Asbestos – maintenance, removal and renovations at home

Building renovation work (including removal of asbestos from your home or demolition of your home) may require a building permit from your local government authority:

• building licence
• demolition licence.

Contact Environmental Health Services at your local government (external site).

If a fence is made of cement sheeting, was installed before 1990 then it is highly likely to contain asbestos and should be treated as such.

In most cases the condition is unlikely to be an immediate problem but these products need to be properly managed. Good management of your fence includes:

• maintaining fence in good condition
• avoid having vegetation or other items leaning or scraping against the fence 
• removal of the fence if it has deteriorated or become damaged
• keeping sheeting panels intact
• using safety precautions when maintaining, repairing or removing sheets.

Asbestos cement fences are subject to regulatory requirements. If the fence is very badly damaged then removal is strongly recommended as you may be issued with a fine. However, it is best for neighbours to negotiate between themselves to reach a solution on any fence issue/s.

Many of the asbestos cement fences in Western Australia have deteriorated or been damaged after decades of use and have reached the end of their serviceable life.

Inspect asbestos cement roofs regularly for signs of deterioration and damage.

You should consider complete removal and replacement of an asbestos cement roof rather than cleaning and maintenance, as most roofs have started to deteriorate. This is because:

• most asbestos cement roofs are over 40 years old and have reached the end of their useful life, particularly if they have not been regularly maintained.
• you can not use a high pressure hose to clean roofs as this will break up the surface of the sheet and cause asbestos debris to be widely spread. The use of a high pressure hose is an offence and you may be fined or prosecuted.
• asbestos cement roofs become brittle with age and can be unsafe to walk on or maintain.

Caution: it is strongly recommended that you seek the services of a licensed asbestos removal contractor (external site) for roof removal work for fall safety and proper clean up.

With existing asbestos cement roofs you need to:

• Check gutters and downpipes are working and in good condition.
• Clean gutters and drains as often as required to remove any build-up of material.
  • Soak the waste material with water.
  • Collect it in heavy duty plastic bags for disposal at a landfill accepting asbestos waste.
  • Prune all trees and branches 600 mm away from asbestos cement roofing.
  • It is better to replace than to clean the roof. Cleaning asbestos cement roofs can be dangerous and can cause contamination.  Asbestos cement roofs have aged so that it is rare that any can be effectively and safely cleaned.  Methods to clean roofs need to be non-abrasive and carefully undertaken with all waste coming off the roof to be collected and disposed as asbestos waste.

Applying a good quality surface coating or sealant may extend the life of an asbestos cement fence or roof and improve its appearance. This is only an option for products that are still in good condition and that can be safely cleaned. Do not use non-penetrating or poor quality paint as it may peel or flake.

If you have an asbestos cement roof, consider complete removal and replacement of a roof rather than cleaning and sealing, especially if it has started to deteriorate. This is because:

• most asbestos cement roofs are over 40 years old and have reached the end of their useful life.
• unless roofs have been regularly maintained they cannot be safely cleaned, as prior to sealing or coating the surface has to be vigorously cleaned and roofs are likely to have significant moss and algal growth penetrating the surface preventing the ability to clean the roof without causing further deterioration and contamination.
• you can not use a high pressure hose to clean sheeting as this will break up the surface of the sheet and cause asbestos debris to be widely spread. The use of a high pressure hose is an offence and you may be fined or prosecuted.
• asbestos cement roofs become brittle with age and can be unsafe to walk on.

Special precautions must be taken when removing asbestos cement products. If removing a large amount of material or if in doubt as to its condition:

• hire an experienced, licensed asbestos removalist (external site)
• check that the work area is free from visible asbestos, including dust and debris, at the end of the job.

If doing any small jobs yourself you will need to:

• comply with the Health (Asbestos) Regulations 1992 (external site)
• avoid activities that can create very small asbestos fibres that, once released into the air, could then be breathed into the lungs of the person doing the work and anyone nearby.

The following precautions should be followed when removing and disposing of asbestos:

• For removal of asbestos products inside the home:
  • remove all movable furniture and fittings from the room
  • turn off heating/air conditioning systems
  • isolate the work area from family, visitors and neighbours.
  • wear suitable personal protective equipment that has Australia Standards approval:
    • Class P1 or P2 disposable respirator
    • disposable coveralls (Type 3)
    • eye protection
    • disposable gloves
    • prior to removal, gently spray the asbestos cement with water or a poly vinyl acetate (PVA) solution, to minimise the creation of airborne dust.

Caution: it is advised to use a licensed asbestos removalist (external site) for any work on asbestos cement roofs as these can be very slippery when wet and may be brittle and unsafe to walk on.

• for removal of asbestos cement fences:
  • wet down the sheeting
  • dig a trench around the fence and remove the entire sheet
  • remove the asbestos cement products with minimal breakage:
    • do not use excess force
    • use hand operated not power operated tools and do not cut or break sheets.
    • stack the asbestos cement sheets on 0.2 mm thick polythene (plastic) sheeting:
      • avoid sliding the sheets together
      • wrap plastic around the material and seal it with heavy duty tape (like cloth tape)
        • limit number of sheets per bundle for easy lifting and handling
        • small pieces of asbestos cement should be collected and wrapped or placed in heavy duty polyethylene bags, approximately 0.2 mm thick – bags should be filled to no more than 50 per cent capacity
        • label or mark the bundles with the words caution asbestos
        • clean up any dust or debris using wetted old rags that can be disposed of with the asbestos.
          • do not use an ordinary household vacuum cleaner to clean up dust.
          • dispose of waste material at licensed waste facility.

The backing of linoleum flooring in older homes may be backed with white asbestos. This material can have higher asbestos fibre content than asbestos cement products and can be more loosely bound and more dangerous.

It is strongly recommended that you seek the services of a licensed asbestos removal contractor when removing this type of flooring.

If it is necessary for you to remove the floor surface the following steps should be taken.

• Wear suitable personal protective equipment that has Australia Standards approval:
  • Class P1 or P2 disposable respirator
  • disposable coveralls (Type 3)
  • eye protection
  • disposable gloves.
• Isolate the work area from family, visitors and neighbours.
• Remove all movable furniture and fittings from the room.
• Turn off heating/air conditioning systems.
• Make a series of parallel cuts, approximately 20 cm apart, across the entire floor surface, cutting through the top layer and through the backing using a blade.
• Prise up the corner of the end strip using a stiff blade scraper and gently spray with water mixed with detergent as work progresses.
• Roll and dispose of one strip at a time.
• Continue in a systematic manner across the floor surface, placing and sealing removed sections into labelled 0.2mm polythene sheeting or asbestos waste bags without delay.
• Removal may also be assisted by thoroughly heating the floor or wall covering, using a hot air gun to penetrate through the material and soften the adhesive.

Caution: Excessive application of heat may give rise to toxic fumes from some vinyl floor/wall surfaces. Good ventilation and/or additional respiratory protection may be necessary.

• If solvents are required to remove stubborn sections then use sparingly. Do not apply as a spray, ensure good ventilation and wear respirator meeting Australian Standards 1715 and fitted with organic vapour filters.
• Residual adhesive materials and/or backing may also need to be scraped or cut back.
• Water sprays should again be used.
• Work in cool atmospheric conditions if possible, and ensure that electrical appliances and heat sources are removed from the work area. If wet, allow the underlying floor surface to dry, then thoroughly clean with wetted disposable cloths.

Dispose of all used materials as asbestos waste.

All asbestos material must be disposed at a landfill or waste disposal site licensed by the Department of Water and Environment Regulation (DWER).

For more information about controlled waste visit the DWER website (external site).