Asbestos in non-residential buildings

ACT non-residential buildings built before 31 December 2003 may have materials containing asbestos

While the majority of building products containing asbestos were phased out in the 1980s, other materials containing asbestos continued to be used in plant rooms and other equipment until more recently. These materials can also be found internally and externally, and in wet and dry areas.

Given the range of generic products that were once manufactured using asbestos fibres, it can be difficult to determine whether a product or material contains asbestos just by looking at it

However, there are some areas of a building where materials containing asbestos were more commonly used. The most accurate way to detect whether or not asbestos is present is to have a licensed asbestos assessor inspect and test the product or material where necessary. Attempting to sample the material or product yourself, can be more hazardous than leaving it alone. If you're not sure whether a product or material contains asbestos, it's safest to treat it as though it does and take the necessary precautions.

Examples of where you might find asbestos in non-residential buildings

• asbestos rope/fabric in expansion joints, heaters and other exhaust flues
• flat, patterned or corrugated asbestos cement sheeting (also known as fibro) used for walls and roofing
• asbestos cement piping (e.g. heater flues)
• behind tiles in wet areas
• lagging on wall pipes
• bituminous waterproof membrane (on flat roofs)
• fire doors
• electrical switchboards
• electrical duct heater units (millboard)
• lift motor rooms

Asbestos vinyl tiling under carpet	Asbestos cement wall lining	Corrugated asbestos cement roof
Asbestos insulation (friable) as lagging to boiler and pipes	Sprayed limpet asbestos to steel column	'Zelemite' meter board in asbestos fibre cement lined meter box
Asbestos fibre cement wall panel to riser	Asbestos cement roof vent pipe	Asbestos vinyl tiles
Asbestos fibre cement infill panel to sawtooth roof	Asbestos lagging inside steel lining to pipework	Malthoid waterproof roof membrane

When asbestos is contained in a bonded form (for example, asbestos cement sheeting), maintained in good condition and left alone, it presents no health risks. Asbestos poses a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and inhaled or ingested.

Common work situations in which fibres may be disturbed and released into the air include building and maintenance related activities such as:

• demolition;
• electrical maintenance and installation, including work on electrical meter boards;
• flooring maintenance and installation;
• plumbing and hydraulic maintenance and installation;
• air conditioning maintenance and installation;
• removal and disposal of materials containing asbestos;
• building renovation and maintenance work commonly occurring as kitchen/laundry and bathroom renovations, replacement or repair of wall and ceiling linings, and other additions or alterations work;
• painting and coating/sealing of materials containing asbestos; and
• maintenance and repair of automotive parts containing asbestos materials.

If materials containing asbestos are damaged or in poor condition, you should arrange for appropriate maintenance or have them removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Friable materials such as sprayed limpet asbestos or asbestos lagging may require control measures such as removal or encapsulation. Materials containing friable asbestos can only be removed by an A class licensed asbestos removalist.

• Click here for a list of licensed asbestos removalists.