In Australia, asbestos containing materials (ACM) were commonly used in the manufacture of building products from the mid-1940s until the late 1980s, and are found in many residential, commercial and industrial properties.

Friable

These materials can be easily reduced to powder, contain high percentages of asbestos fibres and are extremely likely to release fibres into the airborne environment when disturbed.

Cairns asbestos audit located sheets of asbestos roofing

Non-friable

These materials containing asbestos are solid, quite rigid and the asbestos fibres are tightly bound in the material. Non-friable materials containing asbestos are the most common in domestic houses. They are commonly called ‘fibro’, ‘asbestos cement’ and ‘AC sheeting’ and can release fibres into the environment when disturbed.

Where will I find Asbestos in my property?

Asbestos containing materials were often used internally and externally across residential and commercial properties and can potentially be located in the following areas / locations:

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Roofing & gutters

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Shingles & siding (villa-board and similar)

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Exterior & interior wall sheeting / cladding

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Eaves, soffits & gables

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Ceilings

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Fencing

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Sheds

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Electrical switchboards

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Water or flue pipes

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Asbestos-rope door gaskets in wood stoves

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Loose fill roofing insulation

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Spray-on insulation or soundproofing

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Low-density asbestos fibre board

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Insulation on hot-water pipes & stoves

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Backing material on floor tiles & vinyl flooring

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Carpet underlay

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Textured paints & decorative ceiling coatings

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Heat-resistant fabrics

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Brick & plaster sealants, fillers and some adhesive products

How can we help?

Capstone Building Inspections have over 25 years’ experience as a builder and inspector with extensive knowledge of asbestos identification.

 

Our Asbestos Building Materials Assessments Include:

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Comprehensive & detailed report of suspected presence of asbestos containing materials

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Confirmed location and condition of asbestos including photos

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Urgent and serious safety hazards identified

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I’m renovating or refurbishing – what are the risks?

All asbestos containing materials can become friable (easily reduced to powder and fibres) when sufficiently damaged, badly weathered, disturbed or otherwise deteriorated. This is a serious health hazard!

So, if you’re planning on renovating or refurbishing your residential or commercial property it’s extremely important that any asbestos products are identified prior to provide options to minimise and control the risk.

A Cairns asbestos audit found this pile of asbestos sheeting

What if asbestos materials are found in my property?

Should suspected asbestos be identified, the only measure to confirm if the materials identified contain asbestos, is to safely remove a small sample and have it tested by a NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited laboratory.

Capstone Building Inspections can provide this service and a lab analysis report in addition to your asbestos assessment.

Attention Commercial Property Managers / Owners!

As per Asbestos Queensland regulations, commercial properties and workplaces with known asbestos containing materials are required to have an asbestos register and an asbestos management plan. This is a requirement for buildings constructed prior to 1990 and must be reviewed every 5 years.

For more information on asbestos management requirements, please refer to Asbestos Queensland.

Capstone Building Inspections asbestos register and asbestos management plan package provides a record of:

  • Identification date
  • Location, type and condition of the asbestos containing material
  • Safe work procedures and control measures
  • Outlines procedures for incidents and emergencies involving asbestos
  • Provides stickers / labels to inform tradespeople or contractors that asbestos is present in the property