If you are dealing with a building that was constructed before 1990, the threat of asbestos can be real. It is not just a thing of the past. According to the Environmental Protection Authority, even today, around 4000 Australians lose their lives every year due to asbestos-related diseases. It is a silent danger that can cause devastating long-term illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The microscopic toxic asbestos fibres can be hidden in unexpected places, and they often look like a normal tile or panel. The risk of asbestos becomes critical when you disturb it, like by drilling, cutting, or demolishing. So, it is important to hire a qualified asbestos consultant for professional asbestos testing. This is the only way to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who enters your home.
Why Asbestos Hides in Plain Sight
For decades, asbestos was heavily used in construction. It was very inexpensive, durable, and resistant to heat, fire, and corrosion. So, between the 1940s and the late 1980s, manufacturers mixed it into practically everything.
Asbestos was not just used as an insulation. It was structurally integrated into numerous everyday building products. For example, it was used for toughening vinyl flooring, fireproofing electrical systems, and adding texture to decorative paints.
As the harmful asbestos fibres get tightly bound within the solid products, you cannot see them. It means that you can’t rely on a visual check or the building’s age alone to confirm if it is free of asbestos residue. Assuming your property is safe without proper asbestos testing is dangerous and an act of negligence.
Hidden Places Where Asbestos Could Be Lurking in Your Building
Asbestos was once used in a large variety of products. So, here are common and often-overlooked locations where asbestos could be lurking in your old building.
1. Roofing Materials and Roof Eaves
You should start with the exterior surfaces. They were often covered in asbestos cement sheeting to make them weather-resistant. You might also find it used as strengthened roofing on sheds, flat vertical siding on the house, or flat soffit boards lining the roof eaves. These rigid materials look like grey or white cement, but they become highly dangerous if cracked, sawn, or broken.
2. Wall Claddings and Textured Paints
You may find a bumpy finish on older ceilings, which are often referred to as popcorn or Artex. It is also a common source of asbestos in older buildings. The decorative coatings applied before the early 1980s contained asbestos fibres, which helped with adhesion and fire resistance. But the asbestos fibres get released in the air easily if sanded or scraped. So, professional asbestos testing is necessary to ensure the safety of residents.
3. Vinyl Floor Tiles and Adhesives
In the past, asbestos was also added to vinyl and asphalt floor tiles to make them stronger and tougher. You should particularly look for 9 and 12-inch square tiles that are commonly found in kitchens and utility areas. A black, thick adhesive known as mastic was used for gluing down the tiles. These mastics also commonly contain asbestos, which makes them hazardous during disposal.
4. Pipe Insulation and Duct Linings
Everyone recognizes the hazard of asbestos-containing pipe lagging. They are a thick, dusty, and fibrous material that was wrapped around hot water pipes, boilers, and heating ducts. However, this is a friable insulation, which means that it can easily crumble during handling.
Even small disturbances can lead to the instant release of high concentrations of asbestos fibres. So, if pipe lagging appears degraded or is actively shedding dust, you should maintain a safe distance and call an asbestos consultant.
5. Ceiling Panels and Cornices
Acoustic panels in older drop-ceiling grids often used asbestos for soundproofing and fire resistance. Moreover, you can find decorative elements like fibrous plaster cornices and mouldings where the wall meets the ceiling. Know that these decorations were also reinforced with asbestos fibres in the past.
6. Electrical Switchboards and Backing Boards
The electrical panel in your old building might also contain hazardous asbestos fibres. Compressed asbestos cement panels are extremely effective as an insulator. So, they were routinely used as a non-combustible backing board.
bathroom and kitchen asThe asbestos-containing boards were directly placed behind old circuit breakers, main switch panels, and fuse boxes installed before the 1980s. This is why you should perform asbestos testing of your old building’s electrical panel as well.
7. Bathroom and Kitchen Splashbacks
Asbestos cement sheeting is strong and moisture-resistant. So, it was perfect for application in wet areas. It was commonly installed as a durable hidden substrate or backing material located directly beneath ceramic wall tiles, particularly in older bathrooms and kitchen splashbacks. So, hiring an asbestos consultant to get yoursessed is necessary for your safety.
8. Window Putty and Sealants
Sealants and putty are often missed when looking for places containing asbestos in older buildings. Sometimes, asbestos fibres were mixed into older glazing compounds, mastics, and putty that were used for securing window panes to their frames. It helped enhance flexibility and longevity. However, it also raises the concern of asbestos fibres being released during window repair or restoration.
9. Old Heaters and Fireplaces
Understand that any appliance or fixture designed to withstand intense heat could potentially contain it. This includes the internal seals, gaskets, and refractory linings in old furnaces, wood-burning stoves, and water heaters. You should also be cautious with heat shields and flues, as these items may have asbestos cement boards.
10. Sheds, Garages, and Fences
Look at the structure of your yard. Many older detached utility buildings are completely clad in asbestos cement. So, if you have an old garden shed, a standalone garage, or rigid fence panels built using thick, grey sheeting, you must hire an asbestos consultant. You must assume that there is a risk of asbestos fibre until a test proves otherwise.
The Importance of Professional Asbestos Testing
According to a study by Mahoney et al. (2023), asbestos is so hazardous that it accounts for more than 90% of the deaths in Australia due to occupational carcinogens. Considering how well-hidden asbestos-containing materials are in old buildings, professional testing is the only way of confirming the presence of asbestos.
A full, professional assessment is not a quick look around. It involves a certified asbestos consultant strictly following safety protocols to collect small, contained samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos. These samples are then sent to an accredited laboratory and are thoroughly analysed under a microscope. This scientific process is your only option for a definitive answer.
Never attempt to save money with DIY testing. Collecting a sample yourself, even with a retail kit, comes with a high risk of breaching the material and releasing asbestos fibres. So, you may end up contaminating your entire property.
Understand that non-professionals simply lack the right training, protective equipment, and legal knowledge needed for safe disposal of asbestos-containing materials. You should prioritise your long-term health over the fee to be paid for asbestos remediation.
Ready For Professional Asbestos Testing?
The hidden nature of asbestos demands caution from every homeowner dealing with an older building. Awareness of where asbestos lurks is essential, but proper action should be your ultimate priority. So, protect your own health and that of your family members and guests. Consult an asbestos consultant and invest in professional testing and remediation today!
