Asbestos Removal – Northern Rivers

Many know that asbestos is a very dangerous material, but few know if their property is contaminated with it. Asbestos has long been used for its fire resistance and insulating properties, used almost exclusively in construction in Australia up until the late ‘80s. Since then, the dangers of asbestos have been fully understood. At About Asbestos, our expert team of licenced technicians have been professionally trained to inspect, detect, and efficiently remove all forms of asbestos in both residential and commercial properties. We are based in Northern Rivers, and extend our services to all of New South Wales, Queensland, and South Pacific regions.

Asbestos is a natural mineral containing thin but durable and strong fibres. If the asbestos in a building, such as in walls or insulation, becomes damaged or disturbed, these small fibres can be released into the air. As these fibres can’t be detected by the naked eye, they can float around in the air, undetected. If a person inhales these fibres, even briefly, they can increase their risk of developing asbestos-related lung disease. These diseases can be potentially fatal.

Up until the 1980s, there were two types of asbestos used in construction. Friable asbestos materials were mostly used for insulation and sound or fireproofing in industrial and commercial properties. This type of asbestos can also be found in old domestic heaters, floor coverings, and stoves. These materials are made entirely of asbestos and are very loosely bound. This means they can crumble easily and turn into dust. Friable asbestos is therefore exceptionally dangerous, as the fibres can be released into the air very easily.

The other type used is bonded asbestos. This material was commonly used in homes and combined with other materials such as resin binder or cement. In bonded asbestos, the small number of asbestos fibres are bound tightly within the material – less likely to be released in the air, but still a hazardous material.

There are now strict laws around the use of asbestos. In Australia, asbestos has been banned since 2003. The removal process is very dangerous, and therefore must be handled by a licensed contractor. Friable asbestos is required by law to be removed only by asbestos specialists with a Class ‘A’ license. At About Asbestos, our team is comprised of fully licenced asbestos assessors who are professionally trained to test, audit and manage all instances of asbestos. We can also arrange asbestos removals via an associated company.