Asbestos Cement

Asbestos Cement is a product used widely in the past as a building material. It generally contains about 10-15% asbestos fibres which are bound in Portland cement or calcium silicate and the uncoated sheets can be identified as light grey in colour.

These cement products are banned in Australia now but are by far the most common use of asbestos. Many houses, particularly those built between the 1940s and the mid 1980s, have asbestos products within and around the house.

This type of cement product worked well as an insulation and fireproofing aid, as well as being weatherproof which made it stand out to construction workers at the time.

Where is it commonly found?

Asbestos is commonly found in cement roof and wall sheeting. These are mainly made up of corrugated or flat sheets of asbestos cement and are often found in old sheds, garages, fences and homes. It’s also commonly found in industrial units, schools, hospitals and shopping centres.

What is Asbestos Cement commonly used for?

Commonly used for construction materials, as well as common parts of residential houses. It can often be found in corrugated roof sheets, wall cladding, roof tiles, eaves and gables, guttering and down pipes, bath panels, panels to airing cupboards and in electric metre boxes.

The fibres are tightly bound within the hard matrix of the cement, making it less a dangerous material than other types. Small quantities of the asbestos fibres can be released if the cement is significantly degraded due to age and adverse weathering, but the main danger comes if the cement is subject to any abrasive activity such as cleaning or working on it.

As with any type of asbestos containing material, it’s important to be aware of any asbestos you may have in your building, so you can pre-warn construction workers before they start any work within areas which may contain asbestos. Laws require commercial premises must have an asbestos survey carried out to any building built before the year 2003 and leave it down to the experts to decide whether it needs to be encapsulated, removed or whether it’s safe to be left alone. Residential owners should have an inspection and register completed on homes built before 1985.