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Most people think about asbestos as that material
on the outside of your home - wall sheeting, eaves,
carport ceilings, corrugated roofing and fencing.
It was used extensively on the inside of your
home - as the sheeting on the bathroom, laundry,
kitchen walls and ceilings.
You can see these asbestos products in your own
home, kindergarten, sports club, school, church,
pubs and clubs and work places.
These were non-friable stable materials and not
dangerous unless disturbed, accidentally damaged,
weathered or worked upon. Generally the non friable
asbestos products contained approximately 5% -
15% asbestos - the rest was cement, sand, resins
and other bonding materials.
97% of asbestos containing materials are non friable,
for example, Asbestos cement sheeting - if accidentally
damaged or broken may release a few fibres initially
but will not continue to do so…
From our research - 2 out of 3 houses built prior
to 1987 were likely to have products that contain
asbestos. Asbestos was widely used in home construction
from 1950 through to the late 1980s.
Knowing the products that contain asbestos and
if they are in a safe condition is all important.
You can learn how to identify these and other
products yourself.
Any materials which can be crumbled, pulverised,
or reduced to powder by hand pressure. This may
also include previously non friable material which
becomes broken or damaged by mechanical force.
As a general rule -
"If the Asbestos containing material can
be easily disturbed and become air borne - by
the effect of a breeze or simply creating a breeze
by walking past it - it is in a friable state."
As a starting point You can visually identify
if you have asbestos products in your home. If
you have suspect products you can have them laboratory
tested. As some products may look like asbestos
- and other products that are painted - may not.
This is the only scientific method that is accepted.
If you would like to know about how you can visually
identify the presence of asbetsos in your own
home follow the link to the Home
Asbestos Identification Pak.
With asbestos awareness and working with asbestos
training - you can safely do maintenance tasks,
small job and deal with emergencies in your home
- you can manage your asbestos safely. Awareness
training is available on line.
Follow the link to the How
to Do it Instruction Guide for home owners.
If you are a Trades Person you should follow this
link and do our Blue
Card Training.
To know more about asbestos in your home or work
place please view our FREE online presentation
by clicking this link
Asbestos Awareness and Health Effects.
It provides you with a good understanding of Asbetsos
issues and steps you can take to minimise the
risk of Asbestos.
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