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  1. Home
  2. Know where asbestos is
  3. Common locations of asbestos in domestic and commercial buildings
In this section

In this section

  • 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

Common locations of asbestos in domestic and commercial buildings

It is often very difficult to identify the presence of asbestos by sight. The only way to be certain is to have a sample of the material analysed by a laboratory.

Sampling of anything you suspect may contain asbestos is itself hazardous and should only be done by a competent person, and analysed only in accredited laboratories.

Where materials have not been tested you should assume that it could contain asbestos and take adequate precautions before handling, removing or disturbing it. Sometimes manufacturer information may have been stamped on a product or a label may state it contains asbestos. Typically certain products can be identified by their age and likelihood to contain asbestos and must then be treated as asbestos materials.

Vehicles and plant

Since 31 December 2003, the use of asbestos in vehicles and plant has been banned throughout Australia.

Electrical switchboards and meters

Switchboard panels and meter boards may contain asbestos. If they were constructed or imported before 1 January 2004 they may contain asbestos containing materials (ACM).

Asbestos product gallery

Check out the products gallery to see photos of asbestos products commonly used in buildings and plant.

Common locations

Downloads

  • Common locations of materials containing asbestos in a house with a tiled roof [PDF 5.4 MB]
  • Common locations of materials containing asbestos in a 1970s house [PDF 4.31 MB]
  • Common locations of materials containing asbestos in a 1970s house [PDF 5.45 MB]
  • Asbestos flooring [PDF 279.84 KB]

Related links

  • Add a warning sticker to your home
  • Asbestos products gallery
  • Safety alert - Asbestos bags recycled for use in carpet underlay
  • Marblesheen pool coatings containing asbestos
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© The State of Queensland 2018-2025
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
    • Licensed Asbestos Assessors
    • Homeowners and home renovators
      • Tips when home renovating
        • Homeowners: Look, check and prepare
      • Tips when hiring a contractor
    • Commercial building owners (of workplaces)
    • Body corporate and apartment owner occupiers
      • Is my body corporate a PCBU
      • Asbestos in body corporate common areas
    • Residential tenants, lessors and landlords
      • Add a warning sticker to your home
    • Volunteers
      • Is my volunteer association a PCBU?
      • 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 2024
    • Asbestos management compliance campaign
    • Induction and safety training for unlicensed work
  • Sanctions
    • Asbestos on-the-spot fines
    • Sanctions against asbestos licence holders
    • Prosecutions