Find, manage, remove and dispose

Background

If you are thinking about building, renovating or undertaking repairs to your home, you need to be aware of asbestos.

As a general rule, if your home was built:

  • before the mid-1980s – it is highly likely that it has asbestos-containing products
  • between the mid1980s and 1990 – it is likely that it has asbestos-containing products
  • after 1990 – it is unlikely that it has asbestos-containing products.

If you know or suspect material in your home was installed before 1990, it is safest to assume it does contain asbestos. If you need to be certain, have it tested.

Asbestos test

You can't tell if a material contains asbestos just by looking at it. Only scientific testing of a sample can confirm this.

An asbestos sample must be tested by an asbestos laboratory approved by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).

A competent person should collect the sample for you. People that can do this are professional occupational hygienists, licensed asbestos removalists or a NATA accredited asbestos laboratory.

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