Asbestos in Australian houses: how likely is yours?
Plenty of homes have some. Most of it is sound and harmless while it stays put. The job is to know where it is before you change anything.
If your house was built or renovated before the late 1980s, assume some materials may be compatible with containing asbestos. That is a reason to check, not a verdict. Asbestos products were widely used in Australian homes for decades, and many are still in place.
Why date is a prompt, not proof
The older the house, the more likely it is to have at least one suspect product. Houses from the 1990s are a weaker case, but old stock was sometimes reused. A new kitchen in an old house also does not mean the ceiling above it is clear.
So the build date tells you where to look hardest. It never tells you what you have. Only a sample analysed at a NATA-accredited laboratory does that.
Where it is most often found
Fibre cement sheet is the big one: wall and ceiling lining in wet areas, eaves, fences, sheds and roofing. Vinyl floor tiles and their backing are another, along with some textured coatings and old meter boards. Our room-by-room guide, asbestos in the home, goes through each space.
Fibro sheeting inside the walls of a 1960s bathroom is a typical case. The outside of the house may look entirely modern.
What most owners should actually do
Do nothing to sound material. Do not paint over damage, drill for a shelf or scrub a roof to tidy it up. Is that too cautious? Not for something that cannot be identified by eye.
Plan to check before you renovate, remove, sell or buy. If you are weighing a purchase, taking an asbestos sample explains how a sample is taken and who may take it.
Rules differ by state
Each state and territory has its own regulator, and the limits for what a homeowner may do themselves vary. Start with what a homeowner may legally remove, then check your own regulator before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian houses are most likely to contain asbestos?
Houses built or renovated before the late 1980s. Many Australian homes of that era have at least one material that may be compatible with containing asbestos, but only a NATA-accredited laboratory can confirm it.
Is it safe to live in a house that has asbestos?
Sound, undisturbed bonded material is generally regarded as low risk. The risk rises when it is damaged, worked on or removed without proper controls.
Should I test before I buy an old house?
It is a sensible step to consider, especially if you plan to renovate. A licensed professional can take samples and a NATA-accredited laboratory analyses them.
Who sets the rules for my state?
Your state or territory WHS regulator. Limits and licensing requirements differ across Australia, so check with them before any work.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. Asbestos Product Guide. What products contained asbestos and where they were used
- NSW Government. Asbestos in NSW. The NSW Government asbestos portal