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  1. Home
  2. General information
  3. Low density asbestos fibre board
In this section

In this section

  • What is asbestos?
  • How was asbestos used?
  • Are there health effects?
  • The risks of exposure
  • Health monitoring
  • Legislation and codes of practice
  • Low density asbestos fibre board
  • Asbestos contaminated dust or debris
  • Fires
  • Cleaning up after floods and storms
  • Importation prohibited
  • Government and agency roles
  • Asbestos in government assets

Low density asbestos fibre board

Low density asbestos fibre board (LDB) is a lightly compressed board which looks similar to asbestos cement (AC) sheeting or plasterboard. It is different because it can be easily bent by hand or dented by soft pressure. It is also sometimes referred to as asbestos insulating board.

LDB was manufactured from the 1950s to the 1970s as flat and perforated sheet products and was used for wall and ceiling panels, thermal and acoustic insulation, fire protection and for general building work in industrial and commercial buildings, education facilities and domestic premises. It was sold under product names such as ‘Asbestolux’ and ‘Duralux’ and is unlikely to be found in buildings constructed after 1982. See the LDB photo gallery for more information.

LDB contains up to 70 per cent by volume of asbestos fibres and is generally composed of amosite (brown asbestos) and chrysotile (white asbestos) in a calcium silicate plaster. If in good condition and left undisturbed, LDB presents a relatively low risk of releasing asbestos fibres and causing harm. However, because it is softer than AC sheeting, LDB can break up more easily when disturbed, which increases the likelihood of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres.

LDB tends to bend or flex when pressure is first applied and then will tear rather than snap once it reaches its breaking point. Nails and other fasteners cannot easily be removed from LDB without it tearing and breaking into very small pieces. Maintenance and service tasks, such as sawing, cutting or drilling into LDB without appropriate controls can result in a significant release of asbestos fibres.

Read more on identifying and handling low density asbestos fibre board (LDB) (PDF, 223 KB).

Removal of LDB

LDB is a friable asbestos containing material (ACM) and must only be removed by a class A licensed asbestos removalist.

Maintenance and service work on LDB

The following maintenance and service work on LDB is permitted when done in accordance with LDB approved methods that were approved by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ):

  • Minor repairs and minor damage to low density asbestos fibre board (PDF, 234 KB)
  • Painting undamaged low density asbestos fibre board (PDF, 189 KB)
  • Drilling holes up to 30mm in diameter into low density asbestos fibre board (PDF, 203 KB)
  • Temporarily moving a low density asbestos fibre board ceiling tile (PDF, 218 KB)
  • Installing or removing fixtures or fittings to low density asbestos fibre board (PDF, 205 KB).

The maintenance and service work described in the LDB approved methods does not have to be performed by a class A licensed asbestos removalist. However, workers must be familiar with the LDB approved methods and be competent to perform the work.

Training and competencies for maintenance and service work on LDB

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (the Regulation) requires all workers carrying out asbestos-related work are trained in the identification and safe handling of, and suitable control measures for, asbestos and ACMs.

Training in relation to maintenance and service work on LDB must include:

  • identifying LDB
  • donning and removing personal protective equipment
  • decontaminating equipment and the work environment and personal decontamination
  • transport and disposal of asbestos waste.

Some maintenance and service work on LDB (e.g. drilling holes) also requires training in:

  • use and maintenance of a H-Class vacuum cleaner
  • shadow vacuuming.

The minimum mandatory performance criteria for these training elements can be found in the low density asbestos fibre board approved method training record (DOCX, 802KB).

The training can be standalone in content or incorporated within other training programs or packages, and provided directly by an employer, a training provider engaged by an employer or a registered training organisation, as long as it meets the training elements and performance criteria.

Employers must keep documentation of their workers’ LDB training record and provide it to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors on request. Workers must complete LDB training every five years and must be competent in each of the training elements outlined in the low density asbestos fibre board approved method training record (DOCX, 802KB), as well as competent to perform the trade related skills relevant to each of the approved methods.

Reviewing and updating asbestos registers

A person with management or control of a workplace who has a duty to keep an asbestos register should ensure that the asbestos register for each of their assets is reviewed and ensure that any LDB listed on the register is identified as friable. If there is uncertainty about whether a suspected material is LDB, a sample of the material should be tested, or it should be assumed that the material is LDB until confirmed otherwise. 

A person with management or control of a workplace should continue to make a copy of the asbestos register available to businesses or contractors that will be carrying out any demolition, removal, refurbishment, maintenance or service work at the workplace, before the work starts.

Updating asbestos management plans

An asbestos management plan for a place that contains LDB should be reviewed and updated to specify: 

  • any removal of LDB is only to be performed by a class A licenced asbestos removalist under friable removal conditions
  • any maintenance or service work on LDB is to be carried out according to the relevant approved method and is to be performed by workers who have completed the training specified by the approved methods. 

Resources

  • Low density board photo gallery
  • Identifying low density asbestos fibre board hazards and risks (Film)
  • Shadow vacuuming with a H-Class vacuum cleaner (Film)
  • Use and maintenance of a H-Class vacuum cleaner (Film)

LDB and asbestos cement sheeting
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Queensland Government

  • Home
  • General information
    • What is asbestos?
    • How was asbestos used?
    • Are there health effects?
    • The risks of exposure
    • Health monitoring
    • Legislation and codes of practice
    • Low density asbestos fibre board
      • Low density board photo gallery
    • Asbestos contaminated dust or debris
    • Fires
    • Cleaning up after floods and storms
    • Importation prohibited
    • Government and agency roles
    • Asbestos in government assets
  • Know where asbestos is
    • Common locations of asbestos in domestic and commercial buildings
    • Naturally occurring asbestos
    • Asbestos products gallery
    • Vehicles and plant
    • Electrical switchboards and meters
    • Marblesheen pool coatings containing asbestos
    • Testing for asbestos
    • Asbestos registers for workplaces
    • Asbestos management plans
  • Removing or disturbing asbestos
    • Prohibited activities
    • Wearing protective equipment
    • Safe work procedures
    • Asbestos removal work
    • Asbestos-related work
      • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
    • Homeowner's certificate to remove asbestos
    • Air monitoring
    • Clearance inspections
    • Transport and disposal of asbestos waste
      • Important disposal information and illegal dumping
      • Requirements for transporting asbestos
      • Asbestos disposal information
  • Practical guidance
    • Asbestos workers and removalists
    • Trades and contractors
    • Homeowners and home renovators
      • Tips when home renovating
        • Homeowners: Look, check and prepare
      • Tips when hiring a contractor
    • Commercial building owners (of workplaces)
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      • Is my body corporate a PCBU
      • Asbestos in body corporate common areas
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      • Add a warning sticker to your home
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      • Businesses and volunteers
    • Local government environmental health officers
      • Frequently asked questions from local government authorised persons
  • Resources
    • Asbestos alerts
    • Asbestos news
    • Codes of practice
    • Guidance
    • Films
      • Asbestos safety session 2021
      • Asbestos safety session 2020
      • Cleaning Asbestos Roofs
      • Shadow vacuuming with a H-Class vacuum cleaner
      • Use and maintenance of a H-Class vacuum cleaner
      • Identifying low density asbestos fibre board hazards and risks
      • Working safely with asbestos for the home renovator
      • How to properly wear personal protective equipment for airborne contaminants
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Dear Dad - An asbestos awareness film
      • Clear and present danger: Asbestos exposed
      • Uses and applications of asbestos - an extract from a film by Parsons Brinckerhoff
      • Asbestos health issues - an extract from a film by Parsons Brinckerhoff
      • Safe work procedure - storm and wind damage cleanup
      • Drilling into asbestos walls and ceilings
      • Asbestos - Removing switchboard panels
      • Decontamination procedure, personal decontamination and cleanup procedures
      • Asbestos awareness
    • Safe work procedures
      • Preparation before commencing the task
      • Preparing and painting corrugated asbestos cement roof and fences
      • Drilling into non-friable asbestos using a thickened substance to control airborne fibres and dust
      • Drilling into non-friable ACM using an H rated industrial HEPA filter vacuum to control airborne fibres and dust
      • Removing a small package electrical switchboard
      • Cleanup and disposal
      • Safe cleanup of storm damaged materials that may contain asbestos
    • Frequently asked questions for homeowners and the general public
    • Podcasts
    • Strategies
    • Working Safely with Asbestos Guide
    • Asbestos Awareness Week 2022
    • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
  • Sanctions
    • Asbestos on-the-spot fines
    • Sanctions against asbestos licence holders
    • Prosecutions