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Asbestos sheeting

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous silicate mineral.  It is able to withstand heat, erosion and decay and has fire and water resistant properties.  It becomes a health risk when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in.

Asbestos is described as either 'bonded' or 'friable'.

Bonded asbestos material means any material (other than friable asbestos material) that contains asbestos.  Bonded asbestos cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry. 

Common uses for bonded asbestos in buildings include: flat (fibro) corrugated or compressed asbestos cement sheets, water, drainage / flue pipes and floor tiles.

If fire, hail or water blasting damages bonded asbestos, it may become friable asbestos material.

Friable asbestos material is any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.

Friable asbestos was not commonly used in the home, it was mainly used in industrial applications.

Friable asbestos should only be removed by a specialised asbestos removal contractor with a friable asbestos licence.

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

www.nsw.gov.au/fibro

www.thinkasbestos.com.au

www.diysafe.nsw.gov.au

Contact details
Waste Management Officer
02 6591 7222 (ph)
02 6591 7200 (fax)
council@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au

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