Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Jul 07, 2014 5:21 pm Is it possible to say whether or not how likely a house has asbestos outside walls just by a picture? I'm unsure of the year of build, house is located in country WA. Re: Asbestos 3Jul 07, 2014 10:23 pm Taking a sample is always preferable but generally almost any house built before 1980 can be considered to have asbestos in it - eaves, exterior wall cladding, internal wet area linings etc. You should be able to find out the year of the build from council records for the address and sometimes from the land titles board. Stewie Re: Asbestos 4Jul 08, 2014 9:38 am Stewie D Taking a sample is always preferable but generally almost any house built before 1980 can be considered to have asbestos in it - eaves, exterior wall cladding, internal wet area linings etc. I think I'd go by the assumption that anything built before 1990 might have asbestos somewhere in it, and until tested you can't be sure. Our old home was built in 1981, and the boarding on the shower had little labels that talked about containing asbestos ! I discovered that after I had to renovate the shower, as the tiles had fallen off, and there was no waterproofing done back in those days, or at least our one had not been waterproofed at the time of build. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Asbestos 5Jul 08, 2014 1:51 pm I always assumed it was banned in 1980 ( dicky memory here ) however it appears it was banned in the mid '80's. Here's an extract from a Workcover pdf regarding "Working with Asbestos - 2008" INTRODUCTION Asbestos is the generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals. There are two major groups of asbestos: • the serpentine group contains chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos • the amphibole group contains amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos), as well as some other less common types, such as tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. Since 31 December 2000, using all forms of asbestos has been banned. Until the early 1980s, amosite and crocidolite were used in many products but, in the mid-1980s, the use of all types of asbestos in the amphibole group was banned. The products included: • asbestos cement sheets and pipes for construction, casing for water and electrical/telecommunication services • thermal, acoustic and chemical insulation – eg fire-rated doors, limpet spray, lagging and gaskets. I find it quite extraordinary that it was not totally banned until 2000. Stewie Re: Asbestos 6Jul 08, 2014 2:07 pm James Hardie stopped using asbestos in Hardiflex, Hardiplank and Villaboard in 1981. Some other products continued to use asbestos until the mid 1980s. This does not mean that if a house was built after 1981 it is asbestos free as there may have been old stocks of asbestos building sheets still being installed after 1981 and there are the "other" products such as asbestos pipes. Re: Asbestos 7Jul 08, 2014 2:57 pm Agreed. The "fibro" sheets which are the most commonly used asbestos based material in residential building might have ceased being made in the early '80's but there are a host of other things that were still being made for a long time after. I shudder to think how many bathrooms and kitchens I was involved in renovating from the late 70's to the early 90's. Nearly every bathroom and every second kitchen had wall sheeting that was asbestos. Stewie Re: Asbestos 8Jul 08, 2014 11:38 pm For all those really worried about their asbestos contained within their properties,I would like to relate a story of having worked with it for many years. Back in 1974-thats 40 years ago-I was employed by the government as a carpenter. One of the continuing ongoing jobs that I performed was the replacement of the saw tooth glazing of defence establishment factory roofs built during the war years. These roofs were the old super 6 A C sheeting. There was a A C capping that came up the main roof and turned down to cover the top of the saw tooth glazing. We found it easier to just cut the capping off and retro fit a new gal iron under the existing AC capping and over the new glazing bars. These factories had bays of over 50m long and probably 20 bays per building. Back then we would lean a ladder from the box gutter, and with a power saw with a grinding blade in it, proceed to cut the overhang of the capping off to reveal the upper fixing of the old glazing bar. That's equivalent to 1 km of grinding asbestos,300mm from your face,with no protection,apart from safety goggles. We would be all black in face from it,draw our snot back and spit it on the ground,and it would be black. I did this for years,still in contact with with a couple of blokes I worked with then,and we are all still well,touch wood. So now when I go to someones house and they point out their painted asbestos eaves lining,and are concerned about it I relate this story to them,Its not an immediate disaster-just leave it alone,and it won't hurt you,and even if you touch it, or cut it,doesn't mean you are going to die. Re: Asbestos 10Jul 08, 2014 11:49 pm Old chippy, you obviously haven't read enough recent facts about exposure. Comments like yours on a forum like this are irresponsible. People are dumber than you may give them credit for and saying it won't hurt you, well........... Re: Asbestos 11Jul 09, 2014 12:21 am Spong- I'm not saying it won't hurt you,Its just being a builder and morso a renovator nowdays, I am confronted with it almost daily.I have been cutting it,sawing it,breaking it,for 45 years. It is a work hazard for anyone in the building industry doing reno's. I am 61 years old,I would not jeopardize any of my clients with exposure to it. My most recent job had an inclosed internal old hot water service cupboard lined with AC sheet. I advised them to have it removed before I demolished it,which they did. All I am saying is that I come across people regularly that are paranoid because they may have some AC sheet in their house.To remove it,would probably cause more fibres to be released than to leave it alone,however if it makes people feel more confortable go ahead,but be warned,the asbestos removal industry is a joke. Years ago they had to build an igloo type tunnel from the source to a caravan/decontamination-shower etc,now you can ring up Charlie Chan who will come out with his dust mask and a roll of black plastic.I still think to leave it alone is the best option,and it wont hurt you provided you don't cut,saw,drill,or break it up.Its been unavoidable in my industry,maybe I have dodged a bullet, but as far as exposure goes,I feel its like cancer,some people get it some don't,because otherwise every old chippy like me would be worm poop by now. Re: Asbestos 12Jul 09, 2014 10:31 am Quote: but as far as exposure goes,I feel its like cancer,some people get it some don't,because otherwise every old chippy like me would be worm poop by now. I think there is a lot of truth in that too. Knowledge is power and I think there days everyone has access to the right info regarding dangerous substances and their health effects. Despite being somewhat blase about dust protection up until the late 80's ( and thanking my lucky stars that like you I've dodged a bullet so far with previous exposure ) I now take all precautions unlike some of the cowboys I've seen removing it over the years. Stewie Re: Asbestos 13Jul 09, 2014 11:30 am All uses of asbestos was not banned until 31 December 2003. The prohibition was adopted simultaneously under regulations in each Australian OHS jurisdiction, as well as Customs.
It is impossible to give a date prior to that with with you could say a house is risk free of asbestos although I often read the claim that asbestos ceased to be used in domestic building products in the mid 80s. As Ive said before, asbestos is not a big issue health wise if you know how to remove it carefully. The laws in place to restrict homeowners is just the nanny state going beserk again. oldchippy That's equivalent to 1 km of grinding asbestos,300mm from your face,with no protection,apart from safety goggles. We would be all black in face from it,draw our snot back and spit it on the ground,and it would be black. I did this for years,still in contact with with a couple of blokes I worked with then,and we are all still well,touch wood. So now when I go to someones house and they point out their painted asbestos eaves lining,and are concerned about it Touch wood? You're crazy. Get yourself checked out now unless you dont care about your health. Lungs can tolerate a small amount of fibres, and even if you have a few, you might survive with little or no discomfort. But the serious Mesothelioma sufferers who die all have lots of fibres in their lungs. How do you know you dont have many in your lungs? Are you aware of the decades of latency before serious symptoms emerge? Re: Asbestos 14Jul 09, 2014 11:53 am Quote: As Ive said before, asbestos is not a big issue health wise if you know how to remove it carefully. Maybe qebtel but even a lot of so called professional asbestos removalists seem short on removing it the correct way. Quote: The laws in place to restrict homeowners is just the nanny state going beserk again. In a lot of cases yes, the nanny state syndrome is a pain in the butt and ridiculous the way we are over governed however in this regard I think the authorities are quite correct to limit who and how asbestos is removed from residential properties. Stewie Re: Asbestos 15Jul 09, 2014 12:03 pm Stewie D Maybe qebtel but even a lot of so called professional asbestos removalists seem short on removing it the correct way. I agree, I think it was a program like 4 Corners that showed a team of "professional" removalists removing a fibro roof, and all they were wearing was overalls and those simple dust masks likethese. Redicilous. I should say my previous comments is in relation to simple flat fibro sheeting, whether internal or exterior cladding.. I would not attempt a roof removal though, as its infinitely more tricky. Re: Asbestos 16Jul 09, 2014 12:28 pm Yep. I've seen a few wearing them too. I removed about 30 sq m from our eaves plus front & rear porches about a year ago. I hired a hazardous waste vacuum and sucked up all the roof waste over the fibro then coated the top unpainted surface with left over house paint to seal it as much as possible. Then waited for a really still day and stapled plastic sheets to the outside of the eaves. I had plastic sheets on the ground and taped up wall vents,doors and windows. Then put on all the gear - suit, googles, mask, gloves etc and removed it to dual layer approved plastic bags taped up when finished. All sheets were carefully folded and removed to these same bags. All eaves framings were then re-vacuumed and the bags disposed of along with all the other bags to our local approved tip. I've never to this day seen or heard of any pro removalist go to this trouble despite what they are supposed to do. Stewie Re: Asbestos 17Jul 09, 2014 9:24 pm Yeah look, i agree with the tradies/ builders views on it. I reckon we get complacent because we are regularly exposed (well we see it more). i just think Joe public should not be encouraged to get too comfortable with handling it. I also hope like hell the fibres im likely harbouring decide to behave....... What you are looking at is fibrous plaster, true gypsum, it is cast on horizontal beds with fibers included to give strength. I has no Asbestos in it. Houses before 1985… 2 7261 4 1864 |