Where is Asbestos Found?
Asbestos can be found in many construction materials. Buildings constructed or renovated before the year 2000 are likely to contain asbestos materials, particularly those constructed from the 1940s to 1980s.
Asbestos has also been extensively used for industrial applications, especially for thermal insulation, heat protection, electrical insulation and in friction materials.
Asbestos-containing materials, or ACMs are not considered dangerous if they are in an undamaged condition. The following diagram shows common locations for ACMs used in construction and renovation.
Residential Housing
- Cement sheet cladding, baseboards, infills
- Soffits and gables
- Vinyl flooring and backing materials
- Stipple, textured plaster ceilings
- "Decramastic" bitumen roofing
- Insulation panels around hot water cylinders
- Tile or wet wall substrates
- Fireplace surrounds
- Corrugated cement fencing
- Jointing compounds
- Electrical fuse and meter boards
- Electrical components
Industrial Buildings
- Asbestos cement flues and piping
- Gaskets and seals
- Asbestos cement gutters and down-pipes
- Industrial wall cladding such as 'Galbestos'
- 'Super Six' and 'Super Seven' roof and wall cladding
- Awnings and entryways
- Electrical components
- Asbestos lagging on pipes, boilers
- Fuse boards and insulation materials
- Fire doors
- Fencing
- Vinyl sheets, vinyl tiles and backing materials
- Suspended ceiling tiles
- Compressed sheeting
- Window mouldings and putty
Commercial Properties
- Asbestos cement wall cladding
- Suspended ceiling tiles
- Soffits and gables
- Awnings and entryways
- Electrical components
- Fuse boards and insulation materials
- Vinyl sheets, vinyl tiles and backing materials
- Compressed sheeting
- Wet area linings
- Decorative plaster walls and ceilings
- Insulation and lagging
- Window mouldings and putty