Where is it found?

Where Might Asbestos Be Found in Your Home?

If your home was built or renovated before 1990, you may be surprised where asbestos products have been used in your home.

Products made from bonded asbestos cement that may have been used in your home include:

  • Fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated) in walls and ceilings
  • Water drainage and flue pipes
  • Roofing shingles and guttering
  • The backing of floor coverings

The Residential Checklist is designed to assist homeowners to identify the potential locations where asbestos may be lurking in their home.

IMPORTANT: If fire, hail, or water blasting damages bonded asbestos, it may become friable asbestos material and must be managed and removed by a licenced friable asbestos removalist.

Typical Household Locations

Inside House

  

Outside House
  • Backing of vinyl sheet floor covering
  • Carpet underlay
  • Cement flooring
  • Compressed asbestos sheet
  • Flues to fireplaces
  • Insulation below wood heater
  • Internal and external ventilators
  • Internal angle mouldings
  • Internal walls & ceiling
  • Kitchen splashback
  • Loose fill insulation in roof cavity
  • “Tilux” marble finish wall panel
  • Vinyl floor tiles
  • Wall sheeting – internal
  
  • Backing for electrical meter boards
  • Dog kennel
  • Downpipes
  • Eaves and gables ends
  • External angle mouldings
  • Fence
  • Garage
  • Gutters
  • Insulation for hot water pipes and tank
  • Internal and external ventilators
  • Ridge capping
  • Sheds & external toilets
  • Wall sheeting – external

 

Important Asbestos Facts

Most people can’t tell whether building materials contain asbestos just by looking at them!

  • Unless you take the required safety precautions and follow regulations, Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!
  • If you do need to work with any material that may contain asbestos, always work so there is minimal dust or small particles released from the asbestos materials. Follow the instructions in Fact Sheet 2
  • Only scientific testing of a sample of material by an accredited National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) asbestos testing laboratory can confirm the presence of asbestos. For a NATA Lab List call 1800 621 666 or refer to their website at www.nata.com.au. When searching for an asbestos testing facility use a capital A in Asbestos.
  • Asbestos materials that are in good condition are unlikely to release asbestos fibres if left undisturbed
  • If asbestos materials are in good condition, paint them and leave them alone
  • The use of asbestos in products has been banned since 2003
  • Asbestos — A guide for householders and the general public has been produced by The Department of Health to provide useful information to enable householders to sensibly and safely manage the risks arising from any occasional encounters with asbestos materials in and around their homes
  • For important information about working with asbestos read Safe Work Australia’s Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos July 2020.

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