Asbestos-Aware Demolition in Brisbane
Many Brisbane homes built before 1990 contain some asbestos, often in eaves, wall sheeting, bathrooms, vinyl and roofing. It must be identified and removed by an appropriately licensed removalist before a demolition can go ahead. Asbestos-aware demolition means planning the whole job around that requirement from the start.
- Approvals Checked First
- Asbestos-Aware Process
- Services Made Safe
- Brisbane & Surrounds
Where asbestos turns up in Brisbane homes
Asbestos was widely used in Australian building materials until the late 1980s and was banned nationally at the end of 2003. In Brisbane homes it commonly appears in:
- Flat fibro sheeting in eaves, external cladding and sleep-outs
- Wall sheeting behind bathroom and laundry tiles
- Vinyl floor tiles and the backing of sheet vinyl
- Corrugated fibro roofing on houses, sheds and garages
- Pipes, flues and old electrical meter boards
- Textured ceiling and wall coatings
Post-war houses, and the enclosed verandahs added to many Queenslanders, are frequent places to find it.
Why it comes out first
Queensland's work health and safety rules require asbestos to be identified and, as far as reasonably practicable, removed before a building is demolished. Demolition tears materials apart, and knocking down a house with asbestos still in it would release fibres and contaminate the whole site. Removing it first keeps the demolition waste stream clean.
Licence classes
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland sets the licensing rules. Removing more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos requires a Class B licensed removalist. Friable asbestos, which crumbles easily and releases fibres, requires a Class A licence regardless of quantity. Check the removalist's licence details yourself before work starts.
How the sequence works
- A competent person, such as an occupational hygienist, inspects the building and samples suspect materials
- A report identifies the type, condition and location of any asbestos
- A licensed removalist removes it, notifying the regulator where required
- A clearance inspection confirms the area is safe
- Demolition proceeds, with any further suspect material stopped and checked
Disposal
Asbestos waste has to be wrapped, labelled and taken to a facility licensed to accept it. It can't go in a general skip or be mixed with recyclable demolition waste. Keep the disposal receipts; buyers, builders and certifiers may ask for them.
Unexpected finds
Even after a good survey, demolition sometimes uncovers asbestos hidden in wall cavities, under floor coverings or buried in old fill. When that happens, work in that area stops, the material is assessed, and a licensed removalist deals with it before demolition resumes.
Partial demolitions and renovations
The same rules apply when only part of a house is coming down. Removing a rear extension, an enclosed verandah or a bathroom in an older home can disturb asbestos just as easily as a full demolition. The survey is scoped to the area being worked on, and anything identified there is removed before the walls come out.
What to check
- That your inspection was a pre-demolition survey, not just a quick visual check
- That the removalist's licence class matches the type and quantity of asbestos
- That you receive a clearance certificate before demolition starts
For more detail, read our article on dealing with asbestos before demolishing a pre-1990 Brisbane home.
Why choose us for asbestos-aware demolition
- Asbestos survey arranged before the demolition is priced
- Removal by a WHSQ-licensed removalist, Class A or B as required
- Clearance inspection before demolition begins
- Sequencing that keeps asbestos and general demolition waste separate
- Plain explanation of what was found and where it went
- Suits whole homes, partial demolitions and strip-outs
Asbestos-Aware Demolition: common questions
Can I demolish a house that has asbestos in it?
Not until the asbestos has been identified and, as far as reasonably practicable, removed. Under Queensland work health and safety rules, asbestos removal comes before demolition.
Who removes the asbestos?
A removalist holding the right Workplace Health and Safety Queensland licence: Class B for more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos, or Class A for friable asbestos. The demolition is planned around their work, and the clearance paperwork follows their removal.
How much does asbestos removal add to a demolition?
It varies widely with the amount, type and location of the asbestos — from a modest addition for a few eaves sheets to a significant cost for a fibro house with an asbestos roof. A survey is the only way to price it properly.
Is it safe to live in a house with asbestos?
Bonded asbestos in good condition and left undisturbed is generally considered low risk. The danger comes when it is drilled, cut, broken or deteriorating, which is exactly what demolition and renovation do.
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