Asbestos Safety for Home Renovations

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Ensure you have your house or unit inspected before you start renovating to ensure you know what type of materials you are dealing with and if any of the materials contain asbestos. Cleaning up a contaminated space or house can cost thousands of dollars.

Click here for some more information from the Queensland Government for homeowners:

If you have started and suspect you have uncovered asbestos while performing home renovations in the Brisbane and greater Southeastern Queensland region, then the team here at AHI Asbestos Consultants can help you take the required steps to safely and responsible identify, control and remove the contamination.

Friable and non-friable asbestos products were used in homes extensively in Australia between the 1920s and 1980s. By the 1970s, it became evident that asbestos products presented significant health risks to those who were exposed to airborne dust and fibres.

Don’t put yourself, your family and children and pets in danger of exposure to asbestos fibres from incorrect asbestos removal practices.

Accidental or intentional inhalation and ingestion of asbestos particles present the risk of contracting or developing a range of severe and potentially fatal health conditions and diseases.

Asbestos exposure has been directly linked to health conditions such as:

Asbestos products were phased out in Australia throughout the 1980s and 90s and in 2003 were banned Australia wide from importation, sale, storage or usage.

Australia was one of the most significant users of asbestos products before the 1980s, and its legacy continues well into the 2000s. This can poses a substantial risk to anyone who enters a site that contains asbestos.

Home Renovation Asbestos Identification

Asbestos was used in a wide variety of residential building products until it was phased out. Asbestos can mimic a range of building products that are still used in building today.

With more than 3000 documented products that may contain friable and non-friable asbestos, come common products include:

Roof sheeting
Wall and ceiling sheets
Fencing
Fire barriers
Pipework
Floor coverings
Roof shingles
Insulation
Guttering and more

Identifying asbestos is nearly impossible from sight and touch alone. The only way to effectively and conclusively identify asbestos is via laboratory testing.

The team here at AHI offer inspection and NATA accredited sample testing for all builders and home renovators in Queensland with fast result turnarounds.

DIY Asbestos Removal

Although it is not recommended, it is legal in Queensland for home renovators to remove under 10m2 of non-friable asbestos from a site without a license. Removal of more than 10m2 must be undertaken by a licenced asbestos removalist.

Identify prior to the commencement of any removal. Although it is not recommended, DIY sample collection can be carried out by the homeowner or contractor. The necessary precautions must be carried out to ensure that fibre release is controlled and the health risks during this process are minimised.

Only a competent person or a person with asbestos experience should take the asbestos samples because of the increased health risk of fibres being released during the process. If the sampling process is conducted incorrectly, it can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Any sample taken should be sealed within a container, or a 200 µm polythene bag, and appropriately labelled.

You should be aware, asbestos fibres are colourless and can be as small as 5 microns (invisible to the naked eye) in thickness – you must use a safe sampling process to avoid contamination of yourself and the surrounding area.

Prior to taking the sample you should utilise the appropriate Personal Protection Equipment. This should consist of disposable items:

P2 facemask;
asbestos rated full body coverall suit (if the arm and/or leg cuffs are loose fitting, wrap duct tape around them to form an airtight seal);
goggles;
latex gloves;
boot covers. Note: keep them fitted during the collection and bagging activity and decontamination process.

You should also have;

plastic drop sheets;
press seal bags;
long nosed pointed pliers;
duct tape;
asbestos rated waste bags;
PVC glue;
Wet wipes;
marker pen.

For more information and inspections of DIY sample collection, click here

For more information from the Australian Government about DIY asbestos removal in Queensland, head to www.asbestossafety.gov.au, or contact our expert technicians for advice.

Asbestos Services Brisbane

If you are renovating an aging property in Southeastern Queensland and require asbestos identification and report services, AHI Asbestos Consultants can provide you with total solutions regarding asbestos.

It is illegal for professionals or individuals to remove more than 10-square metres of non-friable asbestos without a license, or any level of friable asbestos in Australia and all friable work must be performed by a registered and licenced asbestos removal company.

Our extensive range of professional asbestos services includes:

For all enquiries regarding asbestos regulations and legal obligations in Queensland, or to learn more about our comprehensive range of asbestos services, contact the helpful staff here at AHI Asbestos Consultants today.

Do you require professional asbestos services for your home renovations, Brisbane or South East Queensland? Contact the team here at AHI Asbestos Consultants for expert service and advice.