asbestos checking

If there is a chance your property has Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) present, you should take immediate action to protect yourself and anybody else who lives in or visits the building.

Asbestos is one of Australia’s most serious building hazards, particularly in a city like Sydney, where older buildings are widespread.

Asbestos removal can be dangerous and must only be carried out by trained and licenced professionals. This article explains what property owners need to know before arranging Sydney asbestos removal, including the health risks, regulatory obligations, and what professional removal actually involves.

A Brief Background on Asbestos in Australia

Asbestos was widely used in construction across Australia, prized for its heat resistance, strength, insulating properties​ and affordability.

  • Asbestos use peaked in Australia in the mid-1970s before declining sharply into the early 1980s​
  • In December 2003, Australia imposed a total ban on the use of asbestos
  • The decades of widespread use mean ACMs remain embedded in residential, commercial, and public buildings across the country
  • Approximately one in three Australian homes still contains asbestos materials​

Asbestos in Sydney Buildings

Sydney has many pre-1988 houses, with many properties likely to contain asbestos-cement sheeting, insulation, and floor tiles​. Asbestos cement sheeting accounted for most of the asbestos used in Australia​

Where Is Asbestos Commonly Found?

  • Eaves, soffits, and fascia boards
  • Wall cladding, ceiling tiles and textured coatings
  • Floor tiles and vinyl underlays
  • Pipe lagging and insulation for hot water systems
  • Roof sheeting, fencing panels and outbuildings

The Three Main Asbestos Types Found in Sydney

  • Chrysotile, or “white asbestos”, was the most commonly used type, found in roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors
  • Amosite (brown asbestos) was used in cement sheets, pipe insulation, and ceiling tiles
  • Crocidolite (blue asbestos) is considered the most hazardous type and was mostly used in spray-on coatings and pipe insulation
  • All three types are potentially hazardous, and none should be treated as safe

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos fibres are dangerous when they become airborne, as they can be inhaled and lodge permanently in lung tissue. Health issues caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres often take decades to develop.

Diseases Linked to Asbestos

  • Mesothelioma
    • A cancer affecting the lungs and abdomen​
  • Asbestosis
    • Progressive scarring of lung tissue, reducing breathing capacity​
  • Lung cancer
    • Especially in those with combined asbestos and tobacco exposure​
  • Note the long latency period, which can be as much as 20 to 40 years

Who Is Most at Risk?

  • Tradespeople working in renovation, demolition, or construction on pre-2003 buildings. By far, the most common group to suffer from asbestos-related health issues
  • Homeowners undertaking DIY work without knowing asbestos is present
  • Visitors to, or occupants of, buildings where asbestos materials have deteriorated or been damaged

Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos

Understanding the difference between friable and non-friable asbestos helps property owners recognise which situations carry the greatest risk and, therefore, need specialised intervention

What Is Non-Friable Asbestos?

  • Non-friable or ‘bonded’ asbestos is often bound with cement or resin, making the fibres more stable and unlikely to become airborne under normal conditions​
  • It can become friable if damaged, degraded by weather, or disturbed during renovation or demolition​
  • Removal of more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos requires a Class B licensed removalist in NSW
  • It is recommended that any amount of undamaged non-friable asbestos should be assessed by a professional before any work is carried out

What Is Friable Asbestos?

  • Friable asbestos can be crumbled to a powder by hand pressure when dry, making it far more prone to releasing fibres into the air​
  • It represents the highest-risk category of asbestos and is subject to strict regulatory controls in NSW
  • Any quantity of friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A licensed removalist
  • Note that licensed removal work involving friable asbestos must be notified to SafeWork NSW at least seven days prior to commencement​ , and a worksite permit must be issued before friable asbestos removal can begin​
  • Property owners should never attempt to disturb or handle friable asbestos themselves

NSW Regulations Governing Asbestos Removal

Asbestos removal in NSW is regulated by the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 and the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021

The regulations are designed to protect workers and the general public from the health risks associated with handling and disposing of ACMs

  • Only a qualified professional with a Class A licence may handle any quantity of friable asbestos
  • A Class B licence is required for non-friable asbestos removal exceeding 10 square metres
  • Unlicensed removal is only permitted for non-friable asbestos under 10 square metres, though professional engagement is always recommended​
  • Asbestos waste must be sealed, labelled, and transported to a registered, licensed disposal facility

The Asbestos Removal Process

Professional Sydney asbestos removal teams follow a process designed to contain fibres and protect everyone on and near the site

Asbestos Inspection and Testing

  • A visual inspection by a qualified assessor identifies suspect materials
  • Samples are sealed and labelled before being transported for laboratory testing to confirm the presence and type of asbestos
  • An asbestos report documents the location, condition, and classification of materials found

Site Preparation and Containment

  • An exclusion zone is established around the work area
  • Ventilation systems are sealed to prevent fibre migration
  • Decontamination stations are set up for workers entering and leaving the zone
  • Wetting down materials is used where appropriate to suppress dust

Safe Removal and Disposal

  • Asbestos is removed by licensed workers wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Asbestos materials are sealed and labelled in accordance with NSW requirements
  • Waste material is securely transported to a registered disposal facility
  • Air monitoring carried out during and after removal to confirm fibre levels are within safe limits
  • A clearance inspection must take place before the site is returned to normal use​

Asbestos Removal Services in Sydney

DIY asbestos removal is not just inadvisable, it can actually be illegal in NSW. The severe risks to human health of improper removal extend beyond the person carrying out the work to neighbours, future occupants, and the wider environment.

At Rapid Civil & Excavation, we are a licensed asbestos removal contractor serving Sydney and the greater NSW region. Our team includes local, experienced and licenced professionals, and our Sydney asbestos removal services include residential asbestos removal, commercial asbestos removal, pre-demolition asbestos surveys, and site clearance.

Contact us today for the peace of mind that comes from working with licensed, fully insured asbestos experts who operate in full compliance with the relevant NSW Work Health and Safety Regulations.