Asbestos Database A-Z

Acetylene gas cylinders used in welding prior to 1984 contained asbestos in the solvent-bearing mass to add stability without flammability. It does not pose a threat to the user, only how the tank is lawfully disposed.

Concrete slabs can contain various forms of Asbestos: Asbestos Cement Sheets used as formwork (board used to mould/barrier building products, often concrete). It is often easier to see from under the house. Common areas to find this are below fi...

Adhesives, mastics, putty, sealants, plasters and paints are the various types of adhesives known to contain asbestos. They include: Asphaltic cutback adhesive: This is black in colour and is usually found beneath vinyl tiles and flooring. Asbes...

Hard, brittle material, usually grey in colour with low asbestos content (up to 30 per cent). Asbestos Cement conduits were mainly used to convey HV and LV cables into and out of substations, buried under road crossings, containing cables inside or b...

Smooth, flat fibre cement sheet that is painted on-site to create a flat panel look. Tough, flexible sheeting suitable for external cladding and internal lining. Flat cement sheets were made of asbestos fibres and cement mix, commonly in the ratio of...

Not all vermiculite contains asbestos. Only scientific testing will determine if the vermiculite contains asbestos. Vermiculite is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that isflat and shiny in its natural state. When heated to around 1000 degrees...

Asbestos covering on electrical cables for heat resistance.  Asbestos bandaged cable is typically located in switch roomsand switchyards of some zone and sub-transmission substations, underground andchamber distribution substations, as well...

Soft flexible rope usually fitted in the door, lid, and hatch recess to seal the associated enclosure/box.The rope seal becomes quite hard with the age. Can be found in 100A Wilco power outlets, 11kV OCB contactor boxes and other boxes where a heat r...

Backing boards are commonly used as the mounting base for switchboards, protection panels, street lighting panels, auxiliary power boards, etc.They are usually fixed to a steel construction which is attached to the floor and walls of the substation.F...

Used for waterproofing on rooftops and floors. 

Brake pads are used as a friction material in all kind of older braking systems. They are very hard, attached to brake shoes in cars, lifts, cable drum stands, etc. Since a total asbestos ban they have not been used, but can still be found in older t...

Asbestos was carried in hessian bags from Wittenoon in Western Australia which was then subsequently used in some carpet underlay. Also asbestos was used in the adhesive to glue down the carpet underlay which is usually a black bitumous material.&nbs...

Asbestos-containing dark grey to brown in colour, mastic flexible Non Corrosive putty, typically used for fire-proofing and to prevent the entry of water into substations and cable pits, specifically in cable ducts and equipment hatches. It also seal...

Used for pipes, tanks, flower pots, telephone and electricity pits, guttering, skillet roof corners

A premixed layer of sand and cement to brick, cement, stone or mud brick. It is often textured, coloured or painted after application.

Compressed, smooth-faced asbestos cement sheeting for interior and exterior use. Permanently coloured on one side

Fibro asbestos cement sheeting, typically used as an internal wall and ceiling lining in laundries, kitchens and high-traffic areas in residential, medium-density and commercial buildings,

Medium density asbestos cement sheet on a metal backing to protect protection relays against heat and electrical arcs from the contractors arc chute when operating. These have been found in 11kV Westinghouse J18/B18 family of circuit breakers, i...

A compressed fibre cement structural flooring substrate for ceramic tile finishes over timber or lightweight steel floor joists

Corrugated cement sheets were mainly used for substation roofs, fences, shed walls etc.After prolonged use and weathering they deteriorate and can release asbestos fibres in small quantities which could be deposited near downpipes if they flow to the...

Used as architrave around doors and windows, window sills also used a AC sheet joining strips can have plain or spigoted ends, including louvre blades, also used as cornices. A round nail can be visible on the strip, usually just above surface. Commo...

Includes downpipe bends, downpipe shoes, downpipe junctions, downpipe spreaders

Eaves are the part of a roof which meets or overhangs thewalls of a building. Until the mid-late 1980s they were constructed of bondedasbestos sheeting. Signs of deterioration include discolouration, cracking orsplitting. 

Heat resistance/thermal insulation.

Black in colour, smooth, hard polished surface.English Electric fuse holders are used mainly in CBD underground and basement substations and they are the only product from the English Electric fuse holder family that contains asbestos. Asbestos is bo...

Fire dampers are used in buildings to help prevent the spread of a fire should one arise. These items are placed in the walls and ceilings of buildings, often within the duct system, to compartmentalisethe space so that if fire penetrates on an area,...

By the fire regulation substation entrance and internal doors must be fire rated. Asbestos was widely used in the internal construction or backing of fire doors due to its excellent fire resistance properties. That includes switchroom fire doors (woo...

Asbestos containing materials were used as insulation around Fire Places, Wood Fire Heaters, within gas heaters and also as the wick in kerosene heaters. 

Includes socketed pipes, bends (all angles), tees, loose sockets, blank caps, cone cap cowls, Chinaman hat cowls, H piece, T piece, Smith cowl, west cowl, mushroom cowl, double Chinaman hat, torpedo cowl and tapered reducers.

Fuses containing asbestos were used at customer meter boards mainly during the 1960s. These fuses have two main types, Henley fuses with a millboard wrap around the fuse element and fuses with a friable asbestos matting for arc quenching

Includes outdoor and garden accessories such as compressed sheet top tables, compressed sheet seats and bench tops, planter bowls, letter-box stands. Form work for garden beds and buried off cuts.

A mechanical seal which fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into the joined objects while under compression

Personal protective equipment worn to cover and protect the hands from the wrist to the fingers.

A form of weatherboarding which acts as the cladding of a house, usually consisting of long, thin timber boards that overlap horizontally.

Asbestos-containing HV striker fuses are commonly used in 11kV Ring Main Isolators and Fuse Switches that will take 10 inch oil immersed fuses. These fuses may also be stored in depots and substations as replacement spares. Asbestos is encased inside...

The imitation brick may contain asbestos, however the sheeting located behind was commonly asbestos containing sheeting. The imitation brick was commonly nailed onto the asbestos sheeting.

Heat insulation for Plant (boilers and furnaces)

Thermal insulation for pipes, boilers and furnaces - normally at high temperatures.

Thermal insulation materials in the form of granules, fibres, or other types of pieces that can be poured, pumped, or placed by hand.

Asbestolux was typically used as wall and ceiling panels, often in high humidity applications. It has been used for fire protection, thermal and acoustic insulation and for general building work in industrial and commercial buildings, education facil...

Asbestos millboard was used in the construction industry all over the world. Because of its flame-resistant durability it became a popular material to use above fireplaces and stove-tops, as well as other locations in walls and ceilings. Millboa...

Moulded cement sheets were mainly used for cable troughings, fuse boxes, CBD UG substation busbar trunking, etc. They are basically flat cement sheet moulded to suit the application, usually painted silver on the outside. Asbestos has been posit...

Soft non-hardening caulking material in one foot lengths for use in all types of seams, joints and openings. Refers to any process used to seal joints between pipes, planks, wall sections, etc.

Paints which contain asbestos.

A stucco or render building material used for coating walls and ceilings. It is manufactured as a dry powder and is mixed with water to form a paste when used.

Moulded asbestos cement roofing supplies including: Apron flashingBarge mouldingFluted saddle ridgingGutter flashingHalf-round ridge cappingPlain roll ridgingRidge cappingRoof ventilatorsSawtooth ridge cappingSide flashingSkylights and manholesV...

A substance used to block the passage of fluids through the surface or joints or openings in materials. In building construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulking and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission.

Fully compressed A.C. sheets with smooth surfaces on both sides. For specialised use such as balustrades, stair treads, infills for curtain walls, toilet partitions, bathroom floors, suspended decks, sun louvres, window sills, laboratory bench tops, ...

Cast aluminium street light choke box with an asbestos rope seal fitted in the flange under the cover (internal, not visible from outside when closed). Silver opaque metallic colour, painted or unpainted metal box attached to the street lighting pole...

Fire rating and noise suppression, fire protection for structural steel girders, ceilings, air conditioning plant rooms - particularly for high rises, ships and walls.

Compressed and autoclaved, coloured and patterned waterproof cement sheeting, used mainly in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries

For use in sewerage and septic installations

Solid, brittle material in a variety of colours used in control rooms, bathrooms, common rooms andamenities rooms of zone substations and Field Service Centres. Sometimes used in bigger distribution substations. Can also be referred to as lino o...

Asbestos containing material has been found in wall vents used for ventilation in domestic homes.

Metal wires with baked on chemical coatings

Soft, flexible or brittle when dry material, grey dark colour used in old style steel framed windows as theglazing putty. Generally found in older chamber substations.

Cable bandages were installed as a means of fire protection on electrical cables in electrical substations, typically located in switchrooms and switchyards of Zone and Sub-transmission substations, underground and chamber distribution substations, a...

Soft woven material, white to grey in colour with high asbestos content, used for flexible fireproof couplings,air conditioning and other ducting.