Locating asbestos in a 1960s home

Chris Bombolas: Hi, everyone. I'm at this 1960s property with our asbestos expert, Steve. Steve is going to guide us through this property and show us where asbestos-containing material may be found. Steve, I guess the first question is, what are the telltale signs that it's in fact from the '60s? Stephen: The way you can tell it's a '60s property, is that looking at the casement windows. Now, the casement windows were actually a timber frame window. Then they, mid '60s to early '70s, they started to move into aluminum-frame windows. Plus, we also got the chamferboards. They're a four-inch or a 100-millimeter chamferboard, which is indicative of the 1960s. Chris Bombolas: Thanks, Steve. Let's have a look through the property. Stephen: We've moved into the kitchen from outside, and I've identified, it looks like two different types of products were used in the kitchen. You've got the ceiling sheet, and you've got the wall sheeting. Now, in the ceiling sheet, I believe this is an asbestos-containing material, and the reason I can tell that it is an asbestos-containing material, is that when you look at the lighting, you can actually see a little dimple effect on the outside. You also got clout head nails that are finished, pry out of the product. Because of the hardness, they never went in. And also, there is two holes where a smoke detector had been fitted, and I can actually see the gray, which is indicative of asbestos-containing material or fibro sheeting. Looking at this wall sheeting here, even though it looks similar to the sheeting up there, up on the ceiling, it is not. And I can also tell by the feel and also, the nail heads are actually indicative of a Masonite-head nail. And even though they use the same cover strip, that wall sheeting is not an asbestos-containing material. Just coming into this sunroom or looked like an old verandah that they have enclosed. I've identified, by just looking at it, it seems to be an asbestos-containing material, and the reason I can tell that is by the dimple effect on it. It's got clout head nails that are protruding. Looking around the room, I can see that there is different cover strips here and different product, but I can see that it was painted, and it appears to have been a Masonite wall. The paint has come off, and that is a timber product. It's not asbestos-containing material. Outside here, you can see that there is a soffit, continues around and follows around the perimeter of the building, underneath the roof. That is an asbestos-containing material, and you can actually see the cover strips and the clout head nails. I've identified there is an asbestos-containing material, which is the vent pipe, and that comes through where the joint is, where the cast iron pipe is, going up and through the soffit and through the roof. And you can see, also, a bit of dimpling effect, so that is indicative of an asbestos-containing material. This is an asbestos-containing material called, Shadowline. You can see there's a protruding clout head nail there, and I can also see that gray color there. The paint has come off, and that tells me that is an asbestos-containing material. Chris Bombolas: Well, Steve, what's the safest way to remove asbestos? Stephen: Well, I believe the safest way is to, firstly, engage somebody like a licensed asbestos assessor or an accredited lab to come over to your property and conduct a survey to find out the location, the type, and the condition of your asbestos-containing material. So then you've got it in writing. So then, when you decide to do your removal, you can actually present that to a licensed asbestos removalist, what license they need, either A or B, or then you can actually take that to your builder and they can actually engage a licensed asbestos removalist. Chris Bombolas: Great advice. Now what happens if I've got some mates who are tradies and I'm doing a renovation, can I use them to remove asbestos? Stephen: Yes, you can use them as long as they have been trained and in safely identifying asbestos. They're aware of it. They know how to wear their PPE and follow the correct methodology of removing and safely. They're only allowed to removal up to 10 square meters. Chris Bombolas: Thanks for those great tips. And if you want any more information on any of the advice we've given you here today, then please go online and visit asbestos.qld.gov.au.